Xhosa Speaking Countries (2026)

Xhosa is spoken in 2 countries across 1 region (Africa). The combined population of all Xhosa-speaking countries is approximately 80 million people, covering a total land area of 1,611,794 km².

South Africa is the largest Xhosa-speaking country by population, home to 78.7% of the total Xhosa-speaking population. It is also the largest by land area at 1,221,037 km².

The second most populous Xhosa-speaking country is Zimbabwe with 17,073,087 people (21.3% of total). The average population density across all Xhosa-speaking countries is 50 people per km². These countries use 2 different currencies, including South African rand, Zimbabwean dollar.

Countries

2

Total Population

80M

Most Populous

South Africa

Largest by Area

South Africa

Population Share by Country

Proportion of total Xhosa-speaking population per country

Flag of South AfricaSouth Africa78.7% · 63,100,945
Flag of ZimbabweZimbabwe21.3% · 17,073,087

All Xhosa-Speaking Countries

#CountryPopulation
1Flag of South AfricaSouth Africa63,100,945
2Flag of ZimbabweZimbabwe17,073,087

Frequently Asked Questions

How many countries speak Xhosa?

Xhosa is an official or recognized language in 2 countries across 1 region (Africa).

What is the most populous Xhosa-speaking country?

South Africa is the most populous Xhosa-speaking country with a population of 63,100,945, accounting for 78.7% of all Xhosa-speaking people.

What is the total population of Xhosa-speaking countries?

The combined population of all 2 Xhosa-speaking countries is approximately 80 million, covering a total land area of 1,611,794 km².

Explore Regions

Xhosa-speaking countries span 1 region. Explore each region for more population data.

Currencies Used

Currencies used in Xhosa-speaking countries.

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