The 4 least spoken languages in the world – one with just a single speaker left

While some languages have had government-backed revivals, such as Welsh, others are disappearing over time in South America, the Pacific and Africa. There are around 7,168 languages spoken around the world, but around half the world uses just 23 of them, according to data from Ethnologue – in fact, 40 percent of living languages are spoken by less than 1,000 people. The Express has pulled together a list of four of the languages most at risk, all with ten speakers or less.

Lemerig (Vanuatu)

This language used to be the most common one in the islands of Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean, but now Lemerig is thought to have just two speakers left. The languages of Mwotlap and Vera’a slowly replaced it, but even these combined are only spoken by 2,000 people, making them almost as endangered.

Njerep (Nigeria)

One of Africa’s most linguistically diverse countries with over 520 native languages, Njerep spoken in Nigeria is used by just six people, a group known by the same name.

On the other end of the scale, the Hausa language is spoken by around 48 million people in Nigeria; Yoruba has around 39 million speakers; and Igbo is spoken by around 27 million, according to Statista in 2021.

Ongota (Ethiopia)

A far as records show, there were just 10 remaining speakers of this language in 2007, which may have decreased in the 18 years that have passed. The endangered language shares its name with the agrarian village where its speakers live.

Tanema (Solomon Islands)

Also known as Tetawo, this endangered language on the island of Vanikoro is thought to have just one remaining speaker, but some of its tiny population also speak it as a second language. However, most of the 150 inhabitants speak the related language of Tetau.