Swahili Speaking Countries (2026)

Swahili is spoken in 4 countries across 1 region (Africa). The combined population of all Swahili-speaking countries is approximately 284 million people, covering a total land area of 4,114,078 km².

DR Congo is the largest Swahili-speaking country by population, home to 38.4% 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 68,560,157 people (24.1% of total). The average population density across all Swahili-speaking countries is 69 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 Congo38.4% · 109,276,265

Tanzania24.1% · 68,560,157

Kenya19.9% · 56,432,944

Uganda17.6% · 50,015,092

All Swahili-Speaking Countries

#	Country	Population	% Share	Capital	Region
1	DR Congo	109,276,265	38.4%	Kinshasa	Africa
2	Tanzania	68,560,157	24.1%	Dodoma	Africa
3	Kenya	56,432,944	19.9%	Nairobi	Africa
4	Uganda	50,015,092	17.6%	Kampala	Africa

Other Languages