SO
Federal Republic of Somalia
Somalia
Summary
Official Name
Federal Republic of Somalia
International Conventions
ACHPR (1985), ICCPR (1990), UNCRPD (2019)
Population
15,443,000
Principal Languages
Somali, Standard Arabic
Literacy Rate
38% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)
General References
Campbell and King 2011, Lamberti 1986
Language Counts
The number of established languages listed for Somalia is 13. All are living languages. Of these, 10 are indigenous and 3 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 3 are developing, 1 is vigorous, 5 are in trouble, and 1 is dying. Also listed is 1 unestablished language.
Languages
- Arabic, Standard arb
- Users: 2,050,000 in Somalia (2015 SIL), all users. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2004, Transitional Federal Charter, Article 7(1)). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
- Arabic, Ta’izzi-Adeni Spoken acq
- Users: 17,000 in Somalia (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
- Boon bnl
- Jubbada Dhexe region: Jilib district, bush settlements. Users: 59 (2000). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Af-Boon Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East
- Dabarre dbr
- Bay region: Dhiinsoor district area, Dabaare; Jubbada Dhexe region: Bu’aale district; Shabeellaha Hoose region: Sablaade district. Users: 33,000 (2019). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Af-Dabarre Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Somali
- English eng
- Scattered. Status: 4 (Educational). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
- Garre gex
- Bay region: southeast border area; Shabeellaha Hoose region: Qoryoley and Wanla Weyne districts. Users: 83,600 in Somalia (2019). Ethnic population: 114,000 (2020 Joshua Project). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Af-Garre, Karre Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Somali
- Italian ita
- Scattered. Users: 6,500 in Somalia (2019). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Italiano, Talyaaniga Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
- Jiiddu jii
- Shabeellaha Hoose region: west of Moqdisho. Users: 33,000 (2019). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Af-Jiiddu, Jiddu Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Somali
- Maay ymm
- Bakool, Bay, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, and Shabeellaha Hoose regions. Bakool and Bay regions (Maay Erte dialect); Jubbada Dhexe and Jubbada Hoose (Maay Dhete dialect). Users: 2,500,000 in Somalia (2019). Total users in all countries: 2,608,000. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Af-Maay, Af-Maay Tiri, Af-May, Af-Maymay, Maay Maay, Mai Mai, Rahanween, Rahanweyn Autonym: Af-maay Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Somali
- Mushungulu xma
- Jubbada Hoose region: Jamaame district; urban areas Kismaayo and Muqdisho. Users: 33,000 (2019). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Kimushungulu, Mushunguli Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Zigula-Zaramo (G.311)
- Oromo, Borana-Arsi-Guji gax
- Gedo region. Users: 41,600 in Somalia (2000). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Afaan Oromoo, Southern Oromo Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Oromo
- Somali som
- Widespread. Users: 11,200,000 in Somalia (2019). Total users in all countries: 21,916,030 (as L1: 21,820,430; as L2: 95,600). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2004, Transitional Federal Charter, Article 7(1)). Alternate Names: Af-Maxaad Tiri, Common Somali, Soomaaliga, Standard Somali Autonym: Af-Soomaali, Afka Soomaaliga Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Somali
- Swahili swh
- Jubbada Hoose region: Kismayuu south to Kenya border (Bajuni dialect); Baraawe and dispersed in southern towns (Mwini dialect). Users: 274,000 in Somalia (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Kiswahili Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Swahili (G.42)
- Tunni tqq
- Jubbada Dhexe and Shabeellaha Hoose regions: Baraawe, Dhiinsoor, and Jilib districts; Bay and Jubbada Hoose regions. Users: 33,000 (2019). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Af-Tunni Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Somali
Languages by Status
Somali
[som] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2004, Transitional Federal Charter, Article 7(1)). 11,200,000 in Somalia (2019). Total users in all countries: 21,916,030 (as L1: 21,820,430; as L2: 95,600).
Arabic, Standard
[arb] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2004, Transitional Federal Charter, Article 7(1)). 2,050,000 in Somalia (2015 SIL), all users.
English
[eng] 4 (Educational).
Swahili
[swh] 5* (Dispersed). 274,000 in Somalia (2019).
Oromo, Borana-Arsi-Guji
[gax] 5* (Developing). 41,600 in Somalia (2000).
Maay
[ymm] 5* (Developing). 2,500,000 in Somalia (2019). Total users in all countries: 2,608,000.
Garre
[gex] 6a* (Vigorous). 83,600 in Somalia (2019). Ethnic population: 114,000 (2020 Joshua Project).
Dabarre
[dbr] 6b* (Threatened). 33,000 (2019).
Jiiddu
[jii] 6b* (Threatened). 33,000 (2019).
Tunni
[tqq] 6b* (Threatened). 33,000 (2019).
Mushungulu
[xma] 6b* (Threatened). 33,000 (2019).
Italian
[ita] 7 (Shifting). 6,500 in Somalia (2019).
Boon
[bnl] 8a (Moribund). 59 (2000).
Somalia
Language Vitality Profile
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Language Status Profile
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