The Nilo-Saharan languages are a group of African languages spoken mainly in the upper parts of the Chari and Nile rivers (whence the term "Nilo-"), including historic Nubia, north of where the two tributaries of Nile meet. Roughly 11 million people spoke Nilo-Saharan languages as of 1987.

Geographic distribution

Nilo-Saharan languages tree

Nilo-Saharan (204 languages)

• Berta
  • Berta
• Central Sudanic (65)
• Eastern Sudanic (95 languages)
  • Eastern (26 languages)
    • Nubian (11 languages)
  • Kuliak (3 languages)
  • Nilotic (52 languages)
  • Western (14 languages)
• Komuz (6 languages)
• Kunama
  • Kunama
• Maban (9 languages)
• Saharan (9 languages)
• Songhai (8 languages)
• Unclassied (9 languages)
• Fur
  • Amdang
  • Fur
  • Mimi