Demographic Table for Latin American and Caribbean LCTLs
Name of Language Country Mother Tongue (L1) Speakers Most Recent Year of Cited Data All Language Speakers in Region Current Usage & Socio-cultural Importance
Aymara, Central Bolivia 1.8M 1987    
Peru 350,000 1987    
CakchIquel, Central Guatemala 132,000 1990    
CakchIquel, Eastern Guatemala 100,000 1998    
CakchIquel--all others Guatemala 204,000 1982-98    
Caribbean Hindustani Suriname 150,000 1986    
Dutch Neth. Antilles no estimate     national
Suriname 200,000 1997   national
Garifuna Guatemala 16,700 1997 190,000  
Honduras 98,000 1993    
Guarani, Paraguayan Paraguay 4.65M 1995   official
Kanjobal, Eastern & Western forms Guatemala 126,200 1998    
Kekchi Guatemala 400,000 1998 421,300  
Lenca El Salvador 37,000      
Lucumi Cuba no estimate      
Mam, Central Guatemala 100,000 1992    
Mam, Northern Guatemala 180-200,000 1998    
Mam, Southern Guatemala 125,000 1991    
Mam--all others Guatemala 85,000 1991, 92, 98    
Mapudungan Chile 400,000 1982 440,000  
Maya, Chan Sta Cruz Mexico 40,000 1990    
Maya, Yucatan Mexico 700,000 1990    
Mazahua, Central Mexico 350,000 1993    
Mazateco--all forms Mexico 169,000 1993    
Miskito Honduras 29,000 1993 183,400  
Nicaragua 154,400 1993    
Mixé--all forms Mexico 90,000 1993    
Mixteco--all forms Mexico 335,000      
Nahuatl, Guerrero  Mexico 150-200,000 1998    
Nahuatl, Huasteco Este Mexico 410,000 1991    
Nahuatl, Huasteco Oeste Mexico 400,000 1991    
Nahuatl, Orizaba Mexico 120,000 1991    
Nahuatl, Puebla Sureste Mexico 130,000 1991    
Nahuatl, Puebla Sierra Mexico 125,000 1983    
Nahuatl--all others Mexico 195,000      
Ngabere Panama 128,000 1990 133,000  
Otomi--all forms Mexico 223,000      
Purepecha Mexico 120,000 1990    
Paez Columbia 119,000 1998    
Papiamento Aruba 70,000 1999    
Neth. Antilles 179,000 1998    
Portuguese Brazil 158M      
Quechua, S. Bolivian Argentina 850,000      
Quechua , N. Conchucos Ancash Peru 200,000 1994    
Quechua, S. Conchucos Ancash Peru 250,000 1994    
Quecha, Huaylas Ancash Peru 300-350,000 1998    
Quechua, Ayucucho Peru 1M 1976    
Quechua, Cuzco Peru 1.5M 1989    
Quechua, Margos-Yarowilca-Lauricocha Peru 120,000 1998    
Quechua, San Rafael Huariaca Peru 90,000 1998    
Quechua, Huyalla Wanca Peru 300,000 1998    
Sranan   120,000 L1  400,000 L2 1993    
Quechua--all others Peru 290,000 1993, 1998    
Quichua--all forms Peru 12,000 1998    
Quiché, Central Guatemala 216,900 1990    
Quiché, Eastern Chichicastenango Guatemala 100,000 1991    
Quiché--All others Guatemala 80,000 1991, 92, 94    
Quichua, Highland Cañar Ecuador 100,000 1991    
Quichua, Highland Chimborazo Ecuador 1M 1990    
Quichua, Highland Imbabura Ecuador 300,000 1977    
Totonaca, Sierra Mexico 120,000 1982    
Totonaca--all others Mexico        
Tzeltal, Bachajon Mexico 100,000 1993    
Tzeltal, Oxchoc Mexico 200,000 1993    
Tzotzil, Chamula  Mexico 130,000 1990    
Tzotzil--all others Mexico 95,000 1990    
Wayuu Columbia 135,000 1995    
Venezuela 170,000 1995 135,000  
Zapoteco--all forms Mexico 326,000 1982, 83, 90