Colombia is a multilingual country, with an estimated 102 indigenous languages spoken in addition to Spanish. Some of the most widely spoken indigenous languages include:
Quechua: Quechua is spoken by approximately 800,000 people in Colombia, making it the most widely spoken indigenous language in the country. It is primarily spoken in the southern departments of Cauca, Huila, Nariño, and Putumayo.
Wayuunaiki: Wayuunaiki is spoken by approximately 300,000 people in Colombia, mainly in the northern department of La Guajira. It is the language of the Wayuu people.
Nasa Yuwe: Nasa Yuwe is spoken by approximately 260,000 people in Colombia, primarily in the southwestern departments of Cauca and Nariño. It is the language of the Nasa people.
Emberá: Emberá is spoken by approximately 220,000 people in Colombia, mainly in the western departments of Chocó, Risaralda, and Valle del Cauca. It is the language of the Emberá people.
Guambiano: Guambiano is spoken by approximately 170,000 people in Colombia, primarily in the southwestern department of Cauca. It is the language of the Guambiano people.
Creole languages:
In addition to indigenous languages, Colombia has two creole languages:
Palenquero: Palenquero is spoken by approximately 2,500 people in the town of San Basilio de Palenque, located in the northern department of Bolívar. It is a creole language based on Spanish and various African languages.
Raizal Creole: Raizal Creole is spoken by approximately 5,000 people on the islands of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina, located in the Caribbean Sea. It is a creole language based on English and various African languages.