List of endangered languages of Oceania

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Language Endangerment Status by UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger category
Extinct (EX)
Extinct (EX)	(lists)
Endangered
Critically Endangered (CR) Severely Endangered (SE) Definitely Endangered (DE) Vulnerable (VU)	(list) (list) (list) (list)
Safe
Safe (NE)	no list
Other categories
Revived (RE) Constructed (CL)	(list) (list)
Related topics Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger Endangered Languages Project Ethnologue Unclassified language List of languages by total number of speakers
UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger categories
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This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

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.

Australia

Main article: List of Australian Aboriginal languages

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.

Federated States of Micronesia

Main article: Micronesian languages

Language	Status	Comments
Kapingamarangi language	Severely endangered
Kosraean language	Severely endangered	Micronesia & Nauru
Mokilese language	Critically endangered
Mortlockese language, Mortlockese	Definitely endangered
Namonuito language, Namonuito	Severely endangered
Ngatikese Men's Creole language, Ngatikese Men's Creole	Definitely endangered
Nukuoro language, Nukuoro	Definitely endangered
Nguluwan language
Paafang language, Paafang	Severely endangered
Pingelapese language, Pingelapese	Severely endangered
Puluwat language, Puluwat	Severely endangered
Satawal language, Satawal	Severely endangered
Ulithian language, Ulithian	Severely endangered
Woleaian language, Woleaian	Severely endangered

Language	Speakers	Status	Comments	Ref
Arha language	35	Critically endangered	Arhâ language	(1996 census)
Arho language		Critically endangered
Caac language		Vulnerable
Drubea language		Vulnerable
Fagauvea language (Northern)		Vulnerable
Fagauvea language (Southern)		Vulnerable
Fwâi language		Vulnerable
Jawe language		Vulnerable
Kumak language		Vulnerable
Neku language		Severely endangered
Nemi language		Definitely endangered
Orowe language		Definitely endangered
Pije language		Severely endangered
Pwaamèi language		Definitely endangered
Pwapwa language		Severely endangered
Tiri language		Definitely endangered
Voh-Koné dialects		Definitely endangered
Xaragure language		Vulnerable

Papua New Guinea

Main articles: Languages of Papua New Guinea and List of endangered languages in Papua New Guinea

Solomon Islands

Language	Speakers	Status	Comments	Ref
Asumboa language		Severely endangered
Blablanga language		Definitely endangered
Faghani language		Vulnerable
Gao language		Vulnerable
Hoava language		Vulnerable
Kokota language		Vulnerable
Oroha language		Severely endangered
Ririo language		Critically endangered
Savo language		Definitely endangered
Tanema language		Critically endangered
Tanimbili language		Severely endangered
Teanu language		Definitely endangered
Vano language		Critically endangered
Zazao language		Critically endangered

Vanuatu

Main article: Languages of Vanuatu

Language	Speakers	Status	Comments	Ref
Amblong language		Definitely endangered
Araki language		Critically endangered
Aveteian language		Critically endangered
Baki language		Vulnerable
Bangsa language		Critically endangered
Bierebo language		Vulnerable
Bieria language		Critically endangered
Dorig language		Definitely endangered
Emae language		Vulnerable
Hiw language	280	Definitely endangered		(2010 A.François)
Koro language		Definitely endangered
Labo language		Vulnerable
Lakon language		Vulnerable
Lehali language		Vulnerable
Lemerig language		Critically endangered
Lorediakarkar language		Critically endangered
Löyöp language	240	Vulnerable	Lehalurup	(2010 A.François)
Mafea language		Definitely endangered
Malmariv language		Vulnerable
Matanvat language		Critically endangered
Mores language		Severely endangered
Mwesen language		Critically endangered
Naati language (Näti)		Critically endangered
Naman language		Critically endangered
Nasarian language	5	Critically endangered		(Nasarian at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015))
Navwien language		Critically endangered
Nisvai language		Critically endangered
Nivat language		Critically endangered
Niviar language		Critically endangered
Olrat language		Critically endangered
Polonomombauk language		Definitely endangered
Repanbitip language		Definitely endangered
Shark Bay language		Vulnerable
Ske language		Severely endangered
Sorsorian language (Sösörian)		Critically endangered
Tambotalo language	50	Severely endangered		(1983 SIL)
Tape language		Critically endangered
Tolomako language		Definitely endangered
Tutuba language		Definitely endangered
Umbrul language (Numbuwul)		Critically endangered
Ura language	6	Critically endangered		(1998 T Crowley)
Vera'a language		Definitely endangered
Volow language		Critically endangered

Palau

Language	Speakers	Status	Comments	Ref
Tobian language	22	Critically endangered		(1995 SIL)
Sonsorolese language	600	Severely endangered

Polynesia

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2012)

The following Polynesian languages considered endangered are mostly Polynesian outliers spoken by tiny minorities.

Language	Speakers	Status	Ethnologue entry (ISO 639-3)
Rapa language (French Polynesia)
Rapa Nui language (Chile)
Niuafo'ou language (Tonga)
Nukumanu language (Papua New Guinea, Nukumanu Islands)
Nukuria language (Papua New Guinea)
Ontong Java language (Solomon Islands)
Sikaiana language (Solomon Islands)
Takuu language (Papua New Guinea)
Tuvaluan language (Tuvalu)
Anuta language (Solomon Islands)
Futunan language (Wallis and Futuna)
Futuna-Aniwa language (Vanuatu)
Mele-Fila language (Vanuatu)
Rennell-Bellona language (Solomon Islands)
Tikopia language (Solomon Islands)
Vaeakau-Taumako language (Solomon Islands)
Pukapuka language (Cook Islands)
Penrhyn language (Cook Islands)
Tokelauan language (Tokelau)

Other

Language	Location	Status	Comments
Austral language	French Polynesia	Definitely endangered
Chamorro language	Guam/Northern Mariana Islands	Vulnerable
Mangareva language	French Polynesia	Severely endangered
Rakahanga-Manihiki language	Cook Islands	Definitely endangered
Nauruan language	Nauru	Severely endangered
Niuean language	Niue	Definitely endangered	Vagahau Niue
Norfuk language (Norfolk)	Norfolk Island	Definitely endangered
Norfuk language (Pitcairn)	Pitcairn	Vulnerable
Penrhyn language	Cook Islands	Severely endangered
Pukapukan language	Cook Islands	Definitely endangered
Cook Islands Māori	Cook Islands	Vulnerable	Rarotongan language
Rotuman language	Fiji	Vulnerable
Tokelauan language	Tokelau	Severely endangered
Tuamotuan language	French Polynesia	Definitely endangered
Tuvaluan language	Tuvalu	Definitely endangered
Hawaiian language	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.
^ 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.
"Nasarian". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2017-05-14.

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