* Lack of Reliable Data: Accurate language data is often incomplete, especially for smaller and less documented languages.
* Defining "Language": There's no clear consensus on what constitutes a distinct language versus a dialect.
* Rapid Change: Languages are constantly evolving, with some dying out and new ones emerging.
That said, here are some languages that are considered to be among the least spoken, based on available data and estimates:
1. Ainu (Japan): Fewer than 15 speakers
2. Cherokee (United States): Fewer than 2,000 speakers
3. Kallawaya (Bolivia): Fewer than 100 speakers
4. N|uu (Namibia): Fewer than 20 speakers
5. Tauya (Peru): Fewer than 100 speakers
6. Manchu (China): Fewer than 100 speakers
7. Akha (China, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar): Fewer than 100,000 speakers
8. Lisu (China, Myanmar, Thailand): Fewer than 100,000 speakers
9. Yurok (United States): Fewer than 100 speakers
10. Tsez (Russia): Fewer than 1,000 speakers
It's important to note that this is just a small sample and there are likely many other languages with even fewer speakers. These numbers are constantly changing, and new research might uncover more languages that are critically endangered.
For more information on endangered languages, you can check these resources:
* Endangered Languages Project: https://endangeredlanguages.com/
* UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-atlas-of-the-worlds-languages-danger
* Ethnologue: https://www.ethnologue.com/