English, Hausa and Yoruba Top Nigeria's Most Spoken Languages in 2026

English is Nigeria's most widely spoken language in 2026, with an estimated 60 million speakers, according to data compiled from World Population Review. Its use in government, schools, business and communication across ethnic groups has helped it retain the top spot. Hausa ranks second with 48.3 million speakers, followed by Yoruba at 39.5 million. Nigerian Pidgin places fourth with 30 million speakers, while Igbo completes the top five with an estimated 27 million. Fulfulde, Ibibio, Kanuri, Tiv and Anaang also feature among the country's most spoken languages. The figures reflect Nigeria's multilingual identity and the continued importance of indigenous languages alongside English.

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