Languages Spoken in Borneo

Borneo hosts extraordinary linguistic diversity—over 300 ethno-linguistic groups speaking an estimated 100+ languages. The two most widely spoken are Iban and Malay.

Major Languages

• Malay: Official in Malaysia; widely spoken in Indonesian Borneo and Brunei. Austronesian family.
• Iban: Over a million speakers in Sarawak, Malaysia; second most widely spoken after Malay.
• English: Used in government, business, education in major cities (Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Bandar Seri Begawan).
• Dayak languages: 200+ Austronesian languages/dialects of indigenous Dayak peoples.
• Chinese languages: Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka spoken by urban Chinese minorities.
• Others: Kadazan-Dusun, Lun Bawang, Murut, Kelabit, and many smaller community languages.