List of endangered languages of Oceania

This is a list of endangered languages of Oceania, based on the definitions used by UNESCO.

An endangered language is a language that it is at risk of falling out of use because there is little transmission of the language to younger generations. If a language loses all of its native speakers, it becomes an extinct language.

Australia

According to the 2016 census, English is the only language spoken in the home for close to 72.7% of the population. The next most common languages spoken at home are Mandarin (2.5%), Arabic (1.4%), Cantonese (1.2%), Vietnamese (1.2%) and Italian (1.2%). A considerable proportion of first- and second-generation migrants are bilingual.

Federated States of Micronesia

LanguageSpeakersStatusCommentsRefKapingamarangi language~3,000Severely endangered  Kosraean language~7,720Severely endangeredMicronesia & Nauru Mokilese language~1,500Critically endangered  Mortlockese language, Mortlockese~5,900Definitely endangered  Namonuito language, Namonuito Severely endangered  Ngatikese Men's Creole language, Ngatikese Men's Creole Definitely endangered  Nukuoro language, Nukuoro~1,540Definitely endangered  Nguluwan language   Paafang language, Paafang, Pááfang~1,300Severely endangered  Pingelapese language, Pingelapese~4,500Severely endangered  Puluwat language, Puluwat, Puluwatese~1,500Severely endangered  Satawal language, Satawal Severely endangered  Ulithian language, Ulithian Severely endangered  Woleaian language, Woleaian Severely endangered  

Indonesia

The UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger lists 88 endangered languages in Indonesia.

Melanesia New Caledonia

The following languages of New Caledonia may be considered endangered. LanguageSpeakersStatusCommentsRefArha language35Critically endangeredArhâ language(1996 census)Arho language 10Critically endangered  Caac language ~1,200Vulnerable  Drubea language Vulnerable  Fagauvea language (Northern) Vulnerable  Fagauvea language (Southern) Vulnerable  Fwâi language Vulnerable  Jawe language Vulnerable  Kumak language Vulnerable  Neku language Severely endangered  Nemi language Definitely endangered  Orowe language Definitely endangered  Pije language Severely endangered  Pwaamèi language Definitely endangered  Pwapwa language Severely endangered  Tiri language Definitely endangered  Voh-Koné dialects Definitely endangered  Xaragure language Vulnerable  

Papua New Guinea

Solomon Islands LanguageSpeakersStatusCommentsRefAsumboa language Severely endangered  Blablanga language Definitely endangered  Faghani language Vulnerable  Gao language Vulnerable  Hoava language Vulnerable  Kokota language Vulnerable  Lovono language4Critically endangered  Oroha language Severely endangered  Ririo language Critically endangered  Savo language Definitely endangered  Tanema language1Critically endangered  Tanimbili language Severely endangered  Teanu language1000Definitely endangered  Zazao language Critically endangered  

Vanuatu

LanguageSpeakersStatusCommentsRefAmblong language Definitely endangered  Araki language Critically endangered  Aveteian language Critically endangered  Baki language Vulnerable  Bangsa language Critically endangered  Bierebo language Vulnerable  Bieria language Critically endangered  Dorig language Definitely endangered  Emae language Vulnerable  Hiw language280Definitely endangered (2010 A.François)Koro language 250Definitely endangered  Labo language Vulnerable  Lakon language800Vulnerable  Lehali language200Vulnerable  Lemerig language2Critically endangered  Lorediakarkar language Critically endangered  Löyöp language240VulnerableLehalurup(2010 A.François)Mafea language Definitely endangered  Malmariv language Vulnerable  Matanvat language Critically endangered  Mores language Severely endangered  Mwesen language Critically endangered  Naati language (Näti) Critically endangered  Naman language Critically endangered  Nasarian language5Critically endangered (Nasarian at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015))Navwien language Critically endangered  Nisvai language Critically endangered  Nivat language Critically endangered  Niviar language Critically endangered  Olrat language0Critically endangered3 speakers in 2003; extinct in 2009. Polonomombauk language Definitely endangered  Repanbitip language Definitely endangered  Shark Bay language Vulnerable  Ske language Severely endangered  Sorsorian language (Sösörian) Critically endangered  Tambotalo language50Severely endangered (1983 SIL)Tape language Critically endangered  Tolomako language Definitely endangered  Tutuba language Definitely endangered  Umbrul language (Numbuwul) Critically endangered  Ura language6Critically endangered (1998 T Crowley)Vera'a language Definitely endangered  Volow language Critically endangered  

Palau LanguageSpeakersStatusCommentsRefTobian language22Critically endangered(1995 SIL)Sonsorolese language600Severely endangered

Polynesia

The following Polynesian languages considered endangered are mostly Polynesian outliers spoken by tiny minorities.

LanguageSpeakersStatusEthnologue entry(ISO 639-3) Rapa language (French Polynesia) Severely endangered Rapa Nui language (Chile) Severely endangered Niuafo'ou language (Tonga)   Nukumanu language (Papua New Guinea, Nukumanu Islands)   Nukuria language (Papua New Guinea)   Ontong Java language (Solomon Islands)   Sikaiana language (Solomon Islands)   Takuu language (Papua New Guinea)   Tuvaluan language (Tuvalu) Definitely endangered  Anuta language (Solomon Islands)  Futunan language (Wallis and Futuna)   Futuna-Aniwa language (Vanuatu)   Mele-Fila language (Vanuatu)   Rennell-Bellona language (Solomon Islands)   Tikopia language (Solomon Islands)   Vaeakau-Taumako language (Solomon Islands)   Pukapuka language (Cook Islands) Definitely endangered  Penrhyn language (Cook Islands) Severely endangered  Tokelauan language (Tokelau) Severely endangered 

Other LanguageLocationSpeakersStatusCommentsRefAustral languageFrench Polynesia Definitely endangered  Chamorro languageGuam/Northern Mariana Islands Vulnerable  Mangareva languageFrench Polynesia Severely endangered  Rakahanga-Manihiki languageCook Islands Definitely endangered  Nauruan languageNauru Severely endangered  Niuean languageNiue Definitely endangered Vagahau Niue Norfuk language (Norfolk)Norfolk Island Definitely endangered  Norfuk language (Pitcairn)Pitcairn Vulnerable  Penrhyn languageCook Islands Severely endangered  Pukapukan languageCook Islands Definitely endangered  Cook Islands Māori Cook Islands VulnerableRarotongan language Rotuman languageFiji Vulnerable  Tokelauan languageTokelau Severely endangered  Tuamotuan languageFrench Polynesia Definitely endangered  Tuvaluan languageTuvalu Definitely endangered  Hawaiian languageHawai'i Critically endangered  

References