# Languages of Niger

Niger has 11 national languages, with French being the official language and Hausa the most spoken language. Depending on how they are counted, Niger has between 8 and 20 indigenous languages, belonging to the Afroasiatic, Nilo-Saharan and Niger–Congo families. The discrepancy comes from the fact that several are closely related, and can be grouped together or considered apart.

## Official languages

French, inherited from the colonial period, is the official language. It is spoken mainly as a second language by people who have received an education (20% of Nigeriens are literate in French, and even 47% in cities, growing quickly as literacy improves). Although educated Nigeriens still constitute a relatively small percentage of the population, the French language is the language used by the official administration (courts, government, etc.), the media and the business community. See also: African French
Niger has ten official national languages, namely Arabic, Buduma, Fulfulde, Gourmanchéma, Hausa, Kanuri, Zarma & Songhai, Tamasheq, Tassawaq, Tebu. These ten national languages, their language families, the approximate percentage of the population that speak them, their approximate home regions, and additional information are as follows:
| Language | Family | Approx % | Main region | Notes |
| Hausa | Afro-Asiatic / Chadic | 55.4% | South, central | Main trade language |
| Songhai | Songhay languages (nilo-saharan) | 21% | Southwest | Zarma and Songhay are considered together |
| Tamasheq | Afro-Asiatic / Berber | 9.3% | North | |
| Fulfulde | Niger–Congo / Atlantic | 8.5% | All | Fulfulde of Western Niger & Central-Eastern Niger are considered together |
| Kanuri | Nilo-Saharan | 4.7% | Southeast | |
| Arabic | Afro-Asiatic / Semitic | 0.4% | Southeast | Particularly spoken by the Diffa Arabs mainly in the Diffa Region |
| Gourmanchéma | Niger–Congo / Gur | 0.4% | Southwest corner | Spoken mainly by the Gurma people of southwest Niger |
| Tebu | Nilo-Saharan | 0.4% | East | Spoken mainly by the Toubou people of Eastern Niger |
| Other | N/A | 0.1% | Throughout | Any other languages |

## Languages by number of speakers (according to Ethnologue)

| Rank | Language | Speakers in Niger |
| 1 | Hausa | 14,500,000 |
| 2 | Zarma | 3,590,000 |
| 3 | French | 2,506,000 |
| 4 | Fulfulde, Central-Eastern Niger | 450,000 |
| 5 | Fulfulde, Western Niger | 450,000 |
| 6 | Tamajaq, Tawallammat | 450,000 |
| 7 | Kanuri, Manga | 280,000 |
| 8 | Tamajeq, Tayart | 250,000 |
| 9 | Kanuri, Yerwa | 80,000 |
| 10 | Dazaga | 50,000 |
| 11 | Kanuri, Tumari | 40,000 |
| 12 | Gourmanchéma | 30,000 |
| 13 | Tagdal | 26,900 |
| 14 | Kanuri, Bilma | 20,000 |
| 15 | Tamahaq, Tahaggart | 20,000 |
| 16 | Arabic, Hassaniyya | 19,000 |
| 17 | Arabic, Algerian Saharan Spoken | 10,000 |
| 18 | Tedaga | 10,000 |
| 19 | Arabic, Libyan Spoken | 9,300 |
| 20 | Arabic, Shuwa | 9,300 |
| 21 | Tasawaq | 8,000 |
| 22 | Arabic, Standard | 7,800 |
| 23 | Tetserret | 2,000 |

## By Region
### Dominant languages

| Region | Languages |
| Agadez Region | Tuareg, Kanuri |
| Diffa Region | Kanuri |
| Dosso Region | Zarma |
| Maradi Region | Hausa |
| Niamey | Zarma |
| Tahoua Region | Hausa |
| Tillabéri Region | Zarma |
| Zinder Region | Kanuri |