ɐ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd twˈɛnti wˈʌn sˈɜːveɪ fˈaʊnd ðæt lɪŋɡˈɑːlə wʌzðə sˈɛkəndmˈoʊst spˈoʊkən lˈæŋɡwɪdʒ ɪnðə kˈʌntɹi, jˈuːzd baɪ fˈɪfti nˈaɪn pɚsˈɛnt ʌvðə pˌɑːpjʊlˈeɪʃən sˈɪksti tˈuː pɚsˈɛnt ʌv mˈɛn ænd fˈɪfti sˈɪks pɚsˈɛnt ʌv wˈɪmɪn.
A 2021 survey found that Lingala was the second-most spoken language in the country, used by 59% of the population (62% of men and 56% of women).