Page Type: countryYemen | Ethnologue

YE

Republic of Yemen

Yemen

Summary

Republic of Yemen
CSICH (2007), ICCPR (1987), UNCRPD (2009), UNDRIP (2007)
29,884,000
Standard Arabic
70% (2015 World Factbook)
Johnstone 1967, Nyrop 1986, Sebeok 1970
The number of established languages listed for Yemen is 12. All are living languages. Of these, 8 are indigenous and 4 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional, 5 are vigorous, 2 are in trouble, and 3 are dying. Also listed are 9 unestablished languages.
Scattered. Users: 15,400 in Yemen (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Widespread. Users: 15,400 in Yemen (2018). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Hadramawt and Shabwah governorates. Users: 4,930,000 in Yemen (2018). Total users in all countries: 4,943,000. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Hadhrami Arabic, Hadrami, Hadromi, Ḥaḍrami Arabic Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
‘Adan, Al Bayda’, Sanaa and Shabwah governorates: mainly urban communities; Shabwah governorate (Habban dialect). Users: 300 in Yemen (2010 J. Berer). Total users in all countries: 37,570. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Judeo-Yemeni, Yemenite Judeo-Arabic, Yeminite Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Users: 38,500 in Yemen (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Users: 21,500 in Yemen (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Scattered. Users: 151,000 in Yemen (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Widespread; central areas: Amanat al Asimah and Sanaa governorates; outer areas: western Al Bayda’, Al Jawf, Al Mahwit, Amran, central and eastern Dhamar, eastern Hajjah, Ma’rib, and Sa’dah governorates. Users: 11,900,000 in Yemen (2018). Total users in all countries: 12,167,960. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). De facto language of provincial identity in North Yemen. Alternate Names: Northern Yemeni Arabic Autonym: يمني‎ (Yamani) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Widespread. Users: 17,700,000 in Yemen (2015 SIL), all users. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1991, Constitution, Article 2). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Users: 379,000 in Yemen (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Widespread. Users: 10,400,000 in Yemen (2018). Total users in all countries: 11,421,100. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). De facto language of provincial identity in South Yemen. Alternate Names: Southern Yemeni Spoken Arabic Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Al Mahrah governorate. Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Bathara, Bautahari, Botahari Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian
Scattered. Users: 2,714,400 in Yemen, all users. L1 users: 14,400 in Yemen (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. L2 users: 2,700,000 (Ramaswami et al 2012). Status: 4 (Educational). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Scattered. Users: 316,000 in Yemen (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
Al Mahrah governorate: near Oman border. Users: 400 in Yemen (Simeone-Senelle 2010). Total users in all countries: 500. Status: 8a (Moribund). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian
Users: 43,000 in Yemen (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay
Al Mahrah governorate. Users: 89,300 in Yemen (2018). Total users in all countries: 225,900. Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Mahri Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian
Users: 21,500 in Yemen (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Sa‘dah governorate: Rāziḥ district; Jabal Rāziḥ massif region, numerous small settlements. Users: 62,900 (2004 census). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Jabal Razih, Rāziḥīt, S-samrit, Samrah Rāziḥīt, Samrit Rāziḥ Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central
Mainly camps near Aden. Users: 447,000 in Yemen (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Somali
Amanat al Asimah governorate: ’Abd al-Kuri, Darsah, Samha, and Soqotra islands in the Gulf of Aden. Users: 108,000 (2018). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Saqatri, Socotri, Sokotri, South Arabian, Suqutri Autonym: méthel d-saqátri Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian
    [arb] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1991, Constitution, Article 2). 17,700,000 in Yemen (2015 SIL), all users.
    [eng] 4 (Educational). 2,714,400 in Yemen, all users. L1 users: 14,400 in Yemen (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. L2 users: 2,700,000 (Ramaswami et al 2012).
    [acq] 6a* (Vigorous). De facto language of provincial identity in South Yemen. 10,400,000 in Yemen (2018). Total users in all countries: 11,421,100.
    [afb] 6a* (Vigorous). 15,400 in Yemen (2018).
    [ayh] 6a* (Vigorous). 4,930,000 in Yemen (2018). Total users in all countries: 4,943,000.
    [ayn] 6a* (Vigorous). De facto language of provincial identity in North Yemen. 11,900,000 in Yemen (2018). Total users in all countries: 12,167,960.
    [rzh] 6a* (Vigorous). 62,900 (2004 census).
    [sqt] 6b (Threatened). 108,000 (2018).
    [gdq] 7 (Shifting). 89,300 in Yemen (2018). Total users in all countries: 225,900.
    [hoh] 8a (Moribund). 400 in Yemen (Simeone-Senelle 2010). Total users in all countries: 500.
    [jye] 8a (Moribund). 300 in Yemen (2010 J. Berer). Total users in all countries: 37,570.

Yemen

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile