Javanese Language
Basa Jawa
Linguistic Classification Javanese is a member of the Western, or Indonesian, branch of the Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) language family.
Number of Speakers Approximately 68 million people speak Javanese as their native language, primarily on the island of Java.
Geographical Distribution While predominantly spoken in Central and East Java, Javanese is also used in regions like Yogyakarta, the north coast of West Java, and among Javanese communities in Indonesia's outer islands due to transmigration.
Global Presence Javanese-speaking communities exist in countries such as Suriname, where descendants of Javanese migrants maintain the language, and in neighboring nations like Malaysia and Singapore.