|
This is a complete list of the official languages designated in the sovereign states of the world. It includes all languages that have official language status either statewide or in a part of the state, or that have status as a national language, regional language, or minority language.
Only states, which are defined as sovereign, internationally recognised, independent political entities, are listed. This is not a list of countries or nations, although many states listed, are simultaneously also countries and/or nations.
For dependent territories, refer to the corresponding sovereign states.
[edit] Definitions
- Official language: one designated as having a unique legal status in the state, typically, the language used in a nation's legislative bodies, and often, official government business
- Regional language: one designated as having official status limited to a specific area, administrative division, or territory of the state (on this page a regional language will have parentheses next to it that contain a region, province, etc. where the language has regional status)
- Minority language: (as used here) one spoken by a minority population within the state and officially designated as such; typically afforded protection and designated an officially permissible language for legal and government business in a specific area or territory of the state (on this page a minority language will be followed by parentheses that identify its minority status)
- National language: one that uniquely represents the national identity of a state, nation, and/or country and so designated by a country's government; some are technically minority languages (on this page a national language will be followed by parentheses that identify it as a national language status). Some countries have more than one language with this status.
 Afghanistan[1]
- Pashto (statewide) (official)
- Dari (statewide) (official)
- Uzbek (statewide) (third official language in areas where spoken by majority of population)
- Turkmen (statewide) (third official language in areas where spoken by majority of population)
- Pashai (statewide) (third official language in areas where spoken by majority of population)
- Nuristani (statewide) (third official language in areas where spoken by majority of population)
- Balochi (statewide) (third official language in areas where spoken by majority of population)
- Pamiri (statewide) (third official language in areas where spoken by majority of population)
 Colombia
- Spanish (the languages and dialects of ethnic groups are also official in their territories [13])
 Japan
- No official language nationwide, Japanese is the de facto official language and the national language.
- Ryukyuan (minority language)
- Ainu (minority language)
- Korean (minority language)
 Norway (Languages of Norway)
- Norwegian (statewide) (Bokmål and Nynorsk are the official forms, and municipalities choose between them or a neutral stance.
- Sami (indigenous language in vast areas from Engerdal to the Russian border, official administrative language in Kautokeino, Karasjok, Gáivuotna - Kåfjord), Nesseby, Porsanger, Tana, Tysfjord, and Snåsa)
- Kven (national minority language, administrative language in Porsanger
- Romani (national minority language)
- Scandoromani (national minority language)
|
.svg){kind=small}
