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Languages · Asia

Flag of ChinaWhat Language Do They Speak in China?

The official language of China is Chinese. In total about 295 living languages are spoken there, the most common being Chinese (90%), Mandarin Chinese (89%) and E (78%).

1
Official language
295
Living languages · #5
5
Regional official languages
109
Endangered languages

Official languages of China

Official

Chinese

中文

90% of the population · Sino-Tibetan

Regional official

Uighur

ئۇيغۇر تىلى

<1% of the population · Turkic

Regional official

Zhuang

Vahcuengh

<1% of the population · Tai-Kadai

Regional official

Mongolian

Монгол

<1% of the population · Mongolic-Khitan

Regional official

Tibetan

བོད་ཡིག

<1% of the population · Sino-Tibetan

Regional official

Korean

한국어

<1% of the population · Koreanic

Most spoken languages in China

Chinese Official
90%
89%
E
78%
6%
5%
4%
3%
2%
2%
2%
Liuqian Zhuang
1%
0.67%
Share of the population who speak the language (first or second language).

Languages commonly listed for China

ChineseDongHuiMant¬öuMiaoMongolianPuyiTibetanTujiaUighurYiZhuang

Languages of neighbouring countries

Flag of MongoliaMongolian
Flag of RussiaRussian
Flag of IndiaEnglish
Flag of MyanmarBurmese
Flag of KazakhstanKazakh
Flag of NepalNepali
Flag of North KoreaKorean
Flag of VietnamVietnamese
Flag of KyrgyzstanKirghiz
Flag of BhutanDzongkha
Flag of TajikistanTajik
Flag of LaosLao
Flag of PakistanEnglish
Flag of AfghanistanPersian

All languages of China (295)

LanguageSpeakers hereFamilyStatus
Chinese1,274,436,000 · 90%Sino-TibetanOfficial
Mandarin Chinese1,255,000,000 · 89%Sino-TibetanSafe
E1,100,000,000 · 78%Tai-KadaiThreatened
Wu Chinese84,962,400 · 6%Sino-TibetanSafe
Yue Chinese73,634,080 · 5%Sino-TibetanSafe
Jinyu Chinese63,000,000 · 4%Sino-TibetanSafe
Xiang Chinese41,065,160 · 3%Sino-TibetanSafe
Hakka Chinese32,568,919 · 2%Sino-TibetanSafe
Min Nan Chinese26,904,760 · 2%Sino-TibetanSafe
Gan Chinese24,072,680 · 2%Sino-TibetanSafe
Liuqian Zhuang20,000,000 · 1%Tai-KadaiThreatened
Min Dong Chinese9,500,000 · 0.67%Sino-TibetanSafe
Sichuan Yi8,496,240 · 0.6%Sino-TibetanSafe
Uighur7,788,220 · 0.55%TurkicRegional official
Hmong7,700,000 · 0.54%Hmong-Mien—
Northern Ping Chinese7,000,000 · 0.49%Sino-TibetanSafe
Southern Ping Chinese7,000,000 · 0.49%Sino-TibetanSafe
Huizhou Chinese4,600,000 · 0.32%Sino-TibetanSafe
Zhuang4,389,724 · 0.31%Tai-KadaiRegional official
Chuanqiandian Cluster Miao3,700,000 · 0.26%Hmong-MienSafe
Mongolian3,681,704 · 0.26%Mongolic-KhitanRegional official
Min Zhong Chinese3,500,000 · 0.25%Sino-TibetanSafe
Peripheral Mongolian3,400,000 · 0.24%Mongolic-KhitanThreatened
Tibetan2,832,080 · 0.2%Sino-TibetanRegional official
Pu-Xian Chinese2,600,000 · 0.18%Sino-TibetanSafe
Bouyei2,600,000 · 0.18%Tai-KadaiSafe
Min Bei Chinese2,200,000 · 0.16%Sino-TibetanSafe
Korean2,124,060 · 0.15%KoreanicRegional official
Yongbei Zhuang2,000,000 · 0.14%Tai-KadaiSafe
Panyi Bai2,000,000 · 0.14%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Amdo Tibetan1,800,000 · 0.13%Sino-TibetanSafe
Yongnan Zhuang1,800,000 · 0.13%Tai-KadaiSafe
Northern Dong1,500,000 · 0.11%Tai-KadaiThreatened
Southern Dong1,500,000 · 0.11%Tai-KadaiSafe
Khams Tibetan1,400,000 · 0.1%Sino-TibetanSafe
Zuojiang Zhuang1,384,000 · 0.1%Tai-KadaiSafe
Guibei Zhuang1,300,000 · 0.09%Tai-KadaiSafe
Kazakh1,203,634 · 0.09%TurkicSafe
Northern Qiandong Miao1,200,000 · 0.08%Hmong-MienSafe
Eastern Hongshuihe Zhuang1,200,000 · 0.08%Tai-KadaiSafe
Guibian Zhuang1,000,000 · 0.07%Tai-KadaiSafe
Western Xiangxi Miao900,000 · 0.06%Hmong-MienSafe
Eastern Xiangxi Miao900,000 · 0.06%Hmong-MienSafe
Youjiang Zhuang870,000 · 0.06%Tai-KadaiSafe
Iu Mien840,000 · 0.06%Hmong-MienSafe
Central Bai800,000 · 0.06%Sino-TibetanSafe
Yang Zhuang765,000 · 0.05%Tai-KadaiSafe
Hani760,000 · 0.05%Sino-TibetanSafe
Hlai700,000 · 0.05%Tai-KadaiSafe
Lisu637,218 · 0.05%Sino-TibetanSafe
Lahu Shi600,000 · 0.04%Sino-TibetanSafe
Lingao600,000 · 0.04%Tai-KadaiSafe
Nong Zhuang600,000 · 0.04%Tai-KadaiSafe
Lahu530,000 · 0.04%Sino-TibetanSafe
Southern Qiandong Miao500,000 · 0.04%Hmong-MienSafe
Wusa Nasu500,000 · 0.04%Sino-TibetanSafe
Kirghiz481,453 · 0.03%TurkicSafe
Southern Bai400,000 · 0.03%Sino-TibetanSafe
Bu-Nao Bunu390,000 · 0.03%Hmong-MienThreatened
Lolopo380,000 · 0.03%Sino-TibetanSafe
Kim Mun370,000 · 0.03%Hmong-MienSafe
Kalmyk360,000 · 0.03%Mongolic-KhitanThreatened
Eastern Qiandong Miao350,000 · 0.02%Hmong-MienSafe
Narua350,000 · 0.02%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Naxi339,849 · 0.02%Sino-TibetanSafe
Dongshanba Lalo320,000 · 0.02%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Eastern Lalu320,000 · 0.02%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Large Flowery Miao300,000 · 0.02%Hmong-MienSafe
Northwestern Nisu300,000 · 0.02%Sino-TibetanSafe
Sui300,000 · 0.02%Tai-KadaiSafe
Waxianghua300,000 · 0.02%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Lü269,047 · 0.02%Tai-KadaiSafe
Tai Nüa269,047 · 0.02%Tai-KadaiSafe
Hmong Shua250,000 · 0.02%Hmong-MienSafe
Lipo250,000 · 0.02%Sino-TibetanSafe
Wuding-Luquan Yi250,000 · 0.02%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Hmong Daw240,726 · 0.02%Hmong-MienSafe
Southern Nisu210,000 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanMoribund
Xishanba Lalo210,000 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Dongxiang200,000 · 0.01%Mongolic-KhitanThreatened
Southwestern Guiyang Hmong190,000 · 0.01%Hmong-MienSafe
Southern Lolopo190,000 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Minz Zhuang180,000 · 0.01%Tai-KadaiSafe
Northern Nisu160,000 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Tu150,000 · 0.01%Mongolic-KhitanVulnerable
Choni150,000 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanSafe
Jiarong150,000 · 0.01%——
Wumeng Nasu150,000 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Western Mashan Hmong140,000 · 0.01%Hmong-MienThreatened
Honi140,000 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanSafe
Qiubei Zhuang140,000 · 0.01%Tai-KadaiSafe
Tai Ya136,000 · 0.01%Tai-KadaiSafe
Biyo120,000 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanSafe
Zaiwa110,000 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanSafe
Gepo100,000 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanSafe
Axi Yi100,000 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Sani100,000 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanSafe
Ayizi100,000 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanNearly extinct
Dai Zhuang100,000 · 0.01%Tai-KadaiThreatened
Daur91,000 · 0.01%Mongolic-KhitanVulnerable
Mulam86,000 · 0.01%Tai-KadaiVulnerable
Small Flowery Miao84,000 · 0.01%Hmong-MienSafe
Northern Guiyang Hmong84,000 · 0.01%Hmong-MienSafe
Western Lawa82,130 · 0.01%AustroasiaticThreatened
Southern Qiang81,000 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Biao80,000 · 0.01%Tai-KadaiSafe
Cun80,000 · 0.01%Tai-KadaiMoribund
Eastern Nisu75,000 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Northern Tujia70,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanMoribund
Southern Tujia70,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanMoribund
Blang68,000 · 0%AustroasiaticSafe
China Buriat65,000 · 0%Mongolic-KhitanThreatened
Cao Miao64,000 · 0%Tai-KadaiSafe
English63,721 · 0%Indo-EuropeanSafe
Achang60,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Dzao Min60,000 · 0%Hmong-MienSafe
Ge60,000 · 0%Hmong-MienThreatened
Northern Qiang57,800 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Hmong Njua56,641 · 0%Hmong-MienSafe
Azhe56,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanSafe
Bokha55,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Qila Muji55,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Northern Muji55,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Phuma55,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Northern Pumi54,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Azha53,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanSafe
sTodsde50,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Horpa50,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Tai Hongjin45,000 · 0%Tai-KadaiVulnerable
Biao-Jiao Mien45,000 · 0%Hmong-MienNearly extinct
Luopohe Hmong40,000 · 0%Hmong-MienSafe
U40,000 · 0%AustroasiaticVulnerable
Western Lalu38,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Hlepho Phowa36,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Labo Phowa36,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Ache35,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Pa-Hng34,000 · 0%Hmong-MienThreatened
Sarikoli33,000 · 0%Indo-EuropeanThreatened
Maonan30,000 · 0%Tai-KadaiVulnerable
Xibe30,000 · 0%TungusicThreatened
Pholo30,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Miqie30,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Limi29,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanSafe
Southern Muji26,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Aluo25,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Phala25,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Phola25,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Alo Phola25,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Mili23,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Biao Mon23,000 · 0%Hmong-MienThreatened
Youle Jinuo21,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanMoribund
Buyuan Jinuo21,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Baima20,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Chadong20,000 · 0%Tai-KadaiThreatened
Kaduo20,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Samei20,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Awu20,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Southern Pumi19,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Evenki17,000 · 0%TungusicVulnerable
Ersu16,800 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Hlersu15,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Naluo Yi15,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Southwestern Nisu15,000 · 0%BookkeepingThreatened
Russian14,160 · 0%Indo-EuropeanSafe
Akeu14,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Alugu14,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanSafe
Enu14,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Phupha14,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Talu14,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Groma13,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Nusu13,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanSafe
Riang Lang12,000 · 0%AustroasiaticThreatened
Salar10,000 · 0%TurkicVulnerable
Dolpo10,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Muzi10,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Ani Phowa10,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Younuo Bunu9,700 · 0%Hmong-MienVulnerable
Lakkia9,000 · 0%Tai-KadaiVulnerable
Drung8,500 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Bonan8,000 · 0%Mongolic-KhitanVulnerable
Vietnamese7,080 · 0%AustroasiaticSafe
Idu-Mishmi7,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Anong7,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanNearly extinct
Queyu7,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Guiqiong6,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Wunai Bunu5,800 · 0%Hmong-MienVulnerable
Uzbek5,664 · 0%Turkic—
Kua-nsi5,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanSafe
Kathu5,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Red Gelao5,000 · 0%Tai-KadaiNearly extinct
West Yugur4,600 · 0%TurkicVulnerable
Tsat4,000 · 0%AustronesianVulnerable
Katso4,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Wutunhua4,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
East Yugur4,000 · 0%Mongolic-KhitanThreatened
Chesu3,300 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Southern Guiyang Hmong3,000 · 0%Hmong-MienSafe
Bugan2,700 · 0%AustroasiaticThreatened
Ai-Cham2,700 · 0%Tai-KadaiThreatened
Eastern Minyag2,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Qau2,000 · 0%Tai-KadaiMoribund
Western Minyag2,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Muda2,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Tanglang2,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Baha Buyang2,000 · 0%Tai-KadaiMoribund
Moji2,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Shuhi1,800 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Sangkong1,500 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Langnian Buyang1,500 · 0%Tai-KadaiMoribund
Yerong1,500 · 0%Tai-KadaiVulnerable
E'ma Buyang1,500 · 0%Tai-KadaiVulnerable
Digaro-Mishmi1,500 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Tawang Monpa1,300 · 0%BookkeepingVulnerable
Jiongnai Bunu1,100 · 0%Hmong-MienVulnerable
Hu1,000 · 0%AustroasiaticVulnerable
Kon Keu1,000 · 0%BookkeepingThreatened
Kangjia1,000 · 0%Mongolic-KhitanMoribund
Mak (China)1,000 · 0%Tai-KadaiVulnerable
Kuanhua1,000 · 0%BookkeepingVulnerable
Kuamasi1,000 · 0%Sino-TibetanSafe
She910 · 0%Hmong-MienMoribund
Kemiehua900 · 0%BookkeepingThreatened
Man Met900 · 0%AustroasiaticVulnerable
Sakizaya590AustronesianSafe
Bolyu500AustroasiaticMoribund
Pela400Sino-TibetanThreatened
Samatao400Sino-TibetanNearly extinct
Bumang200BookkeepingVulnerable
Thopho200Sino-TibetanThreatened
Ili Turki120TurkicNearly extinct
Lamu120Sino-TibetanVulnerable
A'ou50Tai-KadaiNearly extinct
Lawu50Sino-TibetanNearly extinct
Macanese50Indo-EuropeanNearly extinct
Manchu20TungusicNearly extinct
Horned Miao8Hmong-MienSafe
Tshangla—Sino-TibetanThreatened
Dzalakha—Sino-TibetanThreatened
Kurtokha—Sino-TibetanThreatened
Kháng—AustroasiaticVulnerable
Ainu (China)—TurkicVulnerable
Namuyi—Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Eastern Gorkha Tamang—Sino-TibetanThreatened
Nubri—Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Oroqen—TungusicMoribund
Baraamu—Sino-TibetanNearly extinct
Bit—AustroasiaticMoribund
Chinese Pidgin English—PidginVulnerable
Southern Mashan Hmong—Hmong-MienThreatened
Central Huishui Hmong—Hmong-MienSafe
Eastern Huishui Hmong—Hmong-MienThreatened
Southwestern Huishui Hmong—Hmong-MienSafe
Northern Huishui Hmong—Hmong-MienSafe
Central Mashan Hmong—Hmong-MienSafe
Northern Mashan Hmong—Hmong-MienSafe
Hmong Dô—Hmong-MienSafe
Humla—Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Jiamao—Tai-KadaiSafe
Guanyinqiao—Sino-TibetanSafe
Kinnauri—Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Kyerung—Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Khuen—AustroasiaticSafe
Bumthangkha—Sino-TibetanThreatened
Kang—BookkeepingSafe
Qabiao—Tai-KadaiMoribund
Tinani—Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Lachi—Tai-KadaiVulnerable
Lhomi—Sino-TibetanThreatened
Kucong—Sino-TibetanThreatened
Laomian—Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Mugom—Sino-TibetanSafe
Pa Di—Tai-KadaiVulnerable
Phukha—Sino-TibetanThreatened
Sila—Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Samtao—AustroasiaticSafe
T'en—Tai-KadaiVulnerable
Thangmi—Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Tseku—Sino-TibetanThreatened
Tsum—Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Taivoan———
Awa (China)—AustroasiaticThreatened
Chepya—Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Khlula—Sino-TibetanThreatened
Lang'e—BookkeepingSafe
Phupa—Sino-TibetanThreatened
Phuza—Sino-TibetanThreatened
Nisi (China)—Sino-TibetanSafe
Sanie—Sino-TibetanMoribund
Zokhuo—Sino-TibetanThreatened
Zauzou—Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Central Hongshuihe Zhuang—Tai-KadaiSafe
Zhaba—Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Liujiang Zhuang—Tai-KadaiSafe
Lianshan Zhuang—Tai-KadaiMoribund
Mang—AustroasiaticMoribund

Frequently asked questions

What language do they speak in China?

The official language of China is Chinese. In total about 295 living languages are spoken there, the most common being Chinese (90%), Mandarin Chinese (89%) and E (78%).

What is the official language of China?

Chinese. Regional official languages: Uighur, Zhuang, Mongolian, Tibetan and Korean.

Is English spoken in China?

About 0% of people in China speak English (63,721).

How many languages are spoken in China?

About 295 living languages — #5 in the world for linguistic diversity. 109 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).

China country profileLanguages by country