Swahili Speaking Countries (2026)

Swahili is spoken in 4 countries across 1 region (Africa). The combined population of all Swahili-speaking countries is approximately 280 million people, covering a total land area of 4,114,078 km².

DR Congo is the largest Swahili-speaking country by population, home to 40.3% of the total Swahili-speaking population. It is also the largest by land area at 2,344,858 km².

The second most populous Swahili-speaking country is Tanzania with 68,153,004 people (24.3% of total). The average population density across all Swahili-speaking countries is 68 people per km². These countries use 4 different currencies, including Congolese franc, Tanzanian shilling, Kenyan shilling, and others.

Population Share by Country

Proportion of total Swahili-speaking population per country

DR Congo40.3% · 112,832,000

Tanzania24.3% · 68,153,004

Kenya19.0% · 53,330,978

Uganda16.4% · 45,905,417

All Swahili-Speaking Countries

#	Country	Population	% Share	Capital	Region
1	DR Congo	112,832,000	40.3%	Kinshasa	Africa
2	Tanzania	68,153,004	24.3%	Dodoma	Africa
3	Kenya	53,330,978	19.0%	Nairobi	Africa
4	Uganda	45,905,417	16.4%	Kampala	Africa

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