Unlock the world’s languages

Ethnologue exists to provide reliable, up-to-date resources for language research, documentation, and the promotion of language development. We support users who share our goal of advocating for the preservation of languages and cultures that are in danger of disappearing. The cost of Ethnologue subscriptions directly supports language development as we maintain and develop the most dedicated service to the world’s language communities.

Our staff oversee more than 7,500 language profiles, plus maps, downloads, and many other resources. At the same time, we’re working to build new tools and analytics to make Ethnologue more powerful than ever. The technical infrastructure for this platform requires a significant financial investment for us to develop and maintain. Every single dollar that is generated above the cost of operation for Ethnologue goes directly back into language development and research activities or projects. We sponsor research seminars in countries where language data is either incomplete or outdated. The Ethnologue Scholarship Program provides funding for graduate-level scholars from low-income countries who are pursuing research of minority languages in their region. The revenue from subscriptions makes it possible for us to continue supporting efforts like these and more, and to ensure the sustainability of Ethnologue to provide language resources for generations to come.

Please note, we do offer discounts for educational institutions, independent researchers, and more, and free access for residents of low-income countries.

Yes! If you represent a university, school, or library, inquire here to learn about providing Ethnologue as a resource to your entire institution with one of our discounted Enterprise plans.

Independent researchers or faculty members who do not have institutional access to Ethnologue are eligible for a discounted individual subscription. Click here to get verified!

Unfortunately we do not offer discounted plans to individual students. You can let your teacher, professor or librarian know how much Ethnologue would help you in your studies, and send them a link to our subscriptions page to inquire about providing access to your entire school at a discounted rate

We invite non-profit organizations whose work aligns with SIL Global’s Vision “to see people flourishing in community using the languages they value most” to discuss partnership with us. Select mission partners are eligible for discounts. Contact us to learn more.

Yes, we offer enterprise and team subscriptions tailored to meet the needs of academic institutions and larger organizations. These plans provide added flexibility including domain- and IP-based multi-user access. If you're interested in an enterprise or team subscription, please contact Sales for more information.

We do not offer a free trial for individual subscriptions. If you are interested in an institutional subscription, please contact Sales to see if you qualify for a preview period.

Users who live in low-and middle-income countries, as defined by World Bank ranking, may be eligible for free Essentials access. These countries are home to many of the language communities we strive to support, so we provide ready access to those who need minority language information the most. Click here to learn more about this free access.

Absolutely! Ethnologue wouldn't be possible without contributions from researchers, language fieldworkers, members of language communities, and even language hobbyists who have freely given their time and knowledge to improve the accuracy and quality of our data. We are grateful to those who contribute valuable input directly through the website, and offer free Standard subscriptions to those who contribute their expertise. Read more about the Ethnologue Contributor Program, or if you’re ready, you can apply now.

The free Starter version of Ethnologue provides access to basic summaries of every language and country worldwide.  No subscription is required to view this information.

Subscriptions do not include access to raw data, which must be purchased separately. Click here to learn more about our datasets.

Each edition of Ethnologue is an annual snapshot of language data for that year. At this time we do not publish longitudinal data, but Essentials and Standard subscribers do have access to previous editions of Ethnologue through our Archives.

Yes, you can access your subscription on multiple devices. However, please note that subscriptions are tied to individual users and may not be shared among multiple people. Each user must have their own subscription to access Ethnologue. Please contact Sales if you are interested in setting up a team subscription.

Ethnologue accounts and subscriptions are specific to individual users. Sharing login credentials with other people is a direct violation of our Terms of Use. Each user must have their own subscription to access Ethnologue. Please contact Sales if you are interested in setting up a team subscription.

For individual subscriptions, we accept credit card payments. For team and institutional accounts, we also accept credit card payments, as well as check and bank transfer. If you need assistance with a payment method, please Contact Customer Service.

Yes, we provide both invoices and receipts for subscriptions. For institutional and team accounts, as well as certain businesses, we can issue invoices with net terms. For all other users, a receipt will be automatically sent to the email address associated with your account upon payment. If you need a copy of a paid invoice, just contact Customer Service and we’ll be happy to send one.

If you experience any issues with your subscription, please contact Customer Service. Our team is here to help resolve any problems quickly and ensure you have uninterrupted access to Ethnologue.

Yes, you can upgrade your subscription plan at any time during your current subscription period. Simply contact Customer Service and we’ll assist you in making the switch.

Yes, subscriptions automatically renew to ensure uninterrupted access. However, you can cancel your subscription at any time to prevent future charges. Even after cancellation, you'll retain access until the end of your current subscription period. If you change your mind and decide to renew after all, simply contact Customer Service before your subscription term ends, and we’ll ensure your service continues without interruption.

Yes, you will be notified via email before your subscription renews.

If you cancel your subscription, you will continue to have access to Ethnologue through the remainder of your current billing period. Once your subscription term ends, you will no longer have access unless you choose to renew. We want to make sure you get the full value of your subscription, even if you decide to cancel.

Refunds for canceled subscriptions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If your request does not qualify for a refund, you will still have access to Ethnologue until your subscription term expires.

At this time, we do not offer an option for you to pause subscriptions directly. However, you may feel free to contact Customer Service to discuss your specific situation.

You can cancel your subscription at any time through your account management page by clicking the 'Cancel Subscription' button. If you need assistance, or if you have an institutional or team subscription, please contact Customer Service and we’ll be happy to help.