| Country | Speakers | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Botswana | 17000 | |
| South Africa | 640000 | |
| Zimbabwe | 1550000 | (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001). Population total all countries: 1572800. Matabeleland, Bulawayo area. Also in Botswana, Zambia. Alternate names: Isinde’bele, Northern Ndebele, Sindebele, Tabele, Tebele. Dialects: Similar to Zulu [zul]. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Nguni (S.40) |