Languages of Niger

The national and official language of Niger is Hausa. French served as the country's official language until 2025 when it was replaced with Hausa as per the transitional charter introduced under Abdourahamane Tiani.

Different sources estimate that Niger has between 8 and 20 indigenous languages, belonging to the Afroasiatic, Nilo-Saharan and Niger–Congo families – the discrepancy stems from the fact that several are closely related, and can be grouped together or considered apart.

Official language The sole official language of Niger is Hausa,République du Niger, "The massive African country that's just adopted a new official language" express.co.uk (accessed 20 April 2025) which in 2025 replaced French, the previous official language.

French, inherited from the colonial period is spoken mainly as a second language by people who have received an education (20% of Nigeriens are literate in French, and even 47% in cities, growing quickly as literacy improveshttp://www.odsef.fss.ulaval.ca/sites/odsef.fss.ulaval.ca/files/odsef_rr_alphab_niger_2015_final2.pdf, page 18-19.). Although educated Nigeriens still constitute a relatively small percentage of the population, the French language is the language used by the official administration (courts, government, etc.), the media and the business community. Niger is a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie. See also: African French

Previously, it was listed that Niger had ten official national languages, namely Arabic, Buduma, Fulfulde, Gourmanchéma, Hausa, Kanuri, Zarma & Songhai, Tamasheq, Tassawaq, Tebu.République du Niger, "Loi n° 2001-037 du 31 décembre 2001 fixant les modalités de promotion et de développement des langues nationales." L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde (accessed 14 October 2014) However, the status of these languages was revoked later and not mentioned in the 2025 transitional charter introduced under Abdourahamane Tiani.

List Language Family Approx % Main region Notes Hausa Afro-Asiatic / Chadic 55.4% South, central Main trade languageEthnologue, 17th ed., Languages of Niger (accessed 14 October 2014) Songhai Songhay languages (Nilo-Saharan) 21% Southwest Zarma and Songhay are considered together Tamasheq Afro-Asiatic / Berber 9.3% North Fulfulde Niger–Congo / Atlantic 8.5% All Fulfulde of Western Niger & Central-Eastern Niger are considered together Kanuri Nilo-Saharan 4.7% Southeast Arabic Afro-Asiatic / Semitic 0.4% Southeast Particularly spoken by the Diffa Arabs mainly in the Diffa Region Gourmanchéma Niger–Congo / Gur 0.4% Southwest corner Spoken mainly by the Gurma people of southwest Niger Tebu Nilo-Saharan 0.4% East Spoken mainly by the Toubou people of Eastern Niger Other N/A 0.1% Throughout Any other languages

Languages by number of speakers (according to Ethnologue) +RankLanguageSpeakers in Niger1Hausa14,500,0002Zarma3,590,0003French2,506,0004Fulfulde, Central-Eastern Niger450,0005Fulfulde, Western Niger450,0006Tamajaq, Tawallammat450,0007Kanuri, Manga280,0008Tamajeq, Tayart250,0009Kanuri, Yerwa80,00010Dazaga50,00011Kanuri, Tumari40,00012Gourmanchéma30,00013Tagdal26,90014Kanuri, Bilma20,00015Tamahaq, Tahaggart20,00016Arabic, Hassaniyya19,00017Arabic, Algerian Saharan Spoken10,00018Tedaga10,00019Arabic, Libyan Spoken9,30020Arabic, Shuwa9,30021Tasawaq8,00022Arabic, Standard7,80023Tetserret2,000

By Region Dominant languages Region Languages Agadez Region Tuareg, Kanuri Diffa Region Kanuri Dosso Region Zarma Maradi Region Hausa Niamey Zarma Tahoua Region Hausa Tillabéri Region Zarma Zinder Region Hausa

Languages of Niger

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