Editing Bantu languages (section)

==By country==
{{further|List of Bantu peoples}}
Following is an incomplete list of the principal Bantu languages of each country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ethnologue.org |title=According to Ethnologue |publisher=Ethnologue.org |access-date=2012-06-29 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=2012-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616034708/http://www.ethnologue.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Included are those languages that constitute at least 1% of the population and have at least 10% the number of speakers of the largest Bantu language in the country.

Most languages are referred to in English without the class prefix (''Swahili'', ''Tswana'', ''Ndebele''), but are sometimes seen with the (language-specific) prefix (''Kiswahili'', ''Setswana'', ''Sindebele''). In a few cases prefixes are used to distinguish languages with the same root in their name, such as [[Luba-Kasai language|Tshilubà]] and [[Luba-Katanga language|Kiluba]] (both ''Luba''), [[Umbundu]] and [[Kimbundu]] (both ''Mbundu''). The prefixless form typically does not occur in the language itself, but is the basis for other words based on the ethnicity. So, in the country of [[Botswana]] the people are the ''[[Tswana people|Batswana]]'', one person is a ''Motswana'', and the language is ''[[Setswana]]''; and in [[Uganda]], centred on the kingdom of ''[[Buganda]]'', the dominant ethnicity are the ''[[Baganda]]'' (singular ''Muganda''), whose language is ''[[Luganda]]''.

===Lingua franca===
*[[Swahili language|Swahili]] (Kiswahili) (350,000; tens of millions as L2)

===Angola===
*[[Umbundu|South Mbundu]] (Umbundu) (4 million)
*[[Kimbundu|Central North Mbundu]] (Kimbundu) (3 million)
*[[kikongo|North Bakongo]] (Kikongo) (576,800)
*[[Ovambo language|Ovambo (Ambo)]] (Oshiwambo) (500,000)
*[[Luvale language|Luvale]] (Chiluvale) (500,000)
*[[Chokwe language|Chokwe]] (Chichokwe) (500,000)

===Botswana===
*[[Tswana language|Tswana]] (Setswana) (1.6 million)
*[[Kalanga language|Kalanga]] (Ikalanga) (150,000)

===Burundi===
:''Swahili is a recognized national language''
*[[Kirundi]] (8.5 – 10.5 million)

===Cameroon===
*[[Beti language|Beti]] (1.7 million: 900,000 [[Bulu language|Bulu]], 600,000 [[Ewondo language|Ewondo]], 120,000 [[Fang language|Fang]], 60,000 [[Eton language|Eton]], 30,000 Bebele)
*[[Basaa language|Basaa]] (230,000)
*[[Duala language|Duala]] (350,000)
*[[Manenguba languages]] (230,000)

===Central African Republic===
*[[Mbati language|Mbati]] (60,000)
*[[Aka language|Aka]] (30,000)
*[[Pande language|Pande]] (8,870)
*[[Ngando language (Central African Republic)|Ngando]] (5,000)
*[[Ukhwejo language|Ukhwejo]]
*[[Kako language|Kako]]
*[[Mpiemo language|Mpiemo]]
*[[Bodo language (Bantu)|Bodo]] 
*[[Kari language|Kari]]

===Comoros===
*[[Shingazija]]
*[[Shindzuani]]
*[[Shimwali]]

===Democratic Republic of the Congo===
:''Swahili is a recognized national language''
*[[Lingala|Lingala (Ngala)]] (2 million; 7 million with L2 speakers)
*[[Luba-Kasai language|Luba-Kasai]] (Tshiluba) (6.5 million)
*[[Kituba language|Kituba]] (4.5 million), a Bantu creole
*[[Kongo language|Kongo]] (Kikongo) (3.5 million)
*[[Luba-Katanga language|Luba-Katanga]] (Kiluba) (1.5+ million)
*[[Songe language|Songe]] (Lusonge) (1+ million)
*[[Nande language|Nande]] (Orundandi) (1 million)
*[[Tetela language|Tetela]] (Otetela) (800,000)
*[[Yaka language (Congo–Angola)|Yaka]] (Iyaka) (700,000+)
*[[Shi language|Shi]] (700,000)
*[[Kongo language|Yombe]] (Kiyombe) (670,000)
*[[Lele language (Bantu)|Lele (Bashilele)]] (26,000)

===Equatorial Guinea===
*[[Beti language|Beti]] ([[Fang language|Fang]]) (300,000)
*[[Bube language|Bube]] (40,000)

===Eswatini===
*[[Swati language|Swazi]] (Siswati) (1 million)

===Gabon===
*[[Baka language|Baka]]
*[[Barama language|Barama]]
*[[Bekwel language|Bekwel]]
*[[Benga language|Benga]]
*[[Bubi language|Bubi]]
*[[Bwisi language|Bwisi]]
*[[Duma language|Duma]]
*[[Fang language|Fang]] (500,000)
*[[Kande language|Kendell]]
*[[Kaningi language|Kanin]]
*[[Sake language|Sake]]
*[[Sangu language (Gabon)|Sangu]]
*[[Seki language|Seki]]
*[[Sighu language|Sighu]]
*[[Simba language|Simba]]
*[[Sira language|Sira]]
*[[Northern Teke language|Northern Teke]]
*[[Western Teke language|Western Teke]]
*[[Tsaangi language|Tsaangi]]
*[[Tsogo language|Tsogo]]
*[[Vili language|Vili]] (3,600)
*[[Vumbu language|Vumbu]]
*[[Wandji language|Wandji]]
*[[Wumbvu language|Wumbvu]]
*[[Yangho language|Yangho]]
*[[Yasa language|Yasa]]

===India===
*[[Sidi language|Sidi]]

===Kenya===
:''Swahili is the national language. English and Swahili are official languages.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Article 7. National, Official and Other Languages {{!}} The Constitution of Kenya 2010 |url=https://blog.afro.co.ke/constitution/chapter-2/article-7/national-official-and-other-languages/ |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=AfroCave |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Kikuyu language|Gikuyu]] (8 million)
*[[Luhya language|Luhya]] (6.8 million)
*[[Kamba language|Kamba]] (4 million)
*[[Meru language|Meru]] (Kimeru) (2.7 million)
*[[Gusii language|Gusii]] (2 million)
*[[Mijikenda language|Mijikenda]] ([[Giriama people|Giriama]], [[Kambe dialect|Kambe]], [[Ribe dialect|Ribe]], [[Rabai dialect|Rabai]], [[Kauma language|Kauma]], [[Chonyi language|Chonyi]], [[Jibana people|Jibana]], [[Digo people|Digo]] and [[Duruma dialect|Duruma]])
*[[Taita language|Taita]]
*[[Kiembu language|Embu]]
*[[Mbeere language|Mbeere]]
*[[Pokomo language|Pokomo]]
*[[Kuria people|Kuria]]
*[[Suba people (Kenya)|Suba]]
*[[Swahili people|Swahili]]

===Lesotho===
*[[Sotho language|Sesotho]] (1.8 million)
*[[Zulu language|Zulu]] (Isizulu) (300,000)
*[[Xhosa language|Xhosa]] (Isixhosa)

===Madagascar===
*[[Shimaore]]
*[[Shindzuani]]

===Malawi===
*[[Chewa language|Chewa (Nyanja)]] (Chichewa) (7 million)
*[[Tumbuka language|Tumbuka]] (1 million)
*[[Yao language|Yao]] (1 million)

===Mayotte===
*[[Shimaore]]

===Mozambique===
:''Swahili is a recognized national language''
*[[Makhuwa language|Makhuwa]] (4 million; 7.4 million all [[Makua languages|Makua]])
*[[Tsonga language|Tsonga]] (Xitsonga) (3.1 million)
*[[Ndau language|Shona (Ndau)]] (1.6 million)
*[[Lomwe language|Lomwe]] (1.5 million)
*[[Sena language|Sena]] (1.3 million)
*[[Tswa language|Tswa]] (1.2 million)
*[[Chuwabu language|Chuwabu]] (1.0 million)
*[[Chopi language|Chopi]] (800,000)
*[[Ronga language|Ronga]] (700,000)
*[[Chewa language|Chewa (Nyanja)]] (Chichewa) (600,000)
*[[Yao language|Yao]] (Chiyao) (500,000)
*[[Nyungwe language|Nyungwe]] (Cinyungwe/Nhungue)(400,000)
*[[Tonga language (Zambia and Zimbabwe)|Tonga]] (400,000)
*[[Makonde language|Makonde]] (400,000)
*[[Nathembo]] (25,000)

===Namibia===
*[[Ovambo language|Ovambo (Ambo, Oshiwambo)]] (1,500,000)
*[[Herero language|Herero]] (200,000)
*[[Kavango language|Kavango]] (100,000)
*[[Lozi language|Lozi]] (Silozi)

===Nigeria===
*[[Jarawa language (Nigeria)|Jarawa]] (250,000)
*[[Mbula-Bwazza language|Mbula-Bwazza]] (100,000)
*[[Kulung language (Jarawan)|Kulung]] (40,000)
*[[Bile language|Bile]] (38,000)
*[[Lame language|Lame]] (10,000)
*[[Mama language|Mama]] (2,000–3,000)
*[[Shiki language|Shiki]] (1,200)
*[[Gwa language|Gwa]]
*[[Labir language|Labir]]
*[[Dulbu language|Dulbu]]

===Pakistan===
*[[Sidi language|Sidi]]

===Republic of the Congo===
*[[Kituba language|Kituba]] (1.2+ million) [a Bantu creole]
*[[Kongo language|Kongo]] (Kikongo) (1.0 million)
*[[Teke languages]] (500,000)
*[[Kongo language|Yombe]] (350,000)
*[[Suundi language|Suundi]] (120,000)
*[[Mboshi language|Mbosi]] (110,000)
*[[Lingala]] (100,000; ? L2 speakers)

===Rwanda===
:''Swahili, Kinyarwanda, English, and French are official languages''
*[[Kinyarwanda]] (Kinyarwanda) (10 – 12 million)

===Somalia===
*[[Swahili language|Swahili]] (Mwini dialect)
*[[Bravanese dialect|Chimwini]]
*[[Zigula language|Mushungulu]]

===South Africa===
According to the [[South African National Census of 2011]]:<ref name=SAC>South African National Census of 2011</ref>{{full citation needed|date=July 2017}}
*[[Zulu language|Zulu]] (Isizulu) (11,587,374<ref name=SAC/>)
*[[Xhosa language|Xhosa]] (Isixhosa) (8,154,258<ref name=SAC/>)
*[[Pedi language|Sepedi]] (4,618,576<ref name=SAC/>)
*[[Tswana language|Tswana]] (Setswana) (4,067,248<ref name=SAC/>)
*[[Sotho language|Sotho]] (Sesotho) (3,849,563<ref name=SAC/>)
*[[Tsonga language|Tsonga]] (Xitsonga) (2,277,148<ref name=SAC/>)
*[[Swazi language|Swazi]] (Siswati) (1,297,046<ref name=SAC/>)
*[[Venda language|Venda]] (Tshivenda) (1,209,388<ref name=SAC/>)
*[[Southern Ndebele language|Southern Ndebele]] (Transvaal Ndebele) (1,090,223<ref name=SAC/>)
**Total [[Nguni languages|Nguni]]: 22,406,049 (61.98%)
**Total [[Sotho-Tswana]]: 13,744,775 (38.02%)
**Total official indigenous language speakers: 36,150,824 (69.83%<ref name=SAC/>)

===Tanzania===
:''Swahili is the national language''
*[[Sukuma language|Sukuma]] (5.5 million)
*[[Gogo language|Gogo]] (1.5 million)
*[[Haya language|Haya]] (Kihaya) (1.3 million)
*[[Chaga languages|Chaga]] (Kichaga) (1.2+ million : 600,000 Mochi, 300,000+ Machame, 300,000+ Vunjo)
*[[Nyamwezi language|Nyamwezi]] (1.0 million)
*[[Makonde language|Makonde]] (1.0 million)
*[[Ha language|Ha]] (1.0 million)
*[[Nyakyusa language|Nyakyusa]] (800,000)
*[[Hehe language|Hehe]] (800,000)
*[[Luguru language|Luguru]] (700,000)
*[[Bena language|Bena]] (600,000)
*[[Shambala language|Shambala]] (650,000)
*[[Turu language|Nyaturu]] (600,000)

===Uganda===
:''Swahili and English are official languages''
*[[Luganda]] (9,295,300)
*[[Nkore language|Runyankore]] (4,436,000)
*[[Soga language|Lusoga]] (3,904,600)
*[[Kiga language|Rukiga]] (3,129,000)
*[[Masaba language|Masaba]] (Lumasaba) (2.7 million)
*[[Nyoro language|Runyoro]] (1,273,000)
*[[Konjo language (Bantu)|Konjo]] (1,118,000)
*[[Tooro language|Rutooro]] (1,111,000)
*[[Gwere language|Lugwere]] (816,000)
*[[Kinyarwanda]] (750,000)
*[[Samia language|Samia]] (684,000)
*[[Ruuli language|Ruuli]] (250,000)
*[[Talinga language|Talinga Bwisi]] (133,000)
*[[Gungu language|Gungu]] (110,000)
*[[Amba language (Bantu)|Amba]] (56,000)
*[[Singa language|Singa]]

===Yemen===
*[[Socotra Swahili language|Socotra Swahili]]

===Zambia===
*[[Aushi language|Aushi]] (Unknown)
*[[Bemba language|Bemba]] (3.3 million)
*[[Tonga language (Zambia and Zimbabwe)|Tonga]] (1.0 million)
*[[Chewa language|Chewa (Nyanja)]] (Chichewa) (800,000)
*[[Kaonde language|Kaonde]] (240,000)
*[[Lozi language|Lozi]] (Silozi) (600,000)
*[[Lala-Bisa language|Lala-Bisa]] (600,000)
*[[Nsenga language|Nsenga]] (550,000)
*[[Tumbuka language|Tumbuka]] (Chitumbuka) (500,000)
*[[Lunda language|Lunda]] (450,000)
*[[Nyiha language|Nyiha]] (400,000+)
*[[Mambwe-Lungu language|Mambwe-Lungu]] (400,000)

===Zimbabwe===
*[[Shona language]]s (15 million incl. Karanga, Zezuru, Korekore, Ndau, Manyika)
*[[Northern Ndebele language|Northern Ndebele]] (IsiNdebele) (estimated 2 million)
*[[Tonga language (Zambia and Zimbabwe)|Tonga]]
*[[Chewa language|Chewa/ Nyanja]] (Chichewa/ChiNyanja)
*[[Venda language|Venda]]
*[[Kalanga language|Kalanga]]
*[[Xhosa language|Xhosa]]