The Malayo-Polynesian languages are a subgroup of the Austronesian languages. There are about 385.5 million people who speak these languages. The Malayo-Polynesian languages are spoken by the Austronesian people of the island nations of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean. There are a smaller number in continental Asia. Malagasy is spoken on the island of Madagascar. Part of the language family shows a strong influence of Sanskrit and Arabic as the western part of the region has many followers of Buddhism, Hinduism, and, since the 10th century, Islam.
Malayo-Polynesian languages
Classification and distribution areas of the Malayo-Polynesian languages
In this section, the internal structure (classification) of Malayo-Polynesian is presented in detail. In addition, the number of languages, current speaker numbers and the distribution areas of the individual branches and sub-branches are given.
- West Malayo Polynesian
- Philippines (132 languages, 68 million speakers; Philippines, Sangir, North Sulawesi)
- Northern Philippines (45 languages, 13 million speakers; Bashi, Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Northern Mindoro)
- Meso-Philippines (46 languages, 49 million speakers; Central Philippines, Southern Mangyan, Palawan, Kalamian)
- Southern Philippines (21 languages, 2.6 million speakers; Manobo, Danao, Subanun)
- Southern Mindanao (4 languages, 4,000 speakers; Southern Mindanao)
- Sangir languages (6 languages, 600,000 speakers; North Sulawesi)
- Minahasa languages (3 languages, 250,000 speakers; North Sulawesi)
- Gorontalo-Mongondow languages (7 languages, 2.2 million speakers; North and Northeast Sulawesi): Gorontalo, Mongondow
- Chamorro, Palauan (one language each, combined 100,000 speakers; Guam, Palau)
- Sama-Bajaw (8 languages, 500,000 speakers; Sulu, Sulawesi and Flores)
- Malayo-Sumbawa (77 languages, 107 million speakers; Malaysia, Indonesia: Sumatra, Java, Madura, Bali, etc.)
- Malay (60 languages, 60 million speakers; Malaysia, Indonesia)
- Aceh-Chamish (8 languages, 3.9 million speakers; China: Hainan; Vietnam, Cambodia / Indonesia: North Sumatra)
- Embaloh-Taman (2 languages, 15,000 speakers; Central Borneo (Kalimantan))
- Sundanese (2 languages, 27 million speakers; Sunda)
- Madurese (2 languages, 10 million speakers; Madura)
- Bali-Sasak-Sumbawa languages (3 languages, 6.3 million speakers; Balinese, Sasak, Sumbawa)
- Javanese (3 languages, 76 million speakers; Java)
- Northwest Sumatra (11 languages, 6.7 million speakers; Northwest Sumatra, Barrier Islands)
- Barrier Islands (5 languages, 670,000 speakers; Simeulue, Nias, Mentawai, Enggano)
- Batak (5 languages, 5.9 million speakers; Northwest Sumatra: Batak country)
- Gayo (1 language, 180,000 speakers; North Sumatra (Takengon, Genteng, Lokon))
- Lampung (7 languages, 3.5 million speakers; southern tip of Sumatra)
- Rejang (1 language, 1 million speakers; southwest Sumatra)
- Moken-Moklen (2 languages, 9,000 speakers; southern Burma, southern Thailand (west coast, islands))
- North Borneo (60 languages, 600,000 speakers; Northwest Borneo: Sabah, North Sarawak)
- Sabah (36 languages, 500,000 speakers; Northwest Borneo: Sabah)
- North Sarawak (24 languages, 100,000 speakers; Northwest Borneo: North Sarawak)
- Kayan-Murik (16 languages, 40,000 speakers; Central Borneo: Kalimantan, also Sarawak)
- Land-Dayak languages (12 languages, 450,000 speakers; South Sarawak)
- East Barito-Malagasy (7 languages, 14.3 million speakers; southeastern tip of Borneo / Madagascar)
- Barito-Mahakam (18 languages, 170,000 speakers; southeast Borneo (Kalimantan) (northern East Barito))
- West Barito (6 languages, 520,000 speakers; central South Borneo (Kalimantan)): Ngaju
- Muna-Buton languages (11 languages, 530,000 speakers; Southeast Sulawesi: Cia-Cia, Muna, Tukangbesi)
- Wotu-Wolio languages (5 languages, 45,000 speakers; Southeast Sulawesi: Wolio, Wotu)
- Bungku-Tolaki languages (16 languages, 420,000 speakers; Southeast Sulawesi): Tolaki, Bungku
- Saluan-Banggai languages (5 languages, 200,000 speakers; east central Sulawesi, Banggai, Saluan)
- Tomini-Tolitoli languages (6 languages, 180,000 speakers; western North Sulawesi): Tomini, Tolitoli
- Kaili-Pamona languages (12 languages, 460,000 speakers; northwestern Central Sulawesi: Kaili, Pamona)
- South Sulawesi (27 languages, 7 million speakers; South and West Central Sulawesi)
- Central East Malayo Polynesian
- Central Malayo-Polynesian
- North Bomberai (four languages, 2,000 speakers; Irian Jaya: north Bomberai Peninsula)
- Southern Bomberai (one language, 600 speakers; Irian Jaya: Southern Bomberai Peninsula)
- Central Moluccas (52 languages, 330,000 speakers; Banda, Seram, Ambon, Sula)
- Teor-Kur (two languages, 4,000 speakers; Teor, Kur)
- Aru (13 languages, 50,000 speakers; Aru Islands)
- Southeast Moluccas (5 languages, 180,000 speakers; Kai, Fordata, Yamdena, Tanimbar)
- Babar (9 languages, 10,000 speakers; Babar)
- Timor-Flores (41 languages, 2 million speakers; Timor, Roti, Alor, Wetar, Flores): Tetum, Uab Meto, Manggarai, Kambera, Lewotobi and others.
- Bima-Sumba (24 languages, 1.9 million speakers; Sumba, Sumbawa): Bima
- East Malayo Polynesian
- South Halmahera West New Guinea (SHWNG group) (39 languages, 135,000 speakers; South Halmahera, West New Guinea)
- South Halmahera (6 languages, 50,000 speakers; South Halmahera)
- West New Guinea (33 languages, 85,000 speakers; West New Guinea)
- Oceanic (489 languages, 2.7 million speakers; Oceania: Micronesian, Melanesian, Polynesian)
- Admiralty Islands (32 languages including Yapean, 30,000 speakers; Admiralty Islands, Yap)
- Western Oceanic (231 languages, 770,000 speakers; North, East and Central New Guinea, Meso-Melanesia)
- Northern New Guinea (102 languages, 210,000 speakers; Northern New Guinea)
- East Central Papua New Guinea (62 languages, 240,000 speakers)
- Meso-Melanesian (67 languages, 320,000 speakers; Meso-Melanesia: Vitu, Unea, New Britain, New Ireland, Northwest Solomon Islands)
- Central East Oceanic (226 languages, 2 million speakers)
- Southeast Solomon Islands (26 languages, 220,000 speakers)
- Santa Cruz (6 languages, 1,200 speakers)
- North Central Vanuatu (90 languages, 80,000 speakers)
- South Vanuatu (8 languages, 18,000 speakers)
- New Caledonia (30 languages, 33,000 speakers)
- Loyalty Islands (3 languages, 23,000 speakers)
- Micronesian (20 languages, 220,000 speakers; Micronesia: Ikiribati, Kosrae, Marshall Islands, Ponape, Chuuk, Nauru)
- Central Pacific (43 languages, 1.3 million speakers; Fiji, Polynesia)
Malayo-Polynesian Million Languages
There are about 30 Malayo-Polynesian languages with at least one million speakers, of which 10 are spoken in the Philippines, 18 in Malaysia and Indonesia, and one in Madagascar. In the following table, in addition to the number of speakers (native speakers), the subfamily of Malayo-Polynesian to which the language belongs is given, and additionally the area of distribution if it is not clear from the name of the subgroup. The figure "S2" includes the number of native speakers and second speakers of that language. The table is arranged geographically.
| Language | Number of speakers | Subgroup (distribution area) |
| Ilokano | 8 million | Northern Philippines |
| 1.2 million | Northern Philippines | |
| 2 million | Northern Philippines | |
| 28 million, S2 45 million | Meso Philippines | |
| Cebuano | 10 million, S2 18 million. | Meso Philippines |
| Bikol | 2.5 million | Meso Philippines |
| Waray-Waray (Samar-Leyte) | 2.5 million | Meso Philippines |
| Hiligaynon | 7 million | Meso Philippines |
| Magindanao | 1 million | South Philippines |
| Mongondow | 1 million | Gorontalo-Mongondow (North Sulawesi) |
| Gorontalo | 1 million | Gorantalo-Mongondow (North Sulawesi) |
| Makassar language | 1.6 million | South Sulawesi |
| Buginese | 3.6 million | South Sulawesi |
| Bahasa Malaysia | 10 million, S2 20 million. | Malay (Malaysia) |
| Bahasa Indonesia | 30 million, S2 170 million. | Malay (Indonesia) |
| Pattani (Thai Malay) | 3 million | Malay (Thailand) |
| Banjarese (Borneo Malay) | 3 million | Malay (Borneo) |
| Sulawesi Malay | 1-2 million | Malay (Sulawesi) |
| Minangkabau | 6.5 million | Para-Malay (Sumatra) |
| Achinese | 3 million | Cham-Achin (Sumatra) |
| Sundanese | 27 million | Sunda |
| Madurese | 10 million | Madura |
| Balinese | 4 million | Bali-Sasak-Sumbawa (Bali - Lombok) |
| Sasak | 2 million | Bali-Sasak-Sumbawa (Lombok) |
| 75 million | Java | |
| Batak Toba | 3.2 million | Batak (Northwest Sumatra) |
| Batak Dairi | 1.2 million | Batak (Northwest Sumatra) |
| 14 million | East Barito (Madagascar) | |
| Tetum | 950,000, S2 1.6 million. | Timor (East Timor and Indonesia) |
All other Malayo-Polynesian languages have less than one million speakers. Especially the Oceanic languages are often very "small" and have less than 1000 speakers. A complete overview of all Austronesian languages with their classification within Austronesian can also be found at Ernst Kausen.