Where are the most endangered languages in the world?
Al Jazeera
February 21, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The world’s linguistic diversity is under threat, with nearly 40% of the approximately 7,000 languages spoken globally classified as endangered. While English dominates as the most widely spoken language, with over 1.5 billion speakers across 186 countries, it also plays a role in endangering smaller languages when dominant cultures prioritize its use for communication and education. Mandarin Chinese and Hindi follow as the second and third most spoken languages by total numbers, but many Indigenous tongues are at risk of extinction or dormancy due to shifting cultural practices and colonial histories.
The Latin script, used for English, French, Spanish, and German, is employed in over 305 languages worldwide, highlighting its global influence. However, the rise of dominant scripts often marginalizes smaller ones. For instance, many Indigenous languages lack written forms or official recognition, making them vulnerable to disappearance. While some languages, like Japan’s Ainu or Australia’s Yugambeh, are showing signs of revitalization through community efforts and digital tools, others, such as Ethiopia’s Ongota, teeter on the brink of extinction with fewer than 10 speakers.
The concentration of endangered languages is highest in Oceania, followed by Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Regions like North America have nearly all Indigenous languages classified as endangered, while areas in Africa and the Pacific face similar challenges. Many of these languages are only spoken by elderly generations, with little intergenerational transmission. For example, Louisiana Creole, a creole with French, African, and Indigenous roots, is critically endangered in the U.S., primarily spoken by seniors. Meanwhile, Bolivia’s Leco language, an isolate with no known linguistic relatives, survives through a small population of roughly 13,500 speakers.
The loss of languages represents more than just cultural diversity at risk; it erodes humanity’s collective knowledge and heritage. Endangered languages often hold unique insights into ecosystems, traditions, and human history that are irreplaceable. For instance, Australia’s Yugambeh language, nearly extinct a decade ago, has seen a revival through community programs and digital apps, offering hope for linguistic preservation efforts. However, without sustained support from governments and international bodies, many languages will
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/21/2026