There are several languages spoken in Nigeria today. And they are all scattered across the 36 states of the federation. In this article, we will provide you with a list of languages in Nigeria.
Generally, English is the most popular language among Nigerians; and that’s because it is Nigeria’s official language.
Meanwhile, the three major local languages in Nigeria are Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa.
Aside from those languages, there’s the Nigerian pidgin… which is arguably the predominant language among civilians in non-office / informal locations such as — markets, streets, bars, etc.
How many languages are in Nigeria?
At the moment, Nigeria has over 500 languages, therefore sorting them out isn’t child’s play. Notwithstanding, we were able to list over 350 languages with traces in Nigeria — excluding local dialects and extinct languages.
From previous research conducted, Nigeria had exactly 521 languages. However, 9 among them are now extinct, taking the tally to 512.
But there seems to be a lot of discrepancies surrounding these figures. So it’s much better to leave it this way — Nigeria has over 500 languages.
Read also:
- Current governors of all the states in Nigeria
- List of geopolitical zones in Nigeria
- Nigeria Coat of Arms: Find out what everything in it means
As earlier noted, no one has really come out to explicitly say the exact number of languages in Nigeria, since many of them are near extinction or living in highly uncivilized locations.
But from research…
Here’s a list of languages in Nigeria
- Abanyom
- Abon
- Abua
- Abureni
- Achipa
- Adim
- Aduge
- Adun
- Afade
- Afo
- Afrikaans
- Afrike
- Gbo
- Akaju-Ndem
- Akweya-Yachi
- Alago
- Amo
- Anaguta
- Anang
- Andoni
- Angas
- Ankwei
- Anyima
- Arabic
- Attakar
- Auyoka
- Awori
- Ayu
- Babur
- Bachama
- Bachere
- Bada
- Bade
- Bahumono
- Bakulung
- Bali
- Bambora
- Bambuko
- Banda
- Banka
- Banso
- Bara
- Barke
- Baruba
- Bashiri
- Basa
- Batta
- Baushi
- Baya
- Bekwarra
- Bele (Buli, Belewa)
- Betso (Bete)
- Bette
- Bilei
- Bille
- Bina (Binawa)
- Bini
- Birom
- Bobua
- Boki (Nki)
- Bkkos
- Boko (Bussawa, Bargawa)
- Bole (Bolewa)
- Botlere
- Boma (Bomawa, Burmano)
- Bomboro
- Buduma Borno,
- Buji
- Buli
- Bunu
- Bura
- Burak
- Burma (Burmawa)
- Buru
- Buta (Butawa)
- Bwall
- Bwatiye
- Bwazza
- Challa
- Chama (Chamawa Fitilai)
- Chamba
- Chamo
- Chibok (Chibbak)
- Chinine
- Chip
- Chokobo
- Chukkol
- Cipu
- Daba
- Dadiya
- Daka
- Dakarkari
- Danda(Dandawa)
- Dangsa
- Daza (Dere, Derewa)
- Degema
- Deno (Denawa)
- Dghwede
- Diba
- Doemak (Dumuk)
- Ouguri
- Duka (Dukawa)
- Duma(Dumawa)
- Ebana(Ebani)
- Ebira
- Ebu
- Efik
- Egbema
- Eggon
- Egun (Gu)
- Ejagham
- Ekajuk
- Eket
- Ekoi
- Engenni (Ngene)
- Epie
- Esan (Ishan)
- Etche
- Etolu(Etilo)
- Etsako
- Etung
- Etuno
- Palli
- Pulani (Pulbe)
- French
- Fyam (Fyem)
- Fyer(Fer)
- Ga’anda
- Gade
- Galambi
- Gamergu
- Qanawuri
- Gavako
- Gbedde
- Gengle
- Geji
- Gera (Gere, Gerawa)
- Geruma (Gerumawa)
- Geruma (Gerumawa)
- Gingwak
- Gira
- Gizigz
- Goernai
- Gokana (Kana)
- Gombi
- Gornun (Gmun)
- Gonia
- Gubi (Gubawa)
- Gude
- Gudu
- Gure
- Gurmana
- Gururntum
- Gusu
- Gwa (Gurawa)
- Gwamba
- Gwandara
- Gwari (Gbari)
- Gwom
- Gwoza
- Gyem
- Hausa
- Higi (Hig)
- Holma
- Hona
- Hyam (Ham, Jaba, Jabba)
- Ibeno
- Ibibio
- Ichen
- Idoma
- Igalla
- lgbo
- Igede
- ljumu
- Ikorn
- Irigwe
- Isoko
- lsekiri (Itsekiri)
- lyala (lyalla)
- Izere
- lzondjo)
- Jahuna (Jahunawa)
- Jaku
- Jara(Jaar Jarawa Jarawa-Dutse)
- Jere(Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa) Bauchi,
- Jero
- Jibu
- Jidda-Abu
- Jimbin (Jimbinawa)
- Jirai
- Jonjo (Jenjo)
- Jukun
- Kaba(Kabawa)
- Kadara
- Kafanchan
- Kagoro
- Kaje (Kache)
- Kajuru (Kajurawa)
- Kaka
- Kamaku (Karnukawa)
- Kambari
- Kambu
- Kamo
- Kanakuru (Dera)
- Kanembu
- Kanikon
- Kantana
- Kanufi Bomo,
- Karekare (Karaikarai)
- Karimjo
- Kariya
- Katab (Kataf)
- Kenern (Koenoem)
- Kenton
- Kiballo (Kiwollo)
- Kilba
- Kirfi (Kirfawa)
- Koma
- Kona
- Koro (Kwaro)
- Kubi (Kubawa)
- Kudachano (Kudawa)
- Kugama
- Kulere (Kaler)
- Kunini
- Kurama
- Kurdul
- Kushi
- Kuteb
- Kutin
- Kwalla
- Kwami (Kwom)
- Kwanchi
- Kwanka (Kwankwa)
- Kwaro
- Kwato
- Kyenga (Kengawa)
- Laaru (Larawa)
- Lakka
- Lala
- Lama
- Lamja
- Lau
- Ubbo
- Limono
- Lopa (Lupa, Lopawa)
- Longuda (Lunguda)
- Mabo
- Mada
- Mama
- Mambilla
- Manchok
- Mandara
- Manga (angawa)
- Margi
- Matakarn
- Mbembe
- Mbol
- Mbube
- Mbula
- Mbum
- Memyang (Meryan)
- Miango
- Miligili (Migili)
- Miya (Miyawa)
- Mobber
- Montol
- Moruwa (Moro’a, Morwa)
- Muchaila
- Mumuye
- Mundang
- Munga (Mupang)
- Mushere
- Mwahavul (Mwaghavul)
- Ndoro
- Ngamo
- Ngizim
- Ngweshe (Ndhang.Ngoshe-Ndhang)
- Ningi (Ningawa)
- Ninzam (Ninzo)
- Njayi
- Nkim
- Nkum
- Nokere (Nakere)
- Nunku
- Nupe
- Nyandang
- Ododop
- Ogori
- Okobo (Okkobor)
- Okpamheri
- Olulumo
- Oron
- Owan
- Owe
- Oworo
- Pa’a (Pa’awa Afawa)
- Pai
- Panyam
- Pero
- Pire
- Pkanzom
- Poll
- Polchi Habe
- Pongo (Pongu)
- Potopo
- Pyapun (Piapung)
- Qua
- Rebina (Rebinawa)
- Reshe
- Rindire (Rendre)
- Rishuwa
- Ron
- Rubu
- Rukuba
- Rumada
- Rumaya
- Sakbe
- Sanga
- Sate
- Saya (Sayawa Za’ar)
- Segidi (Sigidawa)
- Shanga (Shangawa)
- Shangawa (Shangau)
- Shan-Shan
- Shira (Shirawa)
- Shomo
- Shuwa
- Sikdi
- Siri (Sirawa)
- Srubu (Surubu)
- Sukur
- Sura
- Tangale
- Tarok
- Teme
- Tera (Terawa)
- Teshena (Teshenawa)
- Tigon
- Tikar
- Tiv
- Tula
- Tur
- Ufia
- Ukelle
- Ukwani (Kwale)
- Uncinda
- Uneme (Ineme)
- Ura (Ula)
- Urhobo
- Utonkong
- Uyanga
- Vemgo
- Verre
- Vommi
- Wagga
- Waja
- Waka
- Warja (Warja)
- Warji
- Wula
- Wurbo
- Wurkun
- Yache
- Yagba
- Yakurr (Yako)
- Yalla
- Yandang
- Yergan (Yergum)
- Yoruba
- Yott
- Yumu
- Yungur
- Yuom
- Zabara
- Zaranda
- Zarma
- Zayam (Zeam)
- Zul (Zulawa)