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Languages · Africa

Flag of DR CongoWhat Language Do They Speak in DR Congo?

The official language of DR Congo is French. In total about 203 living languages are spoken there, the most common being French (51%), Swahili (50%) and Kituba (Congo) (16%).

1
Official language
203
Living languages · #8
4
Regional official languages
36
Endangered languages

Official languages of DR Congo

Official

French

français

51% of the population · Indo-European

Regional official

Swahili

Kiswahili

50% of the population · Atlantic-Congo

Regional official

Luba-Lulua

Ciluba

10% of the population · Atlantic-Congo

Regional official

Lingala

Lingála

3% of the population · Atlantic-Congo

Regional official

Kongo

Kikongo

2% of the population · Atlantic-Congo

Most spoken languages in DR Congo

French Official
51%
Swahili Regional official
50%
Kituba (Congo)
16%
Luba-Lulua Regional official
10%
9%
8%
San Salvador Kongo
5%
5%
4%
Lingala Regional official
3%
3%
2%
Share of the population who speak the language (first or second language).

Languages of neighbouring countries

Flag of AngolaPortuguese
Flag of ZambiaEnglish
Flag of Republic of the CongoFrench
Flag of Central African RepublicFrench
Flag of UgandaEnglish
Flag of South SudanEnglish
Flag of TanzaniaEnglish
Flag of BurundiEnglish
Flag of RwandaEnglish

All languages of DR Congo (203)

LanguageSpeakers hereFamilyStatus
French58,855,530 · 51%Indo-EuropeanOfficial
Swahili57,701,500 · 50%Atlantic-CongoRegional official
Kituba (Congo)18,200,000 · 16%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Luba-Lulua11,078,688 · 10%Atlantic-CongoRegional official
Nande10,000,000 · 9%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Congo Swahili9,100,000 · 8%Atlantic-CongoSafe
San Salvador Kongo5,464,000 · 5%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Kituba (Democratic Republic of Congo)5,400,000 · 5%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Koongo5,000,000 · 4%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Lingala3,577,493 · 3%Atlantic-CongoRegional official
Bangala3,500,000 · 3%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Luba-Katanga2,654,268 · 2%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Kongo1,731,045 · 2%Atlantic-CongoRegional official
Alur1,700,000 · 1%NiloticSafe
Zande1,100,000 · 0.95%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ngbaka1,000,000 · 0.87%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Songe1,000,000 · 0.87%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Lonzo900,000 · 0.78%——
Ngongo900,000 · 0.78%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Pelende900,000 · 0.78%——
Hamba760,000 · 0.66%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Lendu760,000 · 0.66%Central SudanicSafe
Tetela760,000 · 0.66%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mongo703,958 · 0.61%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Yombe670,000 · 0.58%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mangbetu660,000 · 0.57%Central SudanicSafe
Nyindu660,000 · 0.57%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Lombi650,000 · 0.56%Central SudanicSafe
Shi650,000 · 0.56%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ngundu580,000 · 0.5%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Havu510,000 · 0.44%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Chokwe500,000 · 0.43%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Southern Ngbandi470,000 · 0.41%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Kanu450,000 · 0.39%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Lega-Shabunda450,000 · 0.39%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Kinyarwanda438,531 · 0.38%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Sanga (Democratic Republic of Congo)430,000 · 0.37%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Phende420,000 · 0.36%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Fuliiru400,000 · 0.35%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Joba400,000 · 0.35%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Komo (Democratic Republic of Congo)400,000 · 0.35%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Yamongeri400,000 · 0.35%BookkeepingSafe
Mbandja360,000 · 0.31%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Nzakara300,000 · 0.26%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Taabwa280,000 · 0.24%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Northern Ngbandi250,000 · 0.22%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bembe250,000 · 0.22%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Ruund250,000 · 0.22%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Salampasu244,000 · 0.21%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Budza230,000 · 0.2%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Tembo (Motembo)230,000 · 0.2%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ngando (Democratic Republic of Congo)220,000 · 0.19%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Logo210,000 · 0.18%Central SudanicSafe
Bwa200,000 · 0.17%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Hunde200,000 · 0.17%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Kanyok200,000 · 0.17%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mbala200,000 · 0.17%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Ibali Teke200,000 · 0.17%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Yaka (Democratic Republic of Congo)200,000 · 0.17%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Budu180,000 · 0.16%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Hemba180,000 · 0.16%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Kela (Democratic Republic of Congo)180,000 · 0.16%——
Yela180,000 · 0.16%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bangubangu170,000 · 0.15%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Binji170,000 · 0.15%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Seba170,000 · 0.15%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Bushoong160,000 · 0.14%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ding160,000 · 0.14%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Foma160,000 · 0.14%BookkeepingSafe
Kele (Democratic Republic of Congo)160,000 · 0.14%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ngul160,000 · 0.14%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mbuun160,000 · 0.14%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Ngombe (Democratic Republic of Congo)150,000 · 0.13%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Nyanga150,000 · 0.13%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Tembo (Kitembo)150,000 · 0.13%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mfinu150,000 · 0.13%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Poke130,000 · 0.11%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bangi120,000 · 0.1%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Bira120,000 · 0.1%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Hema120,000 · 0.1%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Zimba120,000 · 0.1%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ndrulo110,000 · 0.1%Central SudanicSafe
Bolia100,000 · 0.09%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Lengola100,000 · 0.09%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mayogo100,000 · 0.09%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mbole100,000 · 0.09%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ngiti100,000 · 0.09%Central SudanicSafe
Ntomba100,000 · 0.09%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Yansi100,000 · 0.09%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Nyali100,000 · 0.09%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Suku100,000 · 0.09%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Tiene100,000 · 0.09%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Sonde96,000 · 0.08%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Omi91,000 · 0.08%Central SudanicSafe
Likila80,000 · 0.07%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mabaale80,000 · 0.07%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ndobo80,000 · 0.07%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Keliko80,000 · 0.07%Central SudanicSafe
Efe70,000 · 0.06%Central SudanicSafe
Lika60,000 · 0.05%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Lobala60,000 · 0.05%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Mamvu60,000 · 0.05%Central SudanicSafe
Lalia55,000 · 0.05%——
Mituku51,000 · 0.04%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Lese50,000 · 0.04%Central SudanicSafe
Kobo50,000 · 0.04%——
Songomeno50,000 · 0.04%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Luna50,000 · 0.04%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bhele47,000 · 0.04%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Lega-Mwenga45,000 · 0.04%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ligenza43,000 · 0.04%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Lusengo42,000 · 0.04%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Avokaya40,000 · 0.03%Central SudanicSafe
Kango (Tshopo District)40,000 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Bila40,000 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Hungana40,000 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Nyanga-li40,000 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoMoribund
Mba36,000 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Boma35,000 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bendi32,000 · 0.03%Central SudanicSafe
Samba32,000 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Asoa26,000 · 0.02%Central SudanicSafe
Barambu26,000 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Kusu26,000 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Lele (Democratic Republic of Congo)26,000 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mayeka25,000 · 0.02%——
Ngbinda25,000 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoNearly extinct
Ndaka25,000 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Monzombo25,000 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Pagibete25,000 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Sakata25,000 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Holu20,000 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Yango19,000 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Sengele17,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Holoholo16,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Enya15,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mangbutu15,000 · 0.01%Central SudanicThreatened
Zula15,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bali (Democratic Republic of Congo)15,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bomboma15,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Ombo15,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Togbo-Vara Banda15,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ngelima14,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Dongo13,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Kaeku13,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mbo (Democratic Republic of Congo)11,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Buyu10,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Libinza10,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Lombo10,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Kpala10,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Dengese8,600 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bwela8,400 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Kete8,400 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Kabwari8,400 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mbesa8,400 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bomboli8,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Bozaba8,000 · 0.01%——
Ndolo8,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Baloi8,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bamwe8,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Gobu8,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Songo7,100 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Vanuma6,700 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
So (Democratic Republic of Congo)6,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Dzando6,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Gilima6,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Buraka5,000 · 0%BookkeepingThreatened
Furu5,000 · 0%Central SudanicSafe
Kari5,000 · 0%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Ma (Democratic Republic of Congo)4,700 · 0%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Amba (Uganda)4,500 · 0%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Yulu4,500 · 0%Central SudanicVulnerable
Moingi4,200 · 0%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Boloki4,000 · 0%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Bolondo3,000 · 0%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Babango2,600 · 0%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ndunga2,500 · 0%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Beeke1,000 · 0%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Kwami200 · 0%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Bwile—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Teke-Ebo—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Dendi (Central African Republic)—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Teke-Fuumu—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Ali—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bangba—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Boko (Democratic Republic of Congo)—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Boguru—Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Doondo—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Gbanziri—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Kango (Bas-Uélé District)—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Kwese—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Langbashe—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Lwalu—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mono (Democratic Republic of Congo)—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Moi (Congo)—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Mvuba—Central SudanicThreatened
Nkutu—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ngbundu—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Nzadi—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Riverain Sango—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Songoora—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Sere—Atlantic-CongoNearly extinct
Wongo—Atlantic-CongoSafe

Frequently asked questions

What language do they speak in DR Congo?

The official language of DR Congo is French. In total about 203 living languages are spoken there, the most common being French (51%), Swahili (50%) and Kituba (Congo) (16%).

What is the official language of DR Congo?

French. Regional official languages: Swahili, Luba-Lulua, Lingala and Kongo.

Is English spoken in DR Congo?

English is not widely spoken in DR Congo — learn a few words of French before you go.

How many languages are spoken in DR Congo?

About 203 living languages — #8 in the world for linguistic diversity. 36 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).

DR Congo country profileLanguages by country