The Mayan languages are a group of languages spoken by the Maya peoples. The Maya form an enormous group of approximately 7 million people who are descended from an ancient Mesoamerican civilization and spread across the modern-day countries of: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Speaking descendant languages from their original Proto-Mayan language, some of their languages were recorded in the form of 'glyphs' of a Mayan script.
Languages
The languages are shown along with their population estimates, as available.
Language
|
Speakers
|
Year
|
Countries
|
Chontal
|
60,563
|
2020 census
|
Mexico (Tabasco)
|
Chʼol
|
254,715
|
2020 census
|
Mexico (Chiapas)
|
Chʼortiʼ
|
30,000
|
2000
|
Guatemala, Honduras
|
Chʼoltiʼ
|
0
|
extinct
|
Guatemala, Belize
|
Tzeltal
|
589,144
|
2020 census
|
Mexico (Chiapas)
|
Tzotzil
|
550,274
|
2020 census
|
Mexico (Chiapas)
|
Chicomuceltec
|
0
|
Extinct
|
Guatemala (Huehuetenango), Mexico (Chiapas)
|
Tének
|
168,729
|
2020 census
|
Mexico (San Luis Potosi, Veracruz)
|
Chuj
|
61,630
|
2003-2011
|
Guatemala (Huehuetenango), Mexico (Chiapas)
|
Tojol-abʼal
|
66,953
|
2010 census
|
Mexico (Chiapas)
|
Jakaltek
|
34,500
|
2000-2003
|
Guatemala (Huehuetenango), Mexico (Chiapas),
|
Qʼanjobʼal
|
148,340
|
2003-2010
|
Guatemala (Huehuetenango), Mexico (Chiapas)
|
Akatek
|
45,430
|
2003-2011
|
Guatemala (Huehuetenango), Mexico (Chiapas)
|
Mochoʼ
|
126
|
2020
|
Mexico (Chiapas)
|
Awakatek
|
9,610
|
2003 census
|
Guatemala (Huehuetenango), Mexico
|
Ixil
|
83,600
|
2003 census
|
Guatemala (El Quiché), Mexico
|
Mam
|
488,500
|
2003-2011
|
Guatemala, Mexico (Chiapas)
|
Tektitek
|
1,211
|
2000-2003
|
Guatemala (Huehuetenango), Mexico (Chiapas)
|
Qʼeqchiʼ
|
1,371,606
|
2020
|
Guatemala, Belize, Mexico
|
Poqomam
|
11,300
|
2003 census
|
Guatemala
|
Poqomchiʼ
|
92,900
|
2003 census
|
Guatemala (Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, El Quiché)
|
Achi
|
82,600
|
2003 census
|
Guatemala (Baja Verapaz)
|
Kʼicheʼ
|
1,055,407
|
2020
|
Guatemala, Mexico
|
Kaqchikel
|
445,000
|
2001 census
|
Guatemala, Mexico (Chiapas)
|
Tzʼutujil
|
63,200
|
2003 census
|
Guatemala
|
Sakapultek
|
15,000
|
2006
|
Guatemala (El Quiché)
|
Sipakapense
|
5,690
|
2003 census
|
Guatemala (San Marcos)
|
Uspantek
|
2,000
|
2013
|
Guatemala (El Quiché)
|
Itzaʼ
|
1,090
|
2003 census
|
Guatemala (El Petén)
|
Mopan
|
13,060
|
2003-2014
|
Belize, Guatemala (El Petén)
|
Lacandon
|
998
|
2015
|
Mexico (Chiapas)
|
Maya (Yucatec)
|
812,633
|
2010-2014
|
Mexico, Belize
|
In addition, Chalchitek is considered by some to be a distinct language, while others consider it a dialect of Awakatek.