Wikipedia list article
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by with reliable sources .
An endangered language is a language that is at risk of falling out of use, generally because it has few surviving speakers. If it loses all of its native speakers, it becomes a dead language . A language may be endangered in one area but show signs of revitalisation in another, as with the Irish language .
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization defines five levels of language endangerment between "safe" (not endangered) and "extinct":[1]
Vulnerable - "most children speak the language, but it may be restricted to certain domains (e.g., home)"
Definitely endangered - "children no longer learn the language as mother tongue in the home"
Severely endangered - "language is spoken by grandparents and older generations; while the parent generation may understand it, they do not speak it to children or among themselves"
Critically endangered - "the youngest speakers are grandparents and older, and they speak the language partially and infrequently"
Extinct - "there are no speakers left; included in the Atlas if presumably extinct since the 1950s"
The list below includes the findings from the third edition of Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger (2010; formerly the Red Book of Endangered Languages ), as well as the online edition of the aforementioned publication, both published by UNESCO.[2]
Afghanistan [ ]
Main article: Languages of Afghanistan
Armenia [ ]
Main article: Languages of Armenia
Armenia
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey
aii
Pontic Greek language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Georgia, Greece, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine
pnt
Azerbaijan [ ]
Bangladesh [ ]
Bhutan [ ]
Burma (Myanmar) [ ]
Main article: Languages of Burma
Cambodia [ ]
Main article: Languages of Cambodia
Cambodia
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Brao language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Laos, Vietnam
brb
Chong language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Thailand
cog
Kaco' language
Definitely endangered[1]
xkk
Kasong language
Critically endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Thailand
has no iso code
Kraol language
Critically endangered[1]
rka
Kravet language
Critically endangered[1]
krv
Krueng language
Severely endangered[1]
krr
Kuay language
Severely endangered[1]
kdt
Pear language
Severely endangered[1]
pcb
Phnong language
Severely endangered[1]
cmo
Sa'och language
Critically endangered[1]
Also known as: Chung Also spoken in: Thailand
scq
Somray language
Critically endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Thailand
smu
Samre language
Critically endangered[1]
sxm
Song language
Critically endangered[1]
Stieng language
Severely endangered[1]
sti or stt
Tampuan language
Severely endangered[1]
tpu
Western Cham language
Vulnerable[1]
cja
China [ ]
(Note: Taiwan area is not included in the list above. Related information is in section Taiwan.)
Cyprus [ ]
Cyprus
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Cypriot Arabic language
Severely endangered[1]
acy
East Timor [ ]
East Timor
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Adabe language
Vulnerable[1]
adb
Habu language
Vulnerable[1]
hbu
Kairui-Midiki language
Vulnerable[1]
krd
Maku'a language
Critically endangered[1]
lva
Naueti language
Vulnerable[1]
nxa
Waima'a language
Definitely endangered[1]
wmh
Georgia [ ]
Main article: Languages of Georgia
Georgia
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Abkhaz language
Vulnerable[1]
Also spoken in: Russia, Turkey
abk
Bats language
Severely endangered[1]
bbl
Bohtan Neo-Aramaic language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Russia
bhn
Homshetsma language Homshetsi dialect
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Russia
hye (?)
Laz language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Turkey
lzz
Mingrelian language
Definitely endangered[1]
xmf
Ossetian language
Vulnerable[1]
Also spoken in: Russia
oss
Pontic Greek language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Armenia, Greece, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine
pnt
Svan language
Definitely endangered[1]
sva
Udi language
Severely endangered[1]
udi
Urum language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Russia, Ukraine
uum
India [ ]
Indonesia [ ]
Iran [ ]
Main article: Languages of Iran
Iran
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Ashtiani language
Definitely endangered[1]
atn
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Armenia, Iraq, Syria, Turkey
aii, cld
Bashkardi language
Definitely endangered[1]
bsg
Dzhidi language
Definitely endangered[1]
jpr
Gazi language
Definitely endangered[1]
gzi
Hawrami language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Iraq
bjm, hac, sdb, sdf
Khalaj language
Vulnerable[1]
klj
Khorasani Turkic language
Vulnerable[1]
kmz
Khunsari language
Definitely endangered[1]
kfm
Koroshi language
Critically endangered[1]
ktl
Lari language
Definitely endangered[1]
lrl, fay
Mandaic language
Critically endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Iraq
mid
Natanzi language
Severely endangered[1]
ntz
Nayini language
Severely endangered[1]
nyq
Semnani language
Definitely endangered[1]
lsa, sgr, smy, sqo
Senaya language
Critically endangered[1]
syn
Sivandi language
Definitely endangered[1]
siy, faz
Soi language
Definitely endangered[1]
soi
Talysh language
Vulnerable[1]
Also spoken in: Azerbaijan
tly
Tati language
Definitely endangered[1]
avd, esh, goz, hrz, kgn, okh, rat, rdb, shm, tks, tov, vmh, xkj, xkc, xkp
Vafsi language
Definitely endangered[1]
vaf
Zoroastrian Dari language
Definitely endangered[1]
gbz
Iraq [ ]
Iraq
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Adyge language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Israel, Jordan, Macedonia, Russia, Syria, Turkey
ady
Hawrami language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Iran
bjm, hac, sdb, sdf
Mandaic language
Critically endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Iran
mid
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Armenia, Iran, Syria, Turkey
aii, cld
Western Armenian language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Lebanon, Syria
hye
Israel [ ]
Israel
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Adyge language
Vulnerable[1]
Also spoken in: Iraq, Jordan, Macedonia, Russia, Syria, Turkey
ady
Barzani Jewish Neo-Aramaic language
Critically endangered[1]
bjf
Domari language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Syria
rmt
Hulaula language Hulaulá language
Severely endangered[1]
huy
Judeo-Berber language
Severely endangered[1]
jbe
Judezmo language
Severely endangered[1]
lad
Juhuri language
Definitely endangered[1]
jdt
Lishan Didan language
Severely endangered[1]
trg
Lishana Deni language
Severely endangered[1]
lsd
Lishanid Noshan language
Severely endangered[1]
aij
Moroccan Judeo-Arabic language
Definitely endangered[1]
aju
Judeo-Tunisian Arabic language
Severely endangered[1]
ajt
Yiddish language
Definitely endangered[1]
ydd
Japan [ ]
Jordan [ ]
Main article: Languages of Jordan
Jordan
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Adyge language
Vulnerable[1]
Also spoken in: Iraq, Israel, Macedonia, Russia, Syria, Turkey
ady
Domari language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Syria
rmt
Kazakhstan [ ]
Kazakhstan
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Dungan language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Kyrgyzstan
dng
Korea [ ]
Korea
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Jeju language
Critically endangered[1]
jje
Kyrgyzstan [ ]
Kyrgyzstan
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Dungan language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Kazakhstan
dng
Oyrat language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: China, Mongolia
xal
Laos [ ]
Main article: Languages of Laos
Laos
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Aheu language
Definitely endangered[1]
thm
Akeu language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Burma, Thailand
aeu
Amok language
Critically endangered[1]
Also spoken in: China, Burma, Thailand
mqt
Arem language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Vietnam
aem
Bana language
Severely endangered[1]
phq
Brao language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Cambodia, Vietnam
brb
Chatong language
Definitely endangered[1]
Chepya language
Definitely endangered[1]
ycp
Dakkang language
Definitely endangered[1]
Hung language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Vietnam
hnu
Juk language
Definitely endangered[1]
Kri language
Severely endangered[1]
aem
Maleng language
Definitely endangered[1]
pkt
May language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Vietnam
scb
Mlabri language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Thailand
mra
Mok language
Definitely endangered[1]
tlq
O’du language
Critically endangered[1]
tyh
Poong language
Definitely endangered[1]
hnu
Phunoi language
Vulnerable[1]
could be multiple languages
pho
Phong-Kniang language
Definitely endangered[1]
pnx
Psing language
Definitely endangered[1]
bgk
Ruc language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Vietnam
scb
Sach language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Vietnam
scb
Saek language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Thailand
skb
Sila language (Laos)
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Vietnam
slt
Tai Daeng language
Vulnerable[1]
Also spoken in: Vietnam
tyr
Tai Neua language
Vulnerable[1]
tdd
Thavung language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Thailand
thm
Theen language
Severely endangered[1]
Triw language
Definitely endangered[1]
kuf? (or Bru related?)
Tum language
Definitely endangered[1]
= Poong
Lebanon [ ]
Main article: Languages of Lebanon
Lebanon
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Domari language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Libya, Palestine, Syria
rmt
Western Armenian language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Iraq, Syria
hye
Malaysia [ ]
Mongolia [ ]
Main article: Languages of Mongolia
Mongolia
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Buryat language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: China
bxm, bxr, bxu
Dukha language
Severely endangered[1]
Evenki language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Russia
evn, orh
Khamnigan Mongol language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: China, Russia
Critically endangered[1]
Oyrat language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: China, Kyrgyzstan
xal
Tuvan language
Vulnerable[1]
Also spoken in: China, Russia
tyv
Nepal [ ]
Oman [ ]
Main article: Languages of Oman
Oman
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Bathari language
Critically endangered[1]
bhm
Harsusi language
Definitely endangered[1]
hss
Hobyot language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Yemen
hoh
Jibbali language
Severely endangered[1]
shv
Khojki language Luwati language
Severely endangered[1]
luv
Kumzari language
Severely endangered[1]
zum
Mehri language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Yemen
gdq
Zidgali language
Critically endangered[1]
Pakistan [ ]
Main article: Languages of Pakistan
Palestine [ ]
Main article: Languages of Palestine
Palestine
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Domari language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Syria
rmt
Philippines [ ]
Main article: Languages of Philippines
Philippines
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Alabat Island Agta language
Critically endangered[1]
dul
Bataan Ayta language
Definitely endangered[1]
ayt
Batak language
Definitely endangered[1]
bya
Camarines Norte Agta language
Severely endangered[1]
abd
Central Cagayan Agta language
Vulnerable[1]
agt
Dupaninan Agta language
Vulnerable[1]
duo
Faire Atta language
Severely endangered[1]
azt
Isarog Agta language
Critically endangered[1]
agk
Mt. Iraya Agta language
Definitely endangered[1]
atl
Northern Alta language
Severely endangered[1]
aqn
Ratagnon language
Severely endangered[1]
btn
Sorsogon Ayta language
Critically endangered[1]
ays
Russia [ ]
Sri Lanka [ ]
Sri Lanka
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Vedda language
Definitely endangered[1]
may be extinct
ved
Syria [ ]
Syria
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Adyge language
Vulnerable[1]
Also spoken in: Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Macedonia, Russia, Turkey
ady
Domari language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine
rmt
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Armenia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey
aii, cld
Turoyo language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Turkey
tru
Western Armenian language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Iraq, Lebanon
hye
Western Neo-Aramaic language
Definitely endangered[1]
amw
Taiwan [ ]
Tajikistan [ ]
Main article: Languages of Tajikistan
Thailand [ ]
Turkey [ ]
Turkey
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Abaza language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Russia
abq
Abkhaz language
Vulnerable[1]
Also spoken in: Georgia, Russia
abk
Adyge language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Macedonia, Russia, Syria
ady
Chaldean Neo-Aramaic language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Armenia, Iran, Iraq, Syria
aii, cld
Gagauz language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Greece, Macedonia
bgx, gag
Hértevin language
Critically endangered[1]
hrt
Homshetsma language
Definitely endangered[1]
hye
Judezmo language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Morocco, Romania, Serbia
lad
Kabard-Cherkes language
Vulnerable[1]
Also spoken in: Russia
kbd
Laz language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Georgia
lzz
Pontic Greek language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Armenia, Georgia, Greece, Russia, Ukraine
pnt
Romani language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Albania, Germany, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, United Kingdom, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Serbia, Montenegro
rmc, rmf, rml, rmn, rmo, rmw, rmy
Turoyo language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Syria
tru
Western Armenian language
Definitely endangered[1]
hye
Zazaki language
Vulnerable[1]
zza
Turkmenistan [ ]
Main article: Languages of Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Trukhmen language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Russia
Uzbekistan [ ]
Uzbekistan
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Bukharic language
Definitely endangered[1]
bhh
Central Asian Arabic language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Tajikistan, Afghanistan
abh, auz
Parya language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Tajikistan, Afghanistan
paq
Vietnam [ ]
Main article: Languages of Vietnam
Vietnam
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Arem language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Laos
aem
Baheng language
Vulnerable[1]
pha
Brao language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Cambodia, Laos
brb
Chrau language
Definitely endangered[1]
crw
Chru language
Vulnerable[1]
cje
Côông language
Definitely endangered[1]
cnc
Cosung language
Definitely endangered[1]
lkc
Eastern Cham language
Definitely endangered[1]
cjm
En language
Critically endangered[1]
enc
Green Gelao language
Critically endangered[1]
giq
Hung language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Laos
hnu
O'du language
Critically endangered[1]
tyh
Kháng language
Severely endangered.[1] Compare to Quang Lam language , Kháng language
kjm
Lachi language
Definitely endangered[1]
lwh
Laghuu language
Definitely endangered[1]
lgh
Laha language
Definitely endangered[1]
lha
Mang language
Definitely endangered[1]
zng
May language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Laos
scb
Mo'ang language
Definitely endangered[1]
Nguon language
Vulnerable[1]
nuo
Nung Ven language
Vulnerable[1]
enc
Phula language
Definitely endangered[1]
ypa, ypg, ypo, yip, ypn, yhl, ypb, phh, ypm, ypp, yph, ypz
Red Gelao language
Critically endangered[1]
gir
Ruc language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Laos
scb
Sach language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Laos
scb
Sila language (Laos)
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Laos
slt
Tai Daeng language
Vulnerable[1]
Also spoken in: Laos
tyr
White Gelao language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: China
giw
Yemen [ ]
Main article: Languages of Yemen
Yemen
Language
Status
Comments
ISO 639-3
Hobyot language
Severely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Oman
hoh
Mehri language
Definitely endangered[1]
Also spoken in: Oman
gdq
Razihi language
Definitely endangered[1]
Soqotri language
Severely endangered[1]
sqt
Notes [ ]