List of endangered languages of Oceania
| Language Endangerment Status | |
|---|---|
| Extinct (EX) | |
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| Endangered | |
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| Safe | |
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Other categories | |
Related topics | |
UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger categories | |
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.
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. [1]
| Language | Speakers | Status | Comments | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kapingamarangi language[2] | ~3,000[3] | Severely endangered | ||
| Kosraean language[2] | ~7,720[4] | Severely endangered | Micronesia & Nauru | |
| Mokilese language[2] | ~1,500[5] | Critically endangered | ||
| Mortlockese language, Mortlockese[2] | ~5,900[6] | Definitely endangered | ||
| Namonuito language, Namonuito[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Ngatikese Men's Creole language, Ngatikese Men's Creole[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Nukuoro language, Nukuoro[2] | ~1,540[7] | Definitely endangered | ||
| Nguluwan language | ||||
| Paafang language, Paafang, Pááfang[2] | ~1,300[8] | Severely endangered | ||
| Pingelapese language, Pingelapese[2] | ~4,500[9] | Severely endangered | ||
| Puluwat language, Puluwat, Puluwatese[2] | ~1,500[10] | Severely endangered | ||
| Satawal language, Satawal[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Ulithian language, Ulithian[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Woleaian language, Woleaian[2] | Severely endangered |
The UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger lists 88 endangered languages in Indonesia.
The following languages of New Caledonia may be considered endangered.
| Language | Speakers | Status | Comments | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arha language[2] | 35 | Critically endangered | Arhâ language | (1996 census) |
| Arho language[2] | 10[11] | Critically endangered | ||
| Caac language[2] | ~1,200[12] | Vulnerable | ||
| Drubea language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Fagauvea language (Northern)[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Fagauvea language (Southern)[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Fwâi language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Jawe language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Kumak language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Neku language[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Nemi language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Orowe language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Pije language[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Pwaamèi language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Pwapwa language[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Tiri language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Voh-Koné dialects[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Xaragure language[2] | Vulnerable |
| Language | Speakers | Status | Comments | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asumboa language[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Blablanga language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Faghani language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Gao language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Hoava language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Kokota language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Lovono language[2] | 4[13] | Critically endangered | ||
| Oroha language[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Ririo language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Savo language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Tanema language[2] | 1[14] | Critically endangered | ||
| Tanimbili language[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Teanu language[2] | 1000[15] | Definitely endangered | ||
| Zazao language[2] | Critically endangered |
| Language | Speakers | Status | Comments | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amblong language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Araki language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Aveteian language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Baki language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Bangsa language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Bierebo language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Bieria language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Dorig language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Emae language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Hiw language[2] | 280 | Definitely endangered | (2010 A.François) | |
| Koro language[2] | 250[16] | Definitely endangered | ||
| Labo language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Lakon language[2] | 800 | Vulnerable | ||
| Lehali language[2] | 200 | Vulnerable | ||
| Lemerig language[2] | 2[17] | Critically endangered | ||
| Lorediakarkar language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Löyöp language[2] | 240 | Vulnerable | Lehalurup | (2010 A.François) |
| Mafea language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Malmariv language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Matanvat language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Mores language[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Mwesen language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Naati language (Näti)[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Naman language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Nasarian language[18] | 5 | Critically endangered | (Nasarian at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)) | |
| Navwien language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Nisvai language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Nivat language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Niviar language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Olrat language[2] | 0[19] | Critically endangered | 3 speakers in 2003; extinct in 2009. | |
| Polonomombauk language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Repanbitip language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Shark Bay language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Ske language[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Sorsorian language (Sösörian)[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Tambotalo language[2] | 50 | Severely endangered | (1983 SIL) | |
| Tape language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Tolomako language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Tutuba language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Umbrul language (Numbuwul)[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Ura language[2] | 6 | Critically endangered | (1998 T Crowley) | |
| Vera'a language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Volow language[2] | Critically endangered |
| Language | Speakers | Status | Comments | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tobian language | 22 | Critically endangered | (1995 SIL) | |
| Sonsorolese language | 600 | Severely endangered |
The following Polynesian languages considered endangered are mostly Polynesian outliers spoken by tiny minorities.
| Language | Speakers | Status | Ethnologue entry (ISO 639-3)[2] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapa language (French Polynesia)[2] | |||
| Rapa Nui language (Chile)[2] | |||
| Niuafo'ou language (Tonga)[2] | |||
| Nukumanu language (Papua New Guinea, Nukumanu Islands)[2] | |||
| Nukuria language (Papua New Guinea)[2] | |||
| Ontong Java language (Solomon Islands)[2] | |||
| Sikaiana language (Solomon Islands)[2] | |||
| Takuu language (Papua New Guinea)[2] | |||
| Tuvaluan language (Tuvalu)[2] | |||
| Anuta language (Solomon Islands)[2] | |||
| Futunan language (Wallis and Futuna)[2] | |||
| Futuna-Aniwa language (Vanuatu)[2] | |||
| Mele-Fila language (Vanuatu)[2] | |||
| Rennell-Bellona language (Solomon Islands)[2] | |||
| Tikopia language (Solomon Islands)[2] | |||
| Vaeakau-Taumako language (Solomon Islands)[2] | |||
| Pukapuka language (Cook Islands)[2] | |||
| Penrhyn language (Cook Islands)[2] | |||
| Tokelauan language (Tokelau)[2] |
Other
| Language | Location | Speakers | Status | Comments | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austral language[2] | French Polynesia | Definitely endangered | |||
| Chamorro language[2] | Guam/Northern Mariana Islands | Vulnerable | |||
| Mangareva language[2] | French Polynesia | Severely endangered | |||
| Rakahanga-Manihiki language[2] | Cook Islands | Definitely endangered | |||
| Nauruan language[2] | Nauru | Severely endangered | |||
| Niuean language[2] | Niue | Definitely endangered | Vagahau Niue | ||
| Norfuk language (Norfolk)[2] | Norfolk Island | Definitely endangered | |||
| Norfuk language (Pitcairn)[2] | Pitcairn | Vulnerable | |||
| Penrhyn language[2] | Cook Islands | Severely endangered | |||
| Pukapukan language[2] | Cook Islands | Definitely endangered | |||
| Cook Islands Māori [2] | Cook Islands | Vulnerable | Rarotongan language | ||
| Rotuman language[2] | Fiji | Vulnerable | |||
| Tokelauan language[2] | Tokelau | Severely endangered | |||
| Tuamotuan language[2] | French Polynesia | Definitely endangered | |||
| Tuvaluan language[2] | Tuvalu | Definitely endangered | |||
| Hawaiian language[2] | Hawai'i | Definitely endangered |
References
- ^ "2071.0 – Census of Population and Housing: Reflecting Australia – Stories from the Census, 2016". www.abs.gov.au. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds Moseley, Christopher, ed. (2010). Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. Memory of Peoples (3rd ed.). Paris: UNESCO Publishing. ISBN 978-92-3-104096-2. Retrieved 2015-04-11.
- ^ "Kapingamarangi language". www.omniglot.com. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
- ^ "Kosraean language and alphabet". www.omniglot.com. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
- ^ "Mokilese language and alphabet". www.omniglot.com. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
- ^ "Mortlockese language and alphabet". www.omniglot.com. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
- ^ "Nukuoro alphabet, pronunciation and language". www.omniglot.com. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
- ^ "Pááfang language, alphabet and pronunciation". www.omniglot.com. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
- ^ "Pingelapese language, alphabet and pronunciation". www.omniglot.com. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
- ^ "Puluwatese language and alphabet". www.omniglot.com. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
- ^ "Arhö | Ethnologue Free". Ethnologue (Free All). Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
- ^ "Caac language and alphabet". www.omniglot.com. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
- ^ François, Alexandre (2022). "Presentation of the Lovono language (Solomon Islands)". Pangloss Collection. Paris: CNRS. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ François, Alexandre (2022). "Presentation of the Tanema language (Solomon Islands)". Pangloss Collection. Paris: CNRS. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ François, Alexandre (2022). "Presentation of the Teanu language (Solomon Islands)". Pangloss Collection. Paris: CNRS. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ François, Alexandre. "Unravelling the History of Oceanic Languages" (PDF). Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ François, Alexandre (2022). "Presentation of the Lemerig language (Vanuatu)". Pangloss Collection. Paris: CNRS. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ "Nasarian". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2017-05-14.
- ^ François, Alexandre (2022). "Presentation of the Olrat language (Vanuatu)". Pangloss Collection. Paris: CNRS. Retrieved 9 November 2025.