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How many people speak Amharic?
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Semitic languages
Distribution of the Semitic languages.
Amharic is a prominent member of the Southwest Semitic group and serves as a primary working language in Ethiopia.123
Estimates regarding the number of Amharic speakers vary slightly based on the source and time of reporting:
* Some data from the early 21st century indicate there are approximately 17 million speakers.2
* Other records from the same period suggest the number of speakers is closer to 18.7 million.3
As one of the two most widely spoken languages in Ethiopia, it remains a vital component of the country's linguistic landscape alongside Oromo.13