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India is the seventh-largest country by the area and the second-most populous country in the world with more than 1.3 billion people. Census of 2011 showed there are 121 languages and out of them 22 are the official languages.
Browse through the table of contents to see the breakdown of languages of India in tabular format.
Table of Contents:
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Distribution of Hindi Speaker in India based on census of 2011
Distribution of Bengali Speaker in India based on census of 2011
Distribution of Marathi Speaker in India based on census of 2011
Distribution of Tamil Speaker in India based on census of 2011
Distribution of Telugu Speaker in India based on census of 2011
Hindi (हिन्दी) — also known as Khadi Boli or Khari Boli — is an Indo-Aryan language and the most widely spoken language in India. It serves as one of the two official languages of the Union of India alongside English.[2] Hindi is written in the Devanagari script.[4] Speaker figures are from the Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | हिन्दी (Hindī) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Khadi Boli, Khari Boli |
| Language Family | Indo-European › Indo-Aryan |
| Writing System | Devanagari script |
| Ethnicity | Hindustani people |
| Official Language In | India (federal), Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh |
| Also Spoken In | Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Pakistan, Nepal |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~528 million (52.8 Crore) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~691 million |
| Classical Status | No |
Bengali (বাংলা) — also known as Bangla — is an Indo-Aryan language spoken primarily in the Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura, and is the state language of Bangladesh. It is written in the Bengali script.[5] Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | বাংলা (Bāṃlā) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Bangla |
| Language Family | Indo-European › Indo-Aryan |
| Writing System | Bengali script |
| Ethnicity | Bengalis |
| Official Language In | West Bengal, Tripura, Barak Valley (Assam) |
| Also Spoken In | Bangladesh (national language), Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Uttarakhand |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~97 million (9.7 Crore) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~230 million |
| Classical Status | No |
Marathi (मराठी) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. It is written primarily in Devanagari script,[6] though the older Modi script was historically used. Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | मराठी (Marāṭhī) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | — |
| Language Family | Indo-European › Indo-Aryan |
| Writing System | Devanagari script (also historical Modi script) |
| Ethnicity | Marathis |
| Official Language In | Maharashtra, Goa |
| Also Spoken In | Parts of Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~83 million (8.3 Crore) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~99 million |
| Classical Status | No |
Telugu (తెలుగు) is a Dravidian language spoken primarily in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It is one of the six classical languages of India and is written in the Telugu script.[7] Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | తెలుగు (Telugu) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Tenugu, Trilinga |
| Language Family | Dravidian › South-Central Dravidian |
| Writing System | Telugu script |
| Ethnicity | Telugu people |
| Official Language In | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana |
| Also Spoken In | Odisha, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andaman & Nicobar |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~81 million (8.1 Crore) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~94 million |
| Classical Status | Yes — declared a Classical Language of India in 2008 |
Tamil (தமிழ்) is one of the oldest Dravidian languages with a literary tradition spanning over 2,000 years. It is written in the Tamil script[8] and is one of the six classical languages of India. Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | தமிழ் (Tamiḻ) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | — |
| Language Family | Dravidian › South Dravidian |
| Writing System | Tamil script |
| Ethnicity | Tamils |
| Official Language In | Tamil Nadu; also Singapore, Sri Lanka |
| Also Spoken In | Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Malaysia |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~69 million (6.9 Crore) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~77 million |
| Classical Status | Yes — one of the oldest classical languages; declared Classical Language in 2004 |
Gujarati (ગુજરાતી) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken primarily in the state of Gujarat and by the Gujarati diaspora worldwide. It is written in the Gujarati script.[9] Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | ગુજરાતી (Gujarātī) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | — |
| Language Family | Indo-European › Indo-Aryan |
| Writing System | Gujarati script |
| Ethnicity | Gujaratis, Parsis |
| Official Language In | Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu |
| Also Spoken In | Mumbai, Rajasthan; diaspora in UK, USA, East Africa |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~55 million (5.5 Crore) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~60 million |
| Classical Status | No |
Urdu (اُردُو) is an Indo-Aryan language written in the Nastaliq style of the Perso-Arabic script.[10] It is the national language of Pakistan and an official language in Jammu & Kashmir and Telangana in India. Urdu and Hindi share a common spoken base (Hindustani) but differ in script and formal vocabulary. Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | اُردُو (Urdū) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Lashkari, Lashkuri |
| Language Family | Indo-European › Indo-Aryan |
| Writing System | Nastaliq (Perso-Arabic script) |
| Ethnicity | Urdu-speaking people |
| Official Language In | Jammu & Kashmir, Telangana; also Pakistan (national) |
| Also Spoken In | Delhi, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Hyderabad |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~50 million (5.0 Crore) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~70 million (230M including second-language speakers) |
| Classical Status | No |
Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ) — also known as Kanarese — is a Dravidian language spoken mainly in Karnataka. It is one of the six classical languages of India and is written in the Kannada script.[11] Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannaḍa) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Kanarese |
| Language Family | Dravidian › South Dravidian |
| Writing System | Kannada script |
| Ethnicity | Kannadigas |
| Official Language In | Karnataka |
| Also Spoken In | Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Goa |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~43 million (4.3 Crore) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~58 million |
| Classical Status | Yes — declared Classical Language of India in 2008 |
Odia (ଓଡ଼ିଆ) — also known as Oriya — is an Indo-Aryan language spoken mainly in Odisha. It is one of the six classical languages of India and is written in the Odia (Oriya) script.[12] Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | ଓଡ଼ିଆ (Oḍiā) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Oriya, Odri |
| Language Family | Indo-European › Indo-Aryan |
| Writing System | Odia (Oriya) script |
| Ethnicity | Odia people |
| Official Language In | Odisha |
| Also Spoken In | West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~37 million (3.7 Crore) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~42 million |
| Classical Status | Yes — declared Classical Language of India in 2014 |
Malayalam (മലയാളം) is a Dravidian language spoken mainly in Kerala, with official status also in Lakshadweep and Puducherry. It is written in the Malayalam script[13] and is one of the six classical languages of India. Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | മലയാളം (Malayāḷam) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | — |
| Language Family | Dravidian › South Dravidian |
| Writing System | Malayalam script |
| Ethnicity | Malayalis |
| Official Language In | Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry |
| Also Spoken In | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gulf countries (large diaspora) |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~34 million (3.4 Crore) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~35 million |
| Classical Status | Yes — declared Classical Language of India in 2013 |
Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken mainly in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. In India it is written in the Gurmukhi script,[14] while in Pakistan Nastaliq is used. Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (Panjābī) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Panjabi |
| Language Family | Indo-European › Indo-Aryan |
| Writing System | Gurmukhi (India), Nastaliq (Pakistan) |
| Ethnicity | Punjabis |
| Official Language In | Punjab (India) |
| Also Spoken In | Haryana, Delhi, UK, Canada, USA, Australia |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~33 million (3.3 Crore) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~125 million |
| Classical Status | No |
Assamese (অসমীয়া) — also known as Asamiya — is an Indo-Aryan language spoken primarily in Assam. It is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language and is written in the Assamese script (closely related to the Bengali script).[15] Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | অসমীয়া (Ôxômiya) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Asamiya |
| Language Family | Indo-European › Indo-Aryan |
| Writing System | Assamese script (Eastern Nagari) |
| Ethnicity | Assamese people |
| Official Language In | Assam |
| Also Spoken In | Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland; Bhutan border areas |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~15 million (1.5 Crore) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~15 million |
| Classical Status | No |
Maithili (मैथिली) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken mainly in the Mithila region of Bihar and is one of the major languages of the Terai region of Nepal. It is written in Devanagari script[4] and traditionally in the Mithilakshar (Tirhuta) script. Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | मैथिली (Maithilī) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Mithila bhasha |
| Language Family | Indo-European › Indo-Aryan |
| Writing System | Devanagari; traditional Tirhuta (Mithilakshar) script |
| Ethnicity | Maithil people |
| Official Language In | Bihar (India) |
| Also Spoken In | Jharkhand; Terai region of Nepal |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~13.5 million (1.35 Crore) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~34 million (including Nepal) |
| Classical Status | No |
Santali (ᱥᱟᱱᱛᱟᱲᱤ) — also known as Santhali — is an Austroasiatic language of the Munda branch, making it one of the few non-Indo-Aryan or Dravidian languages in the Eighth Schedule. It is written in the Ol Chiki script,[16] created by Pandit Raghunath Murmu in 1925. Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | ᱥᱟᱱᱛᱟᱲᱤ (Santāṛi) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Santhali |
| Language Family | Austroasiatic › Munda |
| Writing System | Ol Chiki script (official); also Devanagari, Bengali |
| Ethnicity | Santal people |
| Official Language In | Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal |
| Also Spoken In | Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~7.3 million (73 Lakh) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~7.6 million |
| Classical Status | No |
Kashmiri (كٲشُر) — also known as Koshur — is a Dardic language spoken mainly in the Kashmir Valley. It is the only Dardic language in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.[2] Kashmiri is written in Nastaliq (Perso-Arabic) script, and also in Devanagari and the traditional Sharada script. Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | كٲشُر (Kāśurī) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Koshur |
| Language Family | Indo-European › Indo-Aryan › Dardic |
| Writing System | Nastaliq (Perso-Arabic, primary); Devanagari; Sharada (traditional) |
| Ethnicity | Kashmiris |
| Official Language In | Jammu & Kashmir |
| Also Spoken In | Parts of Azad Kashmir (Pakistan) |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~6.7 million (67 Lakh) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~7.1 million |
| Classical Status | No |
Nepali (नेपाली) — also known as Khas Kura or Gorkhali — is an Indo-Aryan language and the official language of Nepal. In India it has official status in Sikkim and is widely spoken in the Darjeeling hills. It is written in Devanagari script.[4] Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | नेपाली (Nepālī) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Khas Kura, Gorkhali |
| Language Family | Indo-European › Indo-Aryan |
| Writing System | Devanagari script |
| Ethnicity | Khas / Gorkhali people |
| Official Language In | Sikkim (India); Nepal (national) |
| Also Spoken In | Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Assam, Bhutan, Myanmar |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~2.9 million (29 Lakh) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~17 million (including Nepal) |
| Classical Status | No |
Sindhi (سنڌي) is an Indo-Aryan language historically associated with the Sindh region. In India it is used mainly by the Sindhi diaspora that migrated after the 1947 partition. Sindhi has no dedicated state in India but is recognised in the Eighth Schedule.[2] It is written in Khudabadi (Sindhi) or Arabic script in India and in Devanagari for educational purposes. Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | سنڌي (Sindhī) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | — |
| Language Family | Indo-European › Indo-Aryan |
| Writing System | Perso-Arabic (Sindhi); Devanagari; Khudabadi script (traditional) |
| Ethnicity | Sindhis |
| Official Language In | Recognised in 8th Schedule (no dedicated state in India); Sindh province, Pakistan |
| Also Spoken In | Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Delhi |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~2.7 million (27 Lakh) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~25 million |
| Classical Status | No |
Dogri (डोगरी) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken mainly in the Jammu division of Jammu & Kashmir and parts of Himachal Pradesh. It was added to the Eighth Schedule in 2003.[2] Dogri is written in Devanagari script[4] and traditionally in the Dogra Akkhar script. Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | डोगरी (Ḍogrī) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Duggar |
| Language Family | Indo-European › Indo-Aryan |
| Writing System | Devanagari script; traditional Dogra Akkhar |
| Ethnicity | Dogras |
| Official Language In | Jammu & Kashmir (Jammu division) |
| Also Spoken In | Himachal Pradesh, Northern Punjab |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~2.5 million (25 Lakh) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~2.6 million |
| Classical Status | No |
Konkani (कोंकणी) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken on the Konkan coast, primarily in Goa where it is the state official language. Konkani is notable for being written in multiple scripts — primarily Devanagari[4] but also Latin, Kannada, and Malayalam. Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | कोंकणी (Kōṅkaṇī) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Goan Konkani |
| Language Family | Indo-European › Indo-Aryan |
| Writing System | Devanagari (primary); Latin; Kannada; Malayalam |
| Ethnicity | Konkani people |
| Official Language In | Goa |
| Also Spoken In | Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat, Daman & Diu |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~2.3 million (23 Lakh) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~2.5 million |
| Classical Status | No |
Manipuri (ꯃꯤꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟ) — also known as Meitei or Meetei — is a Sino-Tibetan language of the Tibeto-Burman branch, making it one of the few non-Indo-Aryan languages in the Eighth Schedule. It is the official language of Manipur and is written in the Meitei Mayek script[17] (also uses Bengali script). Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | ꯃꯤꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟ (Meitei Lon) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Meitei, Meetei |
| Language Family | Sino-Tibetan › Tibeto-Burman |
| Writing System | Meitei Mayek (official); Bengali script (also used) |
| Ethnicity | Meitei people, Pangal |
| Official Language In | Manipur |
| Also Spoken In | Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Myanmar |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~1.8 million (18 Lakh) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~1.8 million |
| Classical Status | No |
Boro (बड़/बर) — also known as Bodo — is a Sino-Tibetan language of the Tibeto-Burman branch spoken mainly in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts of Assam. It was added to the Eighth Schedule in 2003.[2] Bodo is written in Devanagari script.[4] Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | बड़/बर (Bōṛō) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Bodo |
| Language Family | Sino-Tibetan › Tibeto-Burman |
| Writing System | Devanagari script |
| Ethnicity | Boro people |
| Official Language In | Bodoland Territorial Area Districts, Assam |
| Also Spoken In | West Bengal, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~1.4 million (14 Lakh) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~1.5 million |
| Classical Status | No |
Sanskrit (संस्कृत) — also known as Samskrta — is an ancient Indo-Aryan language and the liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It is the ancestor of most modern Indo-Aryan languages. Sanskrit is one of the six classical languages of India[2] and is written primarily in Devanagari script.[4] Speaker data from Census of India 2011.[1]
| Native Name | संस्कृत (Saṃskṛta) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Samskrta, Dev Vani (Language of Gods) |
| Language Family | Indo-European › Indo-Aryan |
| Writing System | Devanagari (primary); various Brahmi-derived scripts |
| Ethnicity | Scholarly & religious use across South Asia |
| Official Language In | Uttarakhand (India); also used in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain ritual |
| Also Spoken In | Used liturgically across South and Southeast Asia |
| Native Speakers (India) | ~24,821 (Census 2011) |
| Total Speakers (World) | ~2 million (scholarly/liturgical use) |
| Classical Status | Yes — one of the six Classical Languages of India |
Sambhu Raj Singh ·