Page Type: languageIbibio | Ethnologue

IBB ISO 639-3

Ibibio

Ibibio Autonym

A language of Nigeria

ISO 639
ibb
Alternate Names
Ibibyo
Autonym
Ibibio
Population
10,700,000 in Nigeria, all users. L1 users: 6,200,000 in Nigeria (2020). L2 users: 4,500,000 (2013 SIL). Total users in all countries: 10,759,000 (as L1: 6,259,000; as L2: 4,500,000).
Location:
Abia state: Arochukwa and Ukwa East LGAs; Akwa Ibom state: Etinan, Ikono, Ikot Abasi, Itu, Nsit Ikpe, Mkpat Enin, Nsit-Ubium, Onna, Uruan, and Uyo LGAs; Rivers state: Opobo-Nkoro and Oyigbo LGAs; possibly Cross River state.
Language Status
3 (Wider communication). De facto language of provincial identity in Akwa Ibom, Abia, and Rivers states; possibly in Cross River state, used in education, various media. Ibibio is the LWC of Akwa Ibom state.
Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Cross River, Delta Cross, Lower Cross, Obolo, Efik
Dialects
Enyong, Central Ibibio, Itak, Nsit. Several dialects.
Typology
SVO.
Language Use
Used in university courses. Also use Efik [efi], decreasingly, as a literary language. Used as L2 by Ekit [eke], Ibino [ibn], Iko [iki], Khana [ogo], Obolo [ann], Oro [orx].
Language Development
Taught in primary and secondary schools. Literature. Radio. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2020.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ibibio
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Christian.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Ibibio
User Population
59,000 in Ghana (2017 J. Leclerc).
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Ghana

Map

Location: Abia state: Arochukwa and Ukwa East LGAs; Akwa Ibom state: Etinan, Ikono, Ikot Abasi, Itu, Nsit Ikpe, Mkpat Enin, Nsit-Ubium, Onna, Uruan, and Uyo LGAs; Rivers state: Opobo-Nkoro and Oyigbo LGAs; possibly Cross River state.