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List of languages by number of native speakers in India

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List of languages by number of native speakers in India

The Republic of India is home to several hundred languages. Most Indians speak a language belonging to the families of the Indo-Aryan branch of Indo-European (c. 77%), the Dravidian (c. 20.61%), the Austroasiatic (precisely Munda and Khasic) (c. 1.2%), or the Sino-Tibetan (precisely Tibeto-Burman) (c. 0.8%), with some languages of the Himalayas still unclassified. The SIL Ethnologue lists 424 living languages in India.

Tables

First, second, and third languages by number of speakers in India (2011 Census) · List of languages by number of native speakers › More than one million speakers
Language
Language
Col 1
Language
First language speakers
Figure
First language speakers
% of totalpopulation
Second languagespeakers
Figure
Third languagespeakers
% of totalpopulation
Hindi
Hindi
Col 1
Hindi
First language speakers
528,347,193
First language speakers
43.63%
Second languagespeakers
138,909,608
Third languagespeakers
24,307,234
Total speakers
691,564,035
Total speakers
57.11%
Bengali
Bengali
Col 1
Bengali
First language speakers
97,237,669
First language speakers
8.03%
Second languagespeakers
9,095,810
Third languagespeakers
1,138,764
Total speakers
107,472,243
Total speakers
8.88%
Marathi
Marathi
Col 1
Marathi
First language speakers
83,026,680
First language speakers
6.86%
Second languagespeakers
13,001,079
Third languagespeakers
3,031,027
Total speakers
99,058,786
Total speakers
8.18%
Telugu
Telugu
Col 1
Telugu
First language speakers
81,127,740
First language speakers
6.70%
Second languagespeakers
12,167,609
Third languagespeakers
1,206,254
Total speakers
94,501,603
Total speakers
7.80%
Tamil
Tamil
Col 1
Tamil
First language speakers
69,026,881
First language speakers
5.70%
Second languagespeakers
6,668,000
Third languagespeakers
900,985
Total speakers
76,595,866
Total speakers
6.33%
Gujarati
Gujarati
Col 1
Gujarati
First language speakers
55,492,554
First language speakers
4.58%
Second languagespeakers
4,017,825
Third languagespeakers
778,930
Total speakers
60,289,309
Total speakers
4.98%
Urdu
Urdu
Col 1
Urdu
First language speakers
50,772,631
First language speakers
4.19%
Second languagespeakers
11,348,978
Third languagespeakers
1,117,836
Total speakers
63,239,445
Total speakers
5.22%
Kannada
Kannada
Col 1
Kannada
First language speakers
43,706,512
First language speakers
3.61%
Second languagespeakers
13,609,709
Third languagespeakers
1,434,578
Total speakers
58,750,799
Total speakers
4.85%
Odia
Odia
Col 1
Odia
First language speakers
37,521,324
First language speakers
3.10%
Second languagespeakers
4,670,796
Third languagespeakers
397,213
Total speakers
42,589,333
Total speakers
3.52%
Malayalam
Malayalam
Col 1
Malayalam
First language speakers
34,838,819
First language speakers
2.88%
Second languagespeakers
581,591
Third languagespeakers
218,932
Total speakers
35,639,342
Total speakers
2.94%
Punjabi
Punjabi
Col 1
Punjabi
First language speakers
33,124,726
First language speakers
2.74%
Second languagespeakers
2,237,126
Third languagespeakers
719,901
Total speakers
36,081,753
Total speakers
2.98%
Assamese
Assamese
Col 1
Assamese
First language speakers
15,311,351
First language speakers
1.26%
Second languagespeakers
7,583,346
Third languagespeakers
734,379
Total speakers
23,629,076
Total speakers
1.95%
Maithili
Maithili
Col 1
Maithili
First language speakers
13,583,464
First language speakers
1.12%
Second languagespeakers
651,987
Third languagespeakers
48,843
Total speakers
14,284,294
Total speakers
1.18%
Santali
Santali
Col 1
Santali
First language speakers
7,368,192
First language speakers
0.61%
Second languagespeakers
278,448
Third languagespeakers
76,663
Total speakers
7,723,303
Total speakers
0.64%
Kashmiri
Kashmiri
Col 1
Kashmiri
First language speakers
6,797,587
First language speakers
0.56%
Second languagespeakers
127,039
Third languagespeakers
70,197
Total speakers
6,994,823
Total speakers
0.58%
Nepali
Nepali
Col 1
Nepali
First language speakers
2,926,168
First language speakers
0.24%
Second languagespeakers
366,648
Third languagespeakers
143,798
Total speakers
3,436,614
Total speakers
0.28%
Sindhi
Sindhi
Col 1
Sindhi
First language speakers
2,772,264
First language speakers
0.23%
Second languagespeakers
281,177
Third languagespeakers
48,591
Total speakers
3,102,032
Total speakers
0.26%
Dogri
Dogri
Col 1
Dogri
First language speakers
2,596,767
First language speakers
0.21%
Second languagespeakers
126,334
Third languagespeakers
40,883
Total speakers
2,763,984
Total speakers
0.23%
Konkani
Konkani
Col 1
Konkani
First language speakers
2,256,502
First language speakers
0.19%
Second languagespeakers
238,345
Third languagespeakers
87,134
Total speakers
2,581,981
Total speakers
0.21%
Meitei
Meitei
Col 1
Meitei
First language speakers
1,761,079
First language speakers
0.15%
Second languagespeakers
384,357
Third languagespeakers
101,690
Total speakers
2,247,126
Total speakers
0.19%
Bodo
Bodo
Col 1
Bodo
First language speakers
1,482,929
First language speakers
0.12%
Second languagespeakers
57,583
Third languagespeakers
20,132
Total speakers
1,560,644
Total speakers
0.13%
English
English
Col 1
English
First language speakers
259,678
First language speakers
0.02%
Second languagespeakers
82,717,239
Third languagespeakers
45,562,173
Total speakers
128,539,090
Total speakers
10.62%
Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Col 1
Sanskrit
First language speakers
24,821
First language speakers
0.002%
Second languagespeakers
1,134,362
Third languagespeakers
1,963,640
Total speakers
3,122,823
Total speakers
0.26%
First language speakers
Second languagespeakers
Third languagespeakers
Total speakers
Language
Figure
% of totalpopulation
Figure
% of totalpopulation
Hindi
528,347,193
43.63%
138,909,608
24,307,234
691,564,035
57.11%
Bengali
97,237,669
8.03%
9,095,810
1,138,764
107,472,243
8.88%
Marathi
83,026,680
6.86%
13,001,079
3,031,027
99,058,786
8.18%
Telugu
81,127,740
6.70%
12,167,609
1,206,254
94,501,603
7.80%
Tamil
69,026,881
5.70%
6,668,000
900,985
76,595,866
6.33%
Gujarati
55,492,554
4.58%
4,017,825
778,930
60,289,309
4.98%
Urdu
50,772,631
4.19%
11,348,978
1,117,836
63,239,445
5.22%
Kannada
43,706,512
3.61%
13,609,709
1,434,578
58,750,799
4.85%
Odia
37,521,324
3.10%
4,670,796
397,213
42,589,333
3.52%
Malayalam
34,838,819
2.88%
581,591
218,932
35,639,342
2.94%
Punjabi
33,124,726
2.74%
2,237,126
719,901
36,081,753
2.98%
Assamese
15,311,351
1.26%
7,583,346
734,379
23,629,076
1.95%
Maithili
13,583,464
1.12%
651,987
48,843
14,284,294
1.18%
Santali
7,368,192
0.61%
278,448
76,663
7,723,303
0.64%
Kashmiri
6,797,587
0.56%
127,039
70,197
6,994,823
0.58%
Nepali
2,926,168
0.24%
366,648
143,798
3,436,614
0.28%
Sindhi
2,772,264
0.23%
281,177
48,591
3,102,032
0.26%
Dogri
2,596,767
0.21%
126,334
40,883
2,763,984
0.23%
Konkani
2,256,502
0.19%
238,345
87,134
2,581,981
0.21%
Meitei
1,761,079
0.15%
384,357
101,690
2,247,126
0.19%
Bodo
1,482,929
0.12%
57,583
20,132
1,560,644
0.13%
English
259,678
0.02%
82,717,239
45,562,173
128,539,090
10.62%
Sanskrit
24,821
0.002%
1,134,362
1,963,640
3,122,823
0.26%
Table: Population ordered by number of native speakers · List of languages by number of native speakers › More than one million speakers
1
1
Rank
1
Language
Hindi
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
329,518,087
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
39.29%
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
422,048,642
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
41.1%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
528,347,193
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
43.63%
Encarta 2007 estimateWorldwide total
366 million
2
2
Rank
2
Language
Bengali
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
69,595,738
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
8.30%
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
83,193,311
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
8.09%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
97,237,669
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
8.03%
Encarta 2007 estimateWorldwide total
207 million
3
3
Rank
3
Language
Marathi
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
62,481,681
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
7.45%
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
71,936,894
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
6.99%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
83,026,680
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
6.86%
Encarta 2007 estimateWorldwide total
68.0 million
4
4
Rank
4
Language
Telugu
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
66,017,615
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
7.87%
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
74,002,856
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
7.19%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
81,127,740
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
6.70%
Encarta 2007 estimateWorldwide total
69.7 million
5
5
Rank
5
Language
Tamil
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
53,006,368
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
6.32%
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
60,793,814
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
5.91%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
69,026,881
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
5.70%
Encarta 2007 estimateWorldwide total
66.0 million
6
6
Rank
6
Language
Gujarati
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
40,673,814
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
4.85%
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
46,091,617
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
4.48%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
55,492,554
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
4.58%
Encarta 2007 estimateWorldwide total
46.1 million
7
7
Rank
7
Language
Urdu
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
43,406,932
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
5.18%
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
51,536,111
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
5.01%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
50,772,631
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
4.19%
Encarta 2007 estimateWorldwide total
60.3 million
8
8
Rank
8
Language
Kannada
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
32,753,676
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
3.91%
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
37,924,011
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
3.69%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
43,706,512
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
3.61%
Encarta 2007 estimateWorldwide total
35.3 million
9
9
Rank
9
Language
Odia
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
28,061,313
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
3.35%
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
33,017,446
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
3.21%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
37,521,324
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
3.10%
Encarta 2007 estimateWorldwide total
32.3 million
10
10
Rank
10
Language
Malayalam
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
30,377,176
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
3.62%
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
33,066,392
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
3.21%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
34,838,819
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
2.88%
Encarta 2007 estimateWorldwide total
35.7 million
11
11
Rank
11
Language
Punjabi
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
23,378,744
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
2.79%
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
29,102,477
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
2.83%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
33,124,726
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
2.74%
Encarta 2007 estimateWorldwide total
57.1 million
12
12
Rank
12
Language
Assamese
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
13,079,696
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
1.56%
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
13,168,484
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
1.28%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
15,311,351
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
1.26%
Encarta 2007 estimateWorldwide total
15.4 million
13
13
Rank
13
Language
Maithili
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
7,766,921
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
0.926%
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
12,179,122
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
1.18%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
13,583,464
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
1.12%
Encarta 2007 estimateWorldwide total
24.2 million
14
14
Rank
14
Language
Bhili/Bhilodi
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
9,582,957
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
0.93%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
10,413,637
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
0.86%
15
15
Rank
15
Language
Santali
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
5,216,325
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
0.622%
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
6,469,600
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
0.63%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
7,368,192
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
0.61%
16
16
Rank
16
Language
Kashmiri
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
5,527,698
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
0.54%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
6,797,587
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
0.56%
17
17
Rank
17
Language
Gondi
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
2,713,790
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
0.26%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
2,984,453
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
0.25%
18
18
Rank
18
Language
Nepali
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
2,076,645
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
0.248%
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
2,871,749
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
0.28%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
2,926,168
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
0.24%
Encarta 2007 estimateWorldwide total
16.1 million
19
19
Rank
19
Language
Sindhi
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
2,122,848
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
0.253%
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
2,535,485
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
0.25%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
2,772,264
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
0.23%
Encarta 2007 estimateWorldwide total
19.7 million
20
20
Rank
20
Language
Dogri
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
2,282,589
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
0.22%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
2,596,767
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
0.21%
21
21
Rank
21
Language
Konkani
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
1,760,607
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
0.210%
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
2,489,015
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
0.24%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
2,256,502
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
0.19%
22
22
Rank
22
Language
Kurukh
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
1,751,489
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
0.17%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
1,988,350
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
0.16%
23
23
Rank
23
Language
Khandeshi
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
2,075,258
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
0.21%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
1,860,236
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
0.15%
24
24
Rank
24
Language
Tulu
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
1,722,768
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
0.17%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
1,846,427
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
0.15%
25
25
Rank
25
Language
Meitei (Manipuri)
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
1,270,216
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
0.151%
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
1,466,705*
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
0.14%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
1,761,079
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
0.15%
26
26
Rank
26
Language
Bodo
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
1,221,881
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
0.146%
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
1,350,478
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
0.13%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
1,482,929
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
0.12%
27
27
Rank
27
Language
Khasi
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
1,128,575
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
0.11%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
1,431,344
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
0.12%
28
28
Rank
28
Language
Ho
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
1,042,724
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
0.101%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
1,421,418
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
0.12%
29
29
Rank
29
Language
Garo
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
1,061,352
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
0.103%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
1,145,323
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
0.09%
30
30
Rank
30
Language
Mundari
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
889,479
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
0.086%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
1,128,228
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
0.09%
31
31
Rank
31
Language
Tripuri
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
854,023
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
0.083%
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
1,011,294
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
0.08%
Rank
Language
1991 census of India(total: 838,583,988)
2001 census of India(total: 1,028,610,328)
2011 Census of India(total: 1,210,854,977)
Encarta 2007 estimateWorldwide total
Speakers
Percentage
Speakers
Percentage
Speakers
Percentage
Speakers
1
Hindi
329,518,087
39.29%
422,048,642
41.1%
528,347,193
43.63%
366 million
2
Bengali
69,595,738
8.30%
83,193,311
8.09%
97,237,669
8.03%
207 million
3
Marathi
62,481,681
7.45%
71,936,894
6.99%
83,026,680
6.86%
million
4
Telugu
66,017,615
7.87%
74,002,856
7.19%
81,127,740
6.70%
million
5
Tamil
53,006,368
6.32%
60,793,814
5.91%
69,026,881
5.70%
million
6
Gujarati
40,673,814
4.85%
46,091,617
4.48%
55,492,554
4.58%
million
7
Urdu
43,406,932
5.18%
51,536,111
5.01%
50,772,631
4.19%
million
8
Kannada
32,753,676
3.91%
37,924,011
3.69%
43,706,512
3.61%
million
9
Odia
28,061,313
3.35%
33,017,446
3.21%
37,521,324
3.10%
million
10
Malayalam
30,377,176
3.62%
33,066,392
3.21%
34,838,819
2.88%
million
11
Punjabi
23,378,744
2.79%
29,102,477
2.83%
33,124,726
2.74%
million
12
Assamese
13,079,696
1.56%
13,168,484
1.28%
15,311,351
1.26%
million
13
Maithili
7,766,921
0.926%
12,179,122
1.18%
13,583,464
1.12%
million
14
Bhili/Bhilodi
9,582,957
0.93%
10,413,637
0.86%
15
Santali
5,216,325
0.622%
6,469,600
0.63%
7,368,192
0.61%
16
Kashmiri
5,527,698
0.54%
6,797,587
0.56%
17
Gondi
2,713,790
0.26%
2,984,453
0.25%
18
Nepali
2,076,645
0.248%
2,871,749
0.28%
2,926,168
0.24%
million
19
Sindhi
2,122,848
0.253%
2,535,485
0.25%
2,772,264
0.23%
million
20
Dogri
2,282,589
0.22%
2,596,767
0.21%
21
Konkani
1,760,607
0.210%
2,489,015
0.24%
2,256,502
0.19%
22
Kurukh
1,751,489
0.17%
1,988,350
0.16%
23
Khandeshi
2,075,258
0.21%
1,860,236
0.15%
24
Tulu
1,722,768
0.17%
1,846,427
0.15%
25
Meitei (Manipuri)
1,270,216
0.151%
1,466,705*
0.14%
1,761,079
0.15%
26
Bodo
1,221,881
0.146%
1,350,478
0.13%
1,482,929
0.12%
27
Khasi
1,128,575
0.11%
1,431,344
0.12%
28
Ho
1,042,724
0.101%
1,421,418
0.12%
29
Garo
1,061,352
0.103%
1,145,323
0.09%
30
Mundari
889,479
0.086%
1,128,228
0.09%
31
Tripuri
854,023
0.083%
1,011,294
0.08%
· List of languages by number of native speakers › 100,000 to one million speakers
Speakers
Speakers
Rank
Speakers
Language
Percentage
32
32
Rank
32
Language
Kui
2001 census
916,222
2001 census
0.089%
33
33
Rank
33
Language
Lushai/Mizo
2001 census
674,756
2001 census
0.066%
34
34
Rank
34
Language
Halabi
2001 census
593,443
2001 census
0.058%
35
35
Rank
35
Language
Korku
2001 census
574,481
2001 census
0.056%
36
36
Rank
36
Language
Miri/Mishing
2001 census
551,224
2001 census
0.054%
37
37
Rank
37
Language
Munda
2001 census
469,357
2001 census
0.046%
38
38
Rank
38
Language
Karbi/Mikir
2001 census
419,534
2001 census
0.041%
39
39
Rank
39
Language
Koya
2001 census
362,070
2001 census
0.035%
40
40
Rank
40
Language
Ao
2001 census
261,387
2001 census
0.025%
41
41
Rank
41
Language
Savara
2001 census
252,519
2001 census
0.025%
42
42
Rank
42
Language
Konyak
2001 census
248,109
2001 census
0.024%
43
43
Rank
43
Language
Kharia
2001 census
239,608
2001 census
0.023%
44
44
Rank
44
Language
English
2001 census
226,449
2001 census
0.022%
45
45
Rank
45
Language
Malto
2001 census
224,926
2001 census
0.022%
46
46
Rank
46
Language
Nissi/Dafla
2001 census
211,485
2001 census
0.021%
47
47
Rank
47
Language
Adi
2001 census
198,462
2001 census
0.019%
48
48
Rank
48
Language
Thado
2001 census
190,595
2001 census
0.019%
49
49
Rank
49
Language
Chakma
2001 census
176,458
2001 census
0.017%
50
50
Rank
50
Language
Lotha
2001 census
170,001
2001 census
0.017%
51
51
Rank
51
Language
Coorgi/Kodagu
2001 census
166,187
2001 census
0.016%
52
52
Rank
52
Language
Rabha
2001 census
164,770
2001 census
0.016%
53
53
Rank
53
Language
Tangkhul
2001 census
142,035
2001 census
0.014%
54
54
Rank
54
Language
Kisan
2001 census
141,088
2001 census
0.014%
55
55
Rank
55
Language
Angami
2001 census
132,225
2001 census
0.013%
56
56
Rank
56
Language
Phom
2001 census
122,508
2001 census
0.012%
57
57
Rank
57
Language
Kolami
2001 census
121,855
2001 census
0.012%
58
58
Rank
58
Language
Khond/Kondh
2001 census
118,597
2001 census
0.012%
59
59
Rank
59
Language
Dimasa
2001 census
111,961
2001 census
0.011%
60
60
Rank
60
Language
Ladakhi
2001 census
104,618
2001 census
0.010%
61
61
Rank
61
Language
Sema
2001 census
103,529
2001 census
0.010%
Rank
Language
2001 census
Speakers
Percentage
32
Kui
916,222
0.089%
33
Lushai/Mizo
674,756
0.066%
34
Halabi
593,443
0.058%
35
Korku
574,481
0.056%
36
Miri/Mishing
551,224
0.054%
37
Munda
469,357
0.046%
38
Karbi/Mikir
419,534
0.041%
39
Koya
362,070
0.035%
40
Ao
261,387
0.025%
41
Savara
252,519
0.025%
42
Konyak
248,109
0.024%
43
Kharia
239,608
0.023%
44
English
226,449
0.022%
45
Malto
224,926
0.022%
46
Nissi/Dafla
211,485
0.021%
47
Adi
198,462
0.019%
48
Thado
190,595
0.019%
49
Chakma
176,458
0.017%
50
Lotha
170,001
0.017%
51
Coorgi/Kodagu
166,187
0.016%
52
Rabha
164,770
0.016%
53
Tangkhul
142,035
0.014%
54
Kisan
141,088
0.014%
55
Angami
132,225
0.013%
56
Phom
122,508
0.012%
57
Kolami
121,855
0.012%
58
Khond/Kondh
118,597
0.012%
59
Dimasa
111,961
0.011%
60
Ladakhi
104,618
0.010%
61
Sema
103,529
0.010%
Mother tongues with more than one million speakers · List of mother tongues by number of speakers
Speakers
Speakers
Rank
Speakers
Mother tongue
Percentage
1
1
Rank
1
Mother tongue
Hindi
2011 census
322,200,000
2011 census
26.6%
2
2
Rank
2
Mother tongue
Bengali
2011 census
96,180,000
2011 census
7.94%
3
3
Rank
3
Mother tongue
Marathi
2011 census
82,800,000
2011 census
6.84%
4
4
Rank
4
Mother tongue
Telugu
2011 census
80,910,000
2011 census
6.68%
5
5
Rank
5
Mother tongue
Tamil
2011 census
68,890,000
2011 census
5.69%
6
6
Rank
6
Mother tongue
Gujarati
2011 census
55,040,000
2011 census
4.55%
7
7
Rank
7
Mother tongue
Urdu
2011 census
50,730,000
2011 census
4.19%
8
8
Rank
8
Mother tongue
Bhojpuri
2011 census
50,580,000
2011 census
4.18%
Includedin language
Hindi
9
9
Rank
9
Mother tongue
Kannada
2011 census
43,510,000
2011 census
3.59%
10
10
Rank
10
Mother tongue
Malayalam
2011 census
34,780,000
2011 census
2.87%
11
11
Rank
11
Mother tongue
Odia
2011 census
34,060,000
2011 census
2.81%
12
12
Rank
12
Mother tongue
Punjabi
2011 census
31,140,000
2011 census
2.57%
13
13
Rank
13
Mother tongue
Rajasthani
2011 census
25,810,000
2011 census
2.13%
Includedin language
Hindi
14
14
Rank
14
Mother tongue
Chhattisgarhi
2011 census
16,250,000
2011 census
1.34%
Includedin language
Hindi
15
15
Rank
15
Mother tongue
Assamese
2011 census
14,820,000
2011 census
1.22%
16
16
Rank
16
Mother tongue
Maithili
2011 census
13,350,000
2011 census
1.10%
17
17
Rank
17
Mother tongue
Magahi
2011 census
12,710,000
2011 census
1.05%
Includedin language
Hindi
18
18
Rank
18
Mother tongue
Haryanvi
2011 census
9,807,000
2011 census
0.810%
Includedin language
Hindi
19
19
Rank
19
Mother tongue
Khortha/Khotta
2011 census
8,039,000
2011 census
0.664%
Includedin language
Hindi
20
20
Rank
20
Mother tongue
Marwari
2011 census
7,832,000
2011 census
0.647%
Includedin language
Hindi
21
21
Rank
21
Mother tongue
Santali
2011 census
6,973,000
2011 census
0.576%
22
22
Rank
22
Mother tongue
Kashmiri
2011 census
6,554,000
2011 census
0.541%
23
23
Rank
23
Mother tongue
Bundeli/Bundel khandi
2011 census
5,626,000
2011 census
0.465%
Includedin language
Hindi
24
24
Rank
24
Mother tongue
Malvi
2011 census
5,213,000
2011 census
0.430%
Includedin language
Hindi
25
25
Rank
25
Mother tongue
Sadan/Sadri
2011 census
4,346,000
2011 census
0.359%
Includedin language
Hindi
26
26
Rank
26
Mother tongue
Mewari
2011 census
4,212,000
2011 census
0.348%
Includedin language
Hindi
27
27
Rank
27
Mother tongue
Awadhi
2011 census
3,851,000
2011 census
0.318%
Includedin language
Hindi
28
28
Rank
28
Mother tongue
Wagdi
2011 census
3,394,000
2011 census
0.280%
Includedin language
Bhili/Bhilodi
29
29
Rank
29
Mother tongue
Lamani/Lambadi
2011 census
3,277,000
2011 census
0.271%
Includedin language
Hindi
30
30
Rank
30
Mother tongue
Pahari
2011 census
3,254,000
2011 census
0.269%
Includedin language
Hindi
31
31
Rank
31
Mother tongue
Bhili/Bhilodi
2011 census
3,207,000
2011 census
0.265%
32
32
Rank
32
Mother tongue
Hara/Harauti
2011 census
2,944,000
2011 census
0.243%
Includedin language
Hindi
33
33
Rank
33
Mother tongue
Nepali
2011 census
2,926,000
2011 census
0.242%
34
34
Rank
34
Mother tongue
Gondi
2011 census
2,857,000
2011 census
0.236%
35
35
Rank
35
Mother tongue
Bagheli/Baghel Khandi
2011 census
2,679,000
2011 census
0.221%
Includedin language
Hindi
36
36
Rank
36
Mother tongue
Sambalpuri
2011 census
2,630,000
2011 census
0.217%
Includedin language
Odia
37
37
Rank
37
Mother tongue
Dogri
2011 census
2,597,000
2011 census
0.214%
38
38
Rank
38
Mother tongue
Garhwali
2011 census
2,482,000
2011 census
0.205%
Includedin language
Hindi
39
39
Rank
39
Mother tongue
Nimadi
2011 census
2,309,000
2011 census
0.191%
Includedin language
Hindi
40
40
Rank
40
Mother tongue
Surjapuri
2011 census
2,256,000
2011 census
0.186%
Includedin language
Hindi
41
41
Rank
41
Mother tongue
Konkani
2011 census
2,147,000
2011 census
0.177%
42
42
Rank
42
Mother tongue
Kumauni
2011 census
2,081,000
2011 census
0.172%
Includedin language
Hindi
43
43
Rank
43
Mother tongue
Kurukh/Oraon
2011 census
1,977,000
2011 census
0.163%
44
44
Rank
44
Mother tongue
Tulu
2011 census
1,842,000
2011 census
0.152%
45
45
Rank
45
Mother tongue
Manipuri
2011 census
1,761,000
2011 census
0.145%
46
46
Rank
46
Mother tongue
Surgujia
2011 census
1,738,000
2011 census
0.144%
Includedin language
Hindi
47
47
Rank
47
Mother tongue
Sindhi
2011 census
1,679,000
2011 census
0.139%
48
48
Rank
48
Mother tongue
Bagri
2011 census
1,657,000
2011 census
0.137%
Includedin language
Punjabi
49
49
Rank
49
Mother tongue
Ahirani
2011 census
1,636,000
2011 census
0.135%
Includedin language
Khandeshi
50
50
Rank
50
Mother tongue
Banjari
2011 census
1,581,000
2011 census
0.131%
Includedin language
Hindi
51
51
Rank
51
Mother tongue
Brajbhasha
2011 census
1,556,000
2011 census
0.129%
Includedin language
Hindi
52
52
Rank
52
Mother tongue
Dhundhari
2011 census
1,476,000
2011 census
0.122%
Includedin language
Hindi
53
53
Rank
53
Mother tongue
Bodo/Boro
2011 census
1,455,000
2011 census
0.120%
Includedin language
Bodo
54
54
Rank
54
Mother tongue
Ho
2011 census
1,411,000
2011 census
0.117%
55
55
Rank
55
Mother tongue
Gojri/Gujjari/Gujar
2011 census
1,228,000
2011 census
0.101%
Includedin language
Hindi
56
56
Rank
56
Mother tongue
Mundari
2011 census
1,128,000
2011 census
0.093%
57
57
Rank
57
Mother tongue
Garo
2011 census
1,125,000
2011 census
0.093%
58
58
Rank
58
Mother tongue
Kangri
2011 census
1,117,000
2011 census
0.092%
Includedin language
Hindi
59
59
Rank
59
Mother tongue
Khasi
2011 census
1,038,000
2011 census
0.086%
60
60
Rank
60
Mother tongue
Kachchhi
2011 census
1,031,000
2011 census
0.085%
Includedin language
Sindhi
Rank
Mother tongue
2011 census
Includedin language
Speakers
Percentage
1
Hindi
322,200,000
26.6%
2
Bengali
96,180,000
7.94%
3
Marathi
82,800,000
6.84%
4
Telugu
80,910,000
6.68%
5
Tamil
68,890,000
5.69%
6
Gujarati
55,040,000
4.55%
7
Urdu
50,730,000
4.19%
8
Bhojpuri
50,580,000
4.18%
Hindi
9
Kannada
43,510,000
3.59%
10
Malayalam
34,780,000
2.87%
11
Odia
34,060,000
2.81%
12
Punjabi
31,140,000
2.57%
13
Rajasthani
25,810,000
2.13%
Hindi
14
Chhattisgarhi
16,250,000
1.34%
Hindi
15
Assamese
14,820,000
1.22%
16
Maithili
13,350,000
1.10%
17
Magahi
12,710,000
1.05%
Hindi
18
Haryanvi
9,807,000
0.810%
Hindi
19
Khortha/Khotta
8,039,000
0.664%
Hindi
20
Marwari
7,832,000
0.647%
Hindi
21
Santali
6,973,000
0.576%
22
Kashmiri
6,554,000
0.541%
23
Bundeli/Bundel khandi
5,626,000
0.465%
Hindi
24
Malvi
5,213,000
0.430%
Hindi
25
Sadan/Sadri
4,346,000
0.359%
Hindi
26
Mewari
4,212,000
0.348%
Hindi
27
Awadhi
3,851,000
0.318%
Hindi
28
Wagdi
3,394,000
0.280%
Bhili/Bhilodi
29
Lamani/Lambadi
3,277,000
0.271%
Hindi
30
Pahari
3,254,000
0.269%
Hindi
31
Bhili/Bhilodi
3,207,000
0.265%
32
Hara/Harauti
2,944,000
0.243%
Hindi
33
Nepali
2,926,000
0.242%
34
Gondi
2,857,000
0.236%
35
Bagheli/Baghel Khandi
2,679,000
0.221%
Hindi
36
Sambalpuri
2,630,000
0.217%
Odia
37
Dogri
2,597,000
0.214%
38
Garhwali
2,482,000
0.205%
Hindi
39
Nimadi
2,309,000
0.191%
Hindi
40
Surjapuri
2,256,000
0.186%
Hindi
41
Konkani
2,147,000
0.177%
42
Kumauni
2,081,000
0.172%
Hindi
43
Kurukh/Oraon
1,977,000
0.163%
44
Tulu
1,842,000
0.152%
45
Manipuri
1,761,000
0.145%
46
Surgujia
1,738,000
0.144%
Hindi
47
Sindhi
1,679,000
0.139%
48
Bagri
1,657,000
0.137%
Punjabi

References

  1. Some languages may be over- or under-represented as the census data used is at a state-level. For example, while Urdu ha
  2. Hindi does not merely refer to "Modern Standard Hindi" (which is based on Dehlavi dialect of Kauravi), but also broadly
  3. Although linguistically, Modern Standard Hindi and Urdu are classified together as a single language called Hindustani,
  4. "Pahari" as ambiguous, but in the census returns the language name most commonly comes from the Western Pahari area.
  5. "50th Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India (July 2012 to June 2013)"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20141226150914/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf
  6. "Ethnologue: Languages of the World (Seventeenth edition) : India"
    http://www.ethnologue.com/country/IN
  7. "How a Bihari lost his mother tongue to Hindi"
    http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/Nl73WC1JA8d6KVybBycNlM/How-a-Bihari-lost-his-mother-tongue-to-Hindi.html
  8. "These four charts break down India's complex relationship with Hindi"
    https://qz.com/239073/these-four-charts-break-down-indias-complex-relationship-with-hindi/
  9. The Times of India
    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Nearly-60-of-Indians-speak-a-language-other-than-Hindi/articleshow/36922157.cms
  10. 2001 census data Archived 2013-02-22 at the Wayback Machine
    http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/Statement5.aspx
  11. In 1991, there were 90,000,000 "users" of English. (Census of India Indian Census Archived 2006-12-23 at the Wayback Mac
    http://www.censusindia.gov.in/
  12. Deccan Herald
    https://www.deccanherald.com/india/what-census-data-reveals-about-use-of-indian-languages-738340.html
  13. censusindia.gov
    https://web.archive.org/web/20071130133947/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/Statement5.htm
  14. https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/census-tables Table C-17
    https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/census-tables
  15. Ethnologue: Languages of the World
    https://www.ethnologue.com/statistics/country
  16. The Economic Times
    https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/hindi-mother-tongue-of-44-in-india-bangla-second-most-spoken/articleshow/64759135.cms
  17. Statement 4 : Scheduled Languages in descending order of speakers' strength – 2011
    http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/Language-2011/Statement-4.pdf
  18. "C-17 POPULATION BY BILINGUALISM AND TRILINGUALISM"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20191113211224/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-17.html
  19. The Times of India
    https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indiaspeak-English-is-our-2nd-language/articleshow/5680962.cms
  20. Comparative Speaker's Strength of Scheduled Languages -1971, 1981, 1991 and 2001 Archived 2013-02-22 at the Wayback Mach
    http://www.censusindia.gov.in/%28S%28z5ltjf55h4fqb4u2sybp3i55%29%29/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/Statement5.aspx
  21. Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues – 2000 Archived 2013-10-14 at the Wayback Machine, Census
    http://www.censusindia.gov.in/%28S%282scoev45b4mhlg45mz5jq345%29%29/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/Statement1.aspx
  22. Census of India
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180627091302/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf
  23. Statement 1 : Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues – 2011 Archived 2018-06-27 at the Wayback M
    http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/Language-2011/Statement-1.pdf
  24. Statement 2 : Distribution of population by Scheduled and other Languages India, States and Union Territories – 2011 Arc
    http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/Language-2011/Statement-2.pdf
  25. "Languages Spoken by More Than 10 Million People – Table – MSN Encarta"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20071203134724/http://encarta.msn.com/media_701500404/Languages_Spoken_by_More_Than_10_Million_People.html
  26. different from Kui language
  27. The data are from http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-0000.XLSX. Archived 2018-07-08 at the
    http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-0000.XLSX
  28. "Census Data 2001 General Notes"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130222050810/http://www.censusindia.gov.in:80/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/gen_note.html
  29. Census of India Website
    https://web.archive.org/web/20191210063438/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16.html
  30. The Indo-Aryan languages
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