Very old and not very accurate linguistic statistics
Language
Speakers
Nyanja
8,800,000
Yao
1,200,000
Tumbuka
1,080,000
Nyakyusa-Ngonde
360,000
Sena
297,000
Lomwe
261,000
Kokola
209,000
Tonga
181,000
Ndali
76,000
Lambya
49,000
Zulu
38,200
Nyiha
10,500
Nyika
5,100
20% urbanization
City
Population
Lilongwe
902,388
Blantyre
861,335
Mzuzu
140,184
Zomba
91,962
Kasungu
46,780
Karonga
44,112
Mangochi
42,410
World Factbook gives: Chichewa (official) 57.2%, Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other 3.6% (1998 census). We are not certain what the 'chi' prefix is. Chewa and Nyanja are both SIL code NYA. Nyakyusa-Ngonde (SIL code NYY) has 13 other names as well as three major dialects. There is considerable debate about whether Kokola (sometimes Kokhola) is an independent language or a variant of Lolo. Then there is further debate whether Lolo is itself independent or a variant of Lomwe.