Slovenia

Summary

Official Name

Republic of Slovenia

International Conventions

CDE (1992), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2008), ECRML (2000), FCPNM (1998), ICCPR (1992), UNCRPD (2008), UNDRIP (2007)

Population

2,081,000

Principal Languages

Slovene

Literacy Rate

100% (2015 World Factbook)

General References

Browne et al 1997, Campbell and King 2011, Comrie 1987, Comrie and Corbet 1993, Priestly 1993, Stephens 1976

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Slovenia is 12. All are living languages. Of these, 3 are indigenous and 9 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 4 are institutional, 7 are developing, and 1 is dying. Also listed are 3 unestablished languages.

Languages

Albanian, Gheg aln: Users: 7,180 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Gheg
Bosnian bos: Users: 31,500 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2000, Slovenian Ratification, ECRML). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Croatian hrv: Widespread. Users: 1,332,300 in Slovenia, all users. L1 users: 72,300 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD). L2 users: 1,260,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2000, Slovenian Ratification, ECRML). Alternate Names: Hrvatski, Serbo-Croatian Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
English eng: Users: 1,230,000 in Slovenia (European Commission 2012), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Angleščina Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Users: 50,000 in Slovenia (Beck et al 2018), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
German, Standard deu: Users: 879,200 in Slovenia, all users. L1 users: 5,200 in Slovenia (2019 Eurostat). L2 users: 874,000 (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2000, Slovenian Ratification, ECRML). Alternate Names: Deutsch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Hungarian hun: Hungary border area. Users: 8,700 in Slovenia (Laakso et al 2013). Status: 2 (Provincial). Recognized language (1991, Constitution, Article 64). Alternate Names: Madžarski, Magyar Classification: Uralic
Italian ita: Izola and Piran municipalities. Users: 3,760 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD). Status: 2 (Provincial). Recognized language (1991, Constitution, Article 64). Alternate Names: Italiano, Italijanski Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
Macedonian mkd: Users: 4,760 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern
Romani, Carpathian rmc: Maribor, Murska Sobota, and Novo Mesto municipalities. Users: 3,830 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD). Status: 5* (Developing). Recognized language (1991, Constitution, Article 65). Alternate Names: Romanes Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern
Russian rus: Users: 30,000 in Slovenia (Arefyev 2012), all users. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Serbian srp: Users: 49,500 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2000, Slovenian Ratification, ECRML). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Slovene slv: Widespread. Users: 1,995,000 in Slovenia, all users. L1 users: 1,920,000 in Slovenia (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 75,000 (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 2,229,450 (as L1: 2,045,450; as L2: 184,000). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1991, Constitution, Article 11). Alternate Names: Slovenian Autonym: Slovenski jezik, Slovenščina Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Slovenian Sign Language ysl: Scattered. Users: 1,000 in Slovenia (2014 Association of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Slovenia). About 0.05% of total population. Other estimates: 863 (2021 EUD); 2,500–3,000 (2004 M. Debecv et al). Total users in all countries: 25,000. Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2002, Law 96/02, Law on the Use of Slovenian Sign Language, ZUSZJ). Alternate Names: SZJ, Slovene Sign Language, Slovenski Znakovni Jezik, YSL, Yugoslav Sign Language, Yugoslavian Sign Language Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Venetian vec: Izola, Koper, and Piran. Status: 8a (Moribund). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Italian

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Slovene

[slv] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1991, Constitution, Article 11). 1,995,000 in Slovenia, all users. L1 users: 1,920,000 in Slovenia (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 75,000 (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 2,229,450 (as L1: 2,045,450; as L2: 184,000).

2 (Provincial)

Hungarian

[hun] 2 (Provincial). Recognized language (1991, Constitution, Article 64). 8,700 in Slovenia (Laakso et al 2013).

Italian

[ita] 2 (Provincial). Recognized language (1991, Constitution, Article 64). 3,760 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD).

5 (Dispersed)

Bosnian

[bos] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2000, Slovenian Ratification, ECRML). 31,500 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD).

German, Standard

[deu] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2000, Slovenian Ratification, ECRML). 879,200 in Slovenia, all users. L1 users: 5,200 in Slovenia (2019 Eurostat). L2 users: 874,000 (2019).

Croatian

[hrv] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2000, Slovenian Ratification, ECRML). 1,332,300 in Slovenia, all users. L1 users: 72,300 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD). L2 users: 1,260,000 (European Commission 2012).

Serbian

[srp] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2000, Slovenian Ratification, ECRML). 49,500 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD).

English

[eng] 5* (Dispersed). 1,230,000 in Slovenia (European Commission 2012), L2 users.

French

[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 50,000 in Slovenia (Beck et al 2018), L2 users.

5 (Developing)

Romani, Carpathian

[rmc] 5* (Developing). Recognized language (1991, Constitution, Article 65). 3,830 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD).

Slovenian Sign Language

[ysl] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2002, Law 96/02, Law on the Use of Slovenian Sign Language, ZUSZJ). 1,000 in Slovenia (2014 Association of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Slovenia). About 0.05% of total population. Other estimates: 863 (2021 EUD); 2,500–3,000 (2004 M. Debecv et al). Total users in all countries: 25,000.

8a (Moribund)

Venetian

[vec] 8a (Moribund).