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

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 differentiationsome 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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James Estes
National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education