Kiswahili is the national language. Kiswahili and English are the official languages, while Kiswahili is the medium of instruction at primary school level, social and political spheres; English is the medium at higher educational levels, technology, and higher courts. Kiswahili is seen as the unifying language of the country between people of different ethnic groups, who each have their own language. English serves the purpose of providing Tanzanians with the ability to participate in the global economy and culture. Virtually all of Tanzania’s inhabitants speak Bantu languages. There are approximately 158 ethnic groups.  Among them there are Bantu, Nilotic, Khoikhoi and Cushitic speaking peoples.