Bengali

A language of Bangladesh

Location

Widespread.

Also spoken in:

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Australia

Language NameBengali

User Population

54,600 in Australia (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Belgium

Language NameBengali

User Population

5,000 in Belgium (2018), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Bhutan

Language NameBengali

User Population

20,100 in Bhutan (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Bhutan

Canada

Language NameBengali

User Population

73,100 in Canada (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Denmark

Language NameBengali

User Population

1,790 in Denmark (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Finland

Language NameBengali

User Population

3,970 in Finland (2018 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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France

Language NameBengali

User Population

7,000 in France (2018), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Germany

Language NameBengali

User Population

16,400 in Germany (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Greece

Language NameBengali

User Population

80,000 in Greece (2018), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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India

Language NameBengali

User Population

106,500,000 in India, all users. L1 users: 96,500,000 in India (2011 census). L2 users: 10,000,000 (2011 census).

Location

Assam state: Goalpara district; Bihar state; Jharkhand state: Dhanbad, Manbhum, Santal Parganas, and Singhbhum; Odisha state: Bales and Mayar; Tripura and West Bengal states.

Alternate Names

Bangala, Bangla-Bhasa

Dialects

Barik, Bhatiari, Chirmar, Kachari-Bengali, Lohari-Malpaharia, Musselmani, Rajshahi, Samaria, Saraki, Siripuria (Kishanganjia).

Language Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in West Bengal, Tripura, Assam states (1950, Constitution, Schedule VIII).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Asuri [asr], Bishnupuriya [bpy], Chakma [ccp], Dimasa [dis], Hajong [haj], Kamtapuri [rkt], Kharia [khr], Kharia Thar [ksy], Koch [kdq], Kudmali [kyw], Kumarbhag Paharia [kmj], Lodhi [lbm], Mahali [mjx], Maithili [mai], Mal Paharia [mkb], Panchpargania [tdb], Pnar [pbv], Rabha [rah], Sadri [sck], Sakachep [sch], Toto [txo].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 85%. Taught in primary and secondary schools through grade 5 and as subject thereafter in Assam, Tripura, and West Bengal states.

Other Comments

Muslim, Hindu.

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Italy

Language NameBengali

User Population

400,000 in Italy (2018), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Japan

Language NameBengali

User Population

69,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Kuwait

Language NameBengali

User Population

350,000 in Kuwait (2021 The Daily Star), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Malaysia

Language NameBengali

User Population

800,000 in Malaysia (2021 The Daily Star), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Mauritius

Language NameBengali

User Population

6,660 in Mauritius (Leclerc 2018c).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Myanmar

Language NameBengali

User Population

286,000 in Myanmar (Leclerc 2017d).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Nepal

Language NameBengali

User Population

23,980 in Nepal, all users. L1 users: 21,100 in Nepal (2011 census), increasing. L2 users: 2,880 (2011 census).

Location

Major cities.

Alternate Names

Bangala, Bangla-Bhasa

Dialects

Barik, Bhatiari, Chirmar, Kachari-Bengali, Lohari-Malpaharia, Musselmani, Rajshahi, Samaria, Saraki, Siripuria.

Language Status

5 (Dispersed).

Language Use

Vigorous use if both parents are of Bengali origin. Home, friends; mixed use: Religion, work. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Used as L2 by Maithili [mai], Meche [brx], Rajbanshi [rjs].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Classified as a cultural group (2001 census). Hindu, Christian, Muslim.

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Netherlands

Language NameBengali

User Population

6,000 in Netherlands (2018), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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New Zealand

Language NameBengali

User Population

2,420 in New Zealand (2013 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Oman

Language NameBengali

User Population

547,000 in Oman (2020).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Pakistan

Language NameBengali

User Population

326,000 in Pakistan (2018).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Saudi Arabia

Language NameBengali

User Population

2,265,000 in Saudi Arabia (2020 Anadolu Agency).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Singapore

Language NameBengali

User Population

150,000 in Singapore (2021 The Straits Times), based on nationality.

Location

North East district (No. 19), especially Hougang and Sengkang areas; scattered elsewhere.

Language Status

6b* (Threatened).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Hindu, Muslim.

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South Africa

Language NameBengali

User Population

300,000 in South Africa (2019), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Spain

Language NameBengali

User Population

19,800 in Spain (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Sri Lanka

Language NameBengali

User Population

20,700 in Sri Lanka (2019).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Sweden

Language NameBengali

User Population

7,420 in Sweden (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Switzerland

Language NameBengali

User Population

2,000 in Switzerland (2018), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Thailand

Language NameBengali

User Population

35,000 in Thailand (Leclerc 2019a), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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United Arab Emirates

Language NameBengali

User Population

817,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Location

Scattered.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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United Kingdom

Language NameBengali

User Population

221,000 in United Kingdom (2011 census), including Sylheti [syl] and Chittagonian [ctg].

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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United States

Language NameBengali

User Population

258,000 in United States (2015 census).

Location

Scattered.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Many also use English [eng].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Bengali

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A language of Bangladesh

Also spoken in:

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