Languages · Africa
What Language Do They Speak in Burkina Faso?
The official language of Burkina Faso is French. In total about 62 living languages are spoken there, the most common being Mossi (40%), Dyula (32%) and French (25%).
1
Official language
62
Living languages · #35
0
Regional official languages
3
Endangered languages
Official languages of Burkina Faso
Most spoken languages in Burkina Faso
40%
32%
French Official
25%Gourmanchéma
4%Bissa
3%Marka
2%Lobi
1%Kasem
1%Southern Samo
1%Northern Bobo Madaré
0.95%Share of the population who speak the language (first or second language).
All languages of Burkina Faso (62)
| Language | Speakers here | Family | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mossi | 9,216,880 · 40% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Dyula | 7,373,504 · 32% | Mande | Safe |
| French | 5,760,550 · 25% | Indo-European | Official |
| Dagaari Dioula | 1,100,000 · 5% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Northern Dagara | 1,100,000 · 5% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Gourmanchéma | 900,000 · 4% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Bissa | 775,179 · 3% | Mande | Safe |
| Marka | 375,844 · 2% | Mande | Safe |
| Lobi | 281,883 · 1% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Kasem | 250,000 · 1% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Southern Samo | 230,000 · 1% | Mande | Safe |
| Northern Bobo Madaré | 220,000 · 0.95% | Mande | Safe |
| Southern Bobo Madaré | 220,000 · 0.95% | Mande | Safe |
| Southern Nuni | 210,000 · 0.91% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Senara Sénoufo | 210,000 · 0.91% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Koromfé | 200,000 · 0.87% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Buamu | 190,000 · 0.82% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Sissala | 180,000 · 0.78% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Bomu | 150,000 · 0.65% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Lyélé | 130,000 · 0.56% | Atlantic-Congo | Threatened |
| Malba Birifor | 110,000 · 0.48% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Matya Samo | 100,000 · 0.43% | Mande | Safe |
| Láá Láá Bwamu | 69,000 · 0.3% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Eastern Karaboro | 65,000 · 0.28% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Cerma | 63,000 · 0.27% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Northern Nuni | 60,000 · 0.26% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Maya Samo | 52,732 · 0.23% | Mande | Safe |
| Nanerigé Sénoufo | 50,000 · 0.22% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Sìcìté Sénoufo | 35,000 · 0.15% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Humburi Senni Songhay | 34,000 · 0.15% | Songhay | Safe |
| Western Karaboro | 30,000 · 0.13% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Cwi Bwamu | 24,000 · 0.1% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Siamou | 20,000 · 0.09% | — | Safe |
| Winyé | 20,000 · 0.09% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Northern Toussian | 20,000 · 0.09% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Southern Toussian | 20,000 · 0.09% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Dogosé | 20,000 · 0.09% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Turka | 18,000 · 0.08% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Seeku | 17,000 · 0.07% | Mande | Safe |
| Phuie | 14,000 · 0.06% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Dzùùngoo | 13,000 · 0.06% | Mande | Safe |
| Jowulu | 10,000 · 0.04% | Mande | Safe |
| Dogoso | 9,000 · 0.04% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Viemo | 8,000 · 0.03% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Téén | 6,100 · 0.03% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Kalamsé | 6,000 · 0.03% | Atlantic-Congo | Vulnerable |
| Kaansa | 6,000 · 0.03% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Sininkere | 6,000 · 0.03% | Mande | Vulnerable |
| Khisa | 5,000 · 0.02% | Atlantic-Congo | Vulnerable |
| Wara | 4,500 · 0.02% | Atlantic-Congo | Vulnerable |
| Pana (Burkina Faso) | 4,000 · 0.02% | Atlantic-Congo | Vulnerable |
| Natioro | 2,400 · 0.01% | Atlantic-Congo | Threatened |
| Kantosi | 2,300 · 0.01% | Atlantic-Congo | Vulnerable |
| Jalkunan | 2,000 · 0.01% | Mande | Vulnerable |
| Kpeego | 2,000 · 0.01% | Mande | Safe |
| Khe | 1,300 · 0.01% | Atlantic-Congo | Vulnerable |
| Tiéfo | 1,000 · 0% | Atlantic-Congo | Vulnerable |
| Paleni | 260 · 0% | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Fulah | — | Atlantic-Congo | — |
| Bolon | — | Mande | Threatened |
| Dyan | — | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
| Palaka Senoufo | — | Atlantic-Congo | Safe |
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Frequently asked questions
What language do they speak in Burkina Faso?
The official language of Burkina Faso is French. In total about 62 living languages are spoken there, the most common being Mossi (40%), Dyula (32%) and French (25%).
What is the official language of Burkina Faso?
French.
Is English spoken in Burkina Faso?
English is not widely spoken in Burkina Faso — learn a few words of French before you go.
How many languages are spoken in Burkina Faso?
About 62 living languages — #35 in the world for linguistic diversity. 3 of them are endangered.
Data: Languages of the World dataset (MIT) — ISO 639-3, Glottolog (CC BY 4.0), Unicode CLDR, Google LinguaMeta (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata; country lists: samayo/country-json (MIT).