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Table 1: Indigenous Languages Spoken in the United States (by Language)

Reprinted by permission of the NCBE

How many indigenous American languages are spoken in the United States? By how many speakers?

James Estes
National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education
How Many Languages?

Language scholars believe that prior to the arrival of Columbus, approximately 300 languages were spoken in North America; since then, the number of indigenous languages has dropped considerably. Figures on current language use vary (Crystal, 1987; Krauss, 1998; Grimes, 1997) but indicate that roughly half of these languages are now extinct. [1] Many of the remaining languages are considered moribund, or near extinction, as they have few speakers and these speakers are all elders. Some projections suggest that by the year 2050, only twenty indigenous American languages will remain (Crawford, 1999).

How Many Speakers?

Krauss (1998) notes that the earliest broad survey of language speakers was in 1964; other inventories followed, including SIL International's Ethnologue. According to data provided in Ethnologue, there are over 361,978 speakers of indigenous American languages. It is difficult, however, to determine a precise census of speakers of these languages, and Krauss suggests that reasons for this difficulty include confusing US Census language definitions and biased responses by some respondents. Speakers may deny their language ability (because of a perceived prejudice or stigma) while others may overestimate their own language ability.

The following tables list 154 indigenous American languages which are still spoken in the United States, the number of speakers, and where the speakers are located. The first table arranges the languages alphabetically, while the second arranges them according to number of speakers.

Speakers [2] Language Location
20 Abnaki-Penobscot Maine [3]
10 Achumawi California
21 Ahtena Alaska
256 Alabama Texas
90 Aleut Alaska
812 Apache, Jicarilla New Mexico
18 Apache, Kiowa Oklahoma
10 Apache, Lipan New Mexico
1,800 Apache, Mescalero-Chiricahua New Mexico
12,693 Apache, Western Arizona
1,038 Arapaho Wyoming; Oklahoma
90 Arikara North Dakota
150 Assiniboine Montana [3]
4 Atsugewi California
1,062 Blackfoot Montana [5]
141 Caddo Oklahoma
35 Cahuilla California
5 Chehalis, Lower Washington
2 Chehalis, Upper Washington
11,905 Cherokee Oklahoma; North Carolina
5 Chetco Oregon
1,721 Cheyenne Montana
1,000 Chickasaw Oklahoma
17 Chinook Wawa Oregon
17,890 Choctaw Oklahoma
5 Clallam Washington
321 Cocopa Arizona [6]
40 Coeur D'Alene Idaho
39 Columbia-Wenatchi Washington
854 Comanche Oklahoma
1 Coos Oregon
2 Cowlitz Washington
1,070 Cree, Western Montana [5]
4,280 Crow Montana
9 Cupeno California
20,355 Dakota Nebraska; Minnesota; North Dakota; South Dakota; Montana [3]
40 Degexit'an Alaska
1 Eyak Alaska
10 Gros Ventre Montana
365 Gwich'in Alaska
138 Haida Alaska
7 Han Alaska
1,007 Havasupai-Walapai-Yavapai Arizona
1,000 Hawaiian Hawaii
100 Hidatsa North Dakota
250 Hocak/Winnebago Nebraska
12 Holikachuk Alaska
5,264 Hopi Arizona; Utah; New Mexico
8 Hupa California
3,500 Inuktitut, North Alaskan Alaska
4,000 Inuktitut, Northwest Alaska Alaska
1,301 Jemez New Mexico
1 Kalapuya Oregon
200 Kalispel-Pend Dóreille Montana
19 Kansa Oklahoma
126 Karok California
50 Kashaya California
10 Kato California
10 Kawaiisu California
4,580 Keres, Eastern New Mexico
3,390 Keres, Western New Mexico
539 Kikapoo Kansas; Oklahoma; Texas [7]
1,092 Kiowa Oklahoma
88 Klamath-Modoc Oregon
600 Koasati Louisiana; Texas
300 Koyukon Alaska
97 Kumiai California [6]
40 Kuskokwim, Upper Alaska
102 Kutenai Idaho; Montana [5]
6,000 Lakota Nebraska; Minnesota; North Dakota; South Dakota; Montana
43 Luiseno California
60 Lushootseed Washington
10 Maidu, Northwest California
10 Makah Washington
887 Malecite-Passamaquoddy Maine [5]
6 Mandan North Dakota
181 Maricopa Arizona
39 Menomini Wisconsin
800 Mesquakie Iowa; Oklahoma; Kansas; Nebraska
2,100 Micmac Boston; New York City [5]
496 Mikasuki Florida
5 Miwok, Central Sierra California
1 Miwok, Coast California
8 Miwok, Lake California
10 Miwok, Northern Sierra California
1 Miwok, Plains California
10 Miwok, Southern Sierra California
234 Mohave Arizona
2,017 Mohawk New York[3]
20 Mono California
6,213 Muskogee Oklahoma; Alabama; Florida
148,530 Navajo Arizona; Utah; New Mexico; Utah
697 Nez Perce Idaho
12 Nisenan California
8,000 Ojibwa, Eastern Michigan [3]
35,000 Ojibwa, Western Montana; Lake Superior; North Dakota [3]
112 Okangan Washington
85 Omaha-Ponca Nebraska; Oklahoma
50 Oneida New York; Wisconsin
15 Onondaga New York
5 Osage Oklahoma
2,000 Paiute, Northern Nevada; Oregon; California; Idaho
20 Panamint California
11,819 Papago-Pima Arizona [7]
4 Pawnee Oklahoma
40 Pomo, Central California
1 Pomo, Northeastern California
10 Pomo, Southeastern California
40 Pomo, Southern California
50 Potawatomi Michigan; Wisconsin; Kansas; Oklahoma
34 Quapaw Oklahoma
343 Quechan California
6 Quinault Washington
107 Salish, Southern Puget Sound Washington
30 Salish, Straits Washington [3]
200 Seneca New York; Oklahoma
1 Serrano California
12 Shasta California
234 Shawnee Oklahoma
2,284 Shoshoni Nevada; Idaho; Wyoming
100 Skagit Washington
10 Snohomish Washington
50 Spokane Washington
65 Tanacross Alaska
75 Tanaina Alaska
30 Tanana, Lower Alaska
115 Tanana, Upper Alaska
200 Tenino Oregon
1,300 Tewa New Mexico; Arizona
927 Tiwa, Northern New Mexico
1,631 Tiwa, Southern New Mexico
775 Tlingit Alaska
5 Tolowa Oregon
113 Tsimshian Alaska [5]
6 Tubatulabal California
10 Tututni Oregon
50 Umatilla Oregon
5 Unami Oklahoma; New Jersey; Delaware
1,984 Ute-Southern Paiute Colorado; Utah; Arizona; Nevada; California
100 Walla Walla Oregon
69 Wasco-Wishram Oregon; Washington
10 Washo California; Nevada
10 Wichita Oklahoma
10 Wintu California
3,000 Yakima Washington
406 Yaqui Arizona [6]
78 Yokuts California
12 Yuchi Oklahoma
6 Yuki California
10,000 Yupik, Central Alaska
1,100 Yupik, Central Siberian Alaska [8]
400 Yupik, Pacific Gulf Alaska
10 Yurok California
6,413 Zuni New Mexico
363,995 TOTAL

Source: Adapted from B. Grimes (1996). Ethnologue: Languages of the world. Dallas: SIL International. Updated February 1999 at www.sil.org/ethnologue.

Table 2: Indigenous Languages Spoken in the United States (by Number of Speakers)
Speakers [2] Language Location
148,530 Navajo Arizona; Utah; New Mexico; Utah
35,000 Ojibwa, Western Montana; Lake Superior; North Dakota [3]
20,355 Dakota Nebraska; Minnesota; North Dakota; South Dakota; Montana [3]
17,890 Choctaw Oklahoma
12,693 Apache, Western Arizona
11,905 Cherokee Oklahoma; North Carolina
11,819 Papago-Pima Arizona [7]
10,000 Yupik, Central Alaska
8,000 Ojibwa, Eastern Michigan [3]
6,413 Zuni New Mexico
6,213 Muskogee Oklahoma; Alabama; Florida
6,000 Lakota Nebraska; Minnesota; North Dakota; South Dakota; Montana
5,264 Hopi Arizona; Utah; New Mexico
4,580 Keres, Eastern New Mexico
4,280 Crow Montana
4,000 Inuktitut, Northwest Alaska Alaska
3,500 Inuktitut, North Alaskan Alaska
3,390 Keres, Western New Mexico
3,000 Yakima Washington
2,284 Shoshoni Nevada; Idaho; Wyoming
2,100 Micmac Boston; New York City [5]
2,017 Mohawk New York[3]
2,000 Paiute, Northern Nevada; Oregon; California; Idaho
1,984 Ute-Southern Paiute Colorado; Utah; Arizona; Nevada; California
1,800 Apache, Mescalero-Chiricahua New Mexico
1,721 Cheyenne Montana
1,631 Tiwa, Southern New Mexico
1,301 Jemez New Mexico
1,300 Tewa New Mexico; Arizona
1,100 Yupik, Central Siberian Alaska [8]
1,092 Kiowa Oklahoma
1,070 Cree, Western Montana [5]
1,062 Blackfoot Montana [5]
1,038 Arapaho Wyoming; Oklahoma
1,007 Havasupai-Walapai-Yavapai Arizona
1,000 Chickasaw Oklahoma
1,000 Hawaiian Hawaii
927 Tiwa, Northern New Mexico
887 Malecite-Passamaquoddy Maine [5]
854 Comanche Oklahoma
812 Apache, Jicarilla New Mexico
800 Mesquakie Iowa; Oklahoma; Kansas; Nebraska
775 Tlingit Alaska
697 Nez Perce Idaho
600 Koasati Louisiana; Texas
539 Kikapoo Kansas; Oklahoma; Texas [7]
496 Mikasuki Florida
406 Yaqui Arizona [6]
400 Yupik, Pacific Gulf Alaska
365 Gwich'in Alaska
343 Quechan California
321 Cocopa Arizona [6]
300 Koyukon Alaska
256 Alabama Texas
250 Hocak/Winnebago Nebraska
234 Mohave Arizona
234 Shawnee Oklahoma
200 Kalispel-Pend Dóreille Montana
200 Seneca New York; Oklahoma
200 Tenino Oregon
181 Maricopa Arizona
150 Assiniboine Montana [3]
141 Caddo Oklahoma
138 Haida Alaska
126 Karok California
115 Tanana, Upper Alaska
113 Tsimshian Alaska [5]
112 Okangan Washington
107 Salish, Southern Puget Sound Washington
102 Kutenai Idaho; Montana [5]
100 Hidatsa North Dakota
100 Skagit Washington
100 Walla Walla Oregon
97 Kumiai California [6]
90 Aleut Alaska
90 Arikara North Dakota
88 Klamath-Modoc Oregon
85 Omaha-Ponca Nebraska; Oklahoma
78 Yokuts California
75 Tanaina Alaska
69 Wasco-Wishram Oregon; Washington
65 Tanacross Alaska
60 Lushootseed Washington
50 Kashaya California
50 Oneida New York; Wisconsin
50 Potawatomi Michigan; Wisconsin; Kansas; Oklahoma
50 Spokane Washington
50 Umatilla Oregon
43 Luiseno California
40 Coeur D'Alene Idaho
40 Degexit'an Alaska
40 Kuskokwim, Upper Alaska
40 Pomo, Central California
40 Pomo, Southern California
39 Columbia-Wenatchi Washington
39 Menomini Wisconsin
35 Cahuilla California
34 Quapaw Oklahoma
30 Salish, Straits Washington [3]
30 Tanana, Lower Alaska
21 Ahtena Alaska
20 Abnaki-Penobscot Maine [3]
20 Mono California
20 Panamint California
19 Kansa Oklahoma
18 Apache, Kiowa Oklahoma
17 Chinook Wawa Oregon
15 Onondaga New York
12 Holikachuk Alaska
12 Nisenan California
12 Shasta California
12 Yuchi Oklahoma
10 Achumawi California
10 Apache, Lipan New Mexico
10 Gros Ventre Montana
10 Kato California
10 Kawaiisu California
10 Maidu, Northwest California
10 Makah Washington
10 Miwok, Northern Sierra California
10 Miwok, Southern Sierra California
10 Pomo, Southeastern California
10 Snohomish Washington
10 Tututni Oregon
10 Washo California; Nevada
10 Wichita Oklahoma
10 Wintu California
10 Yurok California
9 Cupeno California
8 Hupa California
8 Miwok, Lake California
7 Han Alaska
6 Mandan North Dakota
6 Quinault Washington
6 Tubatulabal California
6 Yuki California
5 Chehalis, Lower Washington
5 Chetco Oregon
5 Clallam Washington
5 Miwok, Central Sierra California
5 Osage Oklahoma
5 Tolowa Oregon
5 Unami Oklahoma; New Jersey; Delaware
4 Atsugewi California
4 Pawnee Oklahoma
2 Chehalis, Upper Washington
2 Cowlitz Washington
1 Coos Oregon
1 Eyak Alaska
1 Kalapuya Oregon
1 Miwok, Coast California
1 Miwok, Plains California
1 Pomo, Northeastern California
1 Serrano California
363,995 TOTAL

Source: Adapted from B. Grimes (1996). Ethnologue: Languages of the world. Dallas: SIL International. Updated February 1999 at www.sil.org/ethnologue.

NOTES

1. Hinton (1998) suggests that one reason for these different estimates is varying interpretations of language differentiation—some languages may be considered either distinct languages or simply dialects.

2. These figures are estimates only. Some sources may report dialects or second-language speakers, or number of speakers in neighboring countries.

3. This figure includes speakers in Canada.

4. Additional speakers of this language are in Russia

5. Additional speakers of this language are in Canada.

6. Additional speakers of this language are in Mexico.

7. This figure includes speakers in Mexico.

8. Additional speakers of this language are in Siberia.

REFERENCES

Crystal, D. (1987). The Cambridge encyclopedia of language. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Crawford, J. (1999). Bilingual education: History, politics, theory and practice. (4th ed.) Los Angeles: Bilingual Educational Services.

Grimes, B. (Ed.). (1996). Ethnologue: Languages of the world. (13th ed.) Dallas: SIL, International. Online updates available at http://www.sil.org/ethnologue/

Hinton, L. (1998). Language loss and revitalization in California: Overview. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 132, 83-93.

Krauss, M. (1998). The condition of Native North American languages: The need for realistic assessment and action. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 132, 9-21.

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