Kongo is a key member of the Bantu language branch, itself part of the larger Niger-Congo language family. Primarily spoken in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Angola, and the Republic of the Congo, Kongo wields considerable cultural and historical influence in Central Africa. According to the eLinguistics.net analysis using specific software modules to assess linguistic relationships, the five languages most similar to Kongo are Lingala, Luba-Kasai, Luba-Katanga, Nyaneka, and Chichewa.
- Nyaneka (51.0)
Nyaneka is a Bantu language spoken primarily in southwestern Angola, including provinces like Huíla and Cunene. Although located somewhat further from the heartland of Kongo, centuries of migrations and trade have linked these communities with other Bantu-speaking groups to the north. - Luba – Kasai (46.9)
Luba-Kasai, also known as Ciluba or Tshiluba, is predominantly spoken in the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As a major Bantu language in Central Africa, it is closely related to other Luba and Kongo languages, reflecting the historical interconnectedness of Bantu communities. - Chichewa (46.0)
Chichewa, also known simply as Chewa, is predominantly spoken in Malawi and also in parts of Zambia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. While it may lie farther east of Kongo territory, it is still part of the Bantu language family, demonstrating how vast the Bantu linguistic spread is. - Luba – Katanga (44.7)
Luba-Katanga, commonly called Kiluba, is centered in the Katanga (now Haut-Katanga and Lualaba) region in the southeastern DRC. It is part of the wider Luba language group, which connects it to neighboring Bantu languages. - Lingala (44.2)
Lingala evolved in the northwestern area of the DRC, along the Congo River, before spreading to neighboring regions. Initially associated with colonial trade and river transport, Lingala’s modern status as a lingua franca has been bolstered by urbanization, pop music (especially soukous), and radio broadcasts.
(to be considered for the list, the language must be spoken by at least one million people)