Nigeria
Waiting for the first voice
تا مرد سخن نگفته باشد / عیب و هنرش نهفته باشد
Until a man has spoken, his faults and his gifts both stay hidden.
No advice from here yet. Know an elder from this country? Your recording could be the first: 2–3 minutes on a phone.
Elders in numbers
- of people are 65 or older
- 3.1%
- people aged 65 or older
- 7.3M
- will be 65 or older in 2050
- 4.5%
- is how long people live after 60, on average
- 17.6 years
- of people 65+ live alone
- 10.4%
- women 14.2%, men 7.5%
Sources: World Bank, 2025; World Bank projection for 2050; WHO, 2023; UN, 2024
Languages
530 languages, 218 of them endangered
- BureCritically endangered
- DazawaCritically endangered
- DiriCritically endangered
- NjangaCritically endangered
- NjerepCritically endangered
- Sheni-ZiriyaCritically endangered
- SomyevCritically endangered
- YankamCritically endangered
- AyuSeverely endangered
- BeteSeverely endangered
- DefakaSeverely endangered
- DyarimSeverely endangered
Show all 530
- EruwaSeverely endangered
- GalambuSeverely endangered
- GiiwoSeverely endangered
- HõneSeverely endangered
- HyaSeverely endangered
- JimiSeverely endangered
- Kudu-CamoSeverely endangered
- PutaiSeverely endangered
- Shall-ZwallSeverely endangered
- AhanDefinitely endangered
- AkpesDefinitely endangered
- AkumDefinitely endangered
- AyereDefinitely endangered
- BaanDefinitely endangered
- BakpinkaDefinitely endangered
- BarkulDefinitely endangered
- BiseniDefinitely endangered
- BuDefinitely endangered
- BuliDefinitely endangered
- Cameroon MambilaDefinitely endangered
- CaraDefinitely endangered
- DassDefinitely endangered
- DenoDefinitely endangered
- DongaDefinitely endangered
- DuguriDefinitely endangered
- EbughuDefinitely endangered
- FamDefinitely endangered
- GaaDefinitely endangered
- GejiDefinitely endangered
- GerumaDefinitely endangered
- GurmanaDefinitely endangered
- GwaraDefinitely endangered
- GyemDefinitely endangered
- HashaDefinitely endangered
- HungworoDefinitely endangered
- IbaaliDefinitely endangered
- IbinoDefinitely endangered
- Ibokun Sign LanguageDefinitely endangered
- IbuoroDefinitely endangered
- IdonDefinitely endangered
- IlueDefinitely endangered
- Itu Mbon UzoDefinitely endangered
- IyiveDefinitely endangered
- JanjiDefinitely endangered
- JibaDefinitely endangered
- JilbeDefinitely endangered
- JimiDefinitely endangered
- JuDefinitely endangered
- KamiDefinitely endangered
- KamkamDefinitely endangered
- KapyaDefinitely endangered
- KariyaDefinitely endangered
- Kir-BalarDefinitely endangered
- KoenoemDefinitely endangered
- KonoDefinitely endangered
- KugboDefinitely endangered
- KuttoDefinitely endangered
- LaruDefinitely endangered
- LufuDefinitely endangered
- Magajingari Sign LanguageDefinitely endangered
- MaghdiDefinitely endangered
- MakDefinitely endangered
- MangasDefinitely endangered
- Mingang DosoDefinitely endangered
- MvanipDefinitely endangered
- NdundaDefinitely endangered
- NggwahyiDefinitely endangered
- NkariDefinitely endangered
- NkorooDefinitely endangered
- Obulom-OchichiDefinitely endangered
- OkodiaDefinitely endangered
- OrumaDefinitely endangered
- Pa'aDefinitely endangered
- PitiDefinitely endangered
- PyemDefinitely endangered
- ShaDefinitely endangered
- ShangDefinitely endangered
- ShangaDefinitely endangered
- ShikiDefinitely endangered
- SiriDefinitely endangered
- TalaDefinitely endangered
- TasawaqDefinitely endangered
- ThaDefinitely endangered
- TiBinDefinitely endangered
- TunzuDefinitely endangered
- UdaDefinitely endangered
- UkwaDefinitely endangered
- UyangaDefinitely endangered
- VoriDefinitely endangered
- WãphaDefinitely endangered
- WawaDefinitely endangered
- ZangwalDefinitely endangered
- ZizilivakanDefinitely endangered
- ZoraDefinitely endangered
- ZulDefinitely endangered
- AbonVulnerable
- AkeVulnerable
- AkpetVulnerable
- AlagoVulnerable
- AmboVulnerable
- AnaangVulnerable
- BaaVulnerable
- BileVulnerable
- BoleVulnerable
- BukwenVulnerable
- BuraVulnerable
- BuruVulnerable
- CeVulnerable
- ChaariVulnerable
- ChakatoVulnerable
- CineniVulnerable
- CipuVulnerable
- CiwogaiVulnerable
- DabaVulnerable
- DenyaVulnerable
- DghwedeVulnerable
- Dir-Nyamzak-MbarimiVulnerable
- DirimVulnerable
- DokaVulnerable
- DuhwaVulnerable
- EggonVulnerable
- EkidVulnerable
- Enwan OronVulnerable
- EtebiVulnerable
- EvantVulnerable
- FiranVulnerable
- FungwaVulnerable
- Ga'andaVulnerable
- GadalVulnerable
- GadeVulnerable
- GanangVulnerable
- GbagyiVulnerable
- GeraVulnerable
- GimmeVulnerable
- GimnimeVulnerable
- GoemaiVulnerable
- GudeVulnerable
- Guduf-GavaVulnerable
- GuruntumVulnerable
- GwandaraVulnerable
- GyongVulnerable
- HoromVulnerable
- IbaniVulnerable
- IdunVulnerable
- IkomVulnerable
- IsuVulnerable
- IzereVulnerable
- JenjoVulnerable
- KanakuruVulnerable
- KholokVulnerable
- KinukuVulnerable
- Koro WachiVulnerable
- KorombaVulnerable
- KoropVulnerable
- KpanVulnerable
- KugamaVulnerable
- KulungVulnerable
- KyengaVulnerable
- LabirVulnerable
- LagwanVulnerable
- LamangVulnerable
- LooVulnerable
- LyaseVulnerable
- MaakaVulnerable
- MamaVulnerable
- MangarVulnerable
- MashiVulnerable
- MboiVulnerable
- MishipVulnerable
- MontolVulnerable
- MundatVulnerable
- NdoeVulnerable
- NdoroVulnerable
- NembeVulnerable
- NgamoVulnerable
- NgizimVulnerable
- NgwabaVulnerable
- NkukoliVulnerable
- NyamVulnerable
- NzanyiVulnerable
- Obiro-IkryoVulnerable
- OkoboVulnerable
- OkpeVulnerable
- OlomaVulnerable
- PanaVulnerable
- PeVulnerable
- PesseVulnerable
- PonguVulnerable
- PyapunVulnerable
- ResheVulnerable
- RigweVulnerable
- SayaVulnerable
- SukurVulnerable
- Sur–MyetVulnerable
- TamahaqVulnerable
- TambasVulnerable
- TangaleVulnerable
- TedaVulnerable
- TepVulnerable
- TetserretVulnerable
- TsucubaVulnerable
- UnemeVulnerable
- UsaghadeVulnerable
- WarjiVulnerable
- YedinaVulnerable
- YukubenVulnerable
- Abanyom
- Abua
- Abureni
- Adamaua-Fulfulde
- Adara
- Afade
- Agatu
- Agoi
- Ahwai
- Akoko
- Akpa
- Akuku
- Alege
- Alumu
- American Sign Language
- Amo
- Asu
- Atsam
- Awak
- Baangi
- Bacama
- Bade
- Bagirmi
- Bambukae
- Bangwinji
- Banliku
- Bariba
- Basa-Benue
- Bata
- Batu
- Bauchi
- Bekwarra
- Belnəng
- Bena
- Berom
- Bete-Bendi
- Bijim
- Bitare
- Boga
- Boghom
- Boki
- Boko
- Bokobaru
- Borgu Fulfulde
- Bumaji
- Burak
- Busa
- Cakfem-Mushere
- Cen
- Central Kanuri
- Central-Eastern Niger Fulfulde
- Ceve
- Chamba Leko
- Cibak
- Como Karim
- Dadiya
- Dangana
- Degema
- Dendi
- Dibo
- Dijim-Bwilim
- Dzodinka
- Ɗuwai
- Eastern Acipa
- Ebira
- Ede Cabe
- Ede Nago
- Edo
- Efai
- Efik
- Efutop
- Ehueun
- Ekajuk
- Eki
- Ekoi
- Ekpeye
- Eleme
- Eloyi
- Engenni
- Enwan
- Epie
- Esan
- Esimbi
- Eten
- Etkywan
- Etulo
- Fali
- Fyer
- Gbantu
- Gbari
- Gbiri-Niragu
- Gbo
- Ghotuo
- Glavda
- Gokana
- Gudu
- Gun
- Gupa-Abawa
- Guta
- Gvoko
- Gwune
- Hausa
- Hausa Sign Language
- Hdi
- Huba
- Humono
- Hun-Saare
- Hwana
- Hyam
- Ibibio
- Idere
- Idoma
- Igala
- Igbo
- Igede
- Igwe
- Ika
- Ikhin
- Iko
- Ikpeshi
- Iku
- Ikwerre
- Isoko
- Ito
- Itsekiri
- Ivbiosakon
- Iyayu
- Izi-Ezaa-Ikwo-Mgbo dialect cluster
- Izon
- Jara
- Jarawa
- Jere
- Jibu
- Jijili
- Jili
- Jiru
- Jju
- Jukun Takum
- Kaan
- Kadung
- Kakanda
- Kalabari
- Kamo
- Kamuku
- Kamwe
- Kanufi
- Karai-karai
- Kele
- Khana
- Kimba
- Kirike
- Kirya-Konzəl
- Kizamani
- Kofyar
- Koma Ndera
- Koro Nulu
- Koro Wachi
- Koro Zuba
- Kpasam
- Kulere
- Kulu
- Kumba
- Kupa
- Kushi
- Kuteb
- Kutin
- Kwaami
- Kwaja
- Kyoli
- Lala-Roba
- Lame
- Lamja-Dengsa-Tola
- Leelau
- Lela
- Lemoro
- Limbum
- Loko
- Longuda
- Lopa
- Lubila
- Mada
- Mafa
- Malgwa
- Manga Kanuri
- Marghi South
- Margi
- Mbat
- Mbay
- Mbe
- Mbembe
- Mbula-Bwazza
- Mburku
- Mesaka
- Mfumte
- Miya
- Moo
- Mpade
- Mumuye
- Mwaghavul
- Nde
- Ngambay
- Ngas
- Ngyian
- Nigeria Mambila
- Nigerian Fulfulde
- Nigerian Pidgin
- Nigerian Sign Language
- Nikyob-Nindem
- Ninka
- Ninzo
- Nkem-Nkum
- Nnam
- Northwest Gbaya
- Nso
- Nteng
- Nungu
- Nupe
- Nyankpa
- Nyima
- Nyingwom
- Nyong
- Obolo
- Odual
- Ogba
- Ogbia
- Ogbogolo
- Ogbronuagum
- Oko
- Okpamheri
- Okpe
- Okpela
- Oring
- Oro
- Ososo
- Otank
- Panawa
- Pangseng
- Pero
- Piya
- Psikyɛ
- Putukwam
- Rang
- Rishiwa
- Rogo
- Ron
- Samba Daka
- Sanga
- Sasaru
- Shama
- Shamang
- Shingini
- Shoo-Minda-Nye
- Shuwa
- Tahoua
- Tal
- Tarok
- Tee
- Teme
- Tera
- Tigon
- Tikurmi
- Tita
- Tiv
- Tiyaa
- Toro
- Tsishingini
- Tso
- Tula
- Tyap
- Ubaghara
- Ubang
- Uhami
- Ukaan
- Ukpe-Bayobiri
- Ukue
- Ukwuani-Ndoni
- Ulukwumi
- Umon
- Urhobo
- ut-Ma'in
- Uvbie
- Vadi
- Vemgo-Mabas
- Vere
- Vere Kaadam
- Viti
- Voro
- Vute
- Waja
- Waka
- Wandala
- Wannu
- Wapan
- Western Niger Fulfulde
- Wom
- Yace
- Yala
- Yamba
- Yekhee
- Yendang
- Yigha
- Yoruba
- Yotti
- Youm
- Zaranda
- Zarma
- Zekwe
- Zhire
- Zumbun
- Bura Sign Language
- Komta
- Yoruba Sign Language
Languages and their status: Glottolog v5.3, CC BY 4.0. Names: Wikidata.
UNESCO intangible heritage
- Durbar in Kano2024
- Midwifery: knowledge, skills and practices2023
- Sango Festival, Oyo2023
- Kwagh-Hir theatrical performance2019
- Argungu international fishing and cultural festival2016
- Ijele masquerade2009
- Oral heritage of Gelede2008
- Ifa divination system2008
List and years: ich.unesco.org
Know an elder from this country?
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