8 Countries Where Hindi Is Commonly Spoken
If you believe that Mandarin and English are the only truly widespread languages, the statistics around Hindi may come as a surprise. More than 425 million people speak Hindi as their first language, and an additional 120 million use it as a second language. Hindi is not confined to India alone—it has crossed borders and is spoken locally in several other countries. Below is a list of nations outside India where Hindi is spoken more widely, including some places you might not expect.
Nepal
Nepal has the second-largest concentration of Hindi speakers after India. Approximately 8 million people in the country can speak Hindi, although fewer than 80,000 consider it their mother tongue. Despite its widespread usage, Hindi does not hold official language status in Nepal.
In 2016, members of the Nepalese Parliament proposed granting Hindi official recognition after studies indicated that nearly 80 percent of the population could speak or understand the language. The strong presence of Hindi in Nepal is largely attributed to cultural ties with India, an open and continuous border, frequent cross-border movement, and the widespread influence of Indian television, films, and music.
United States of America
The United States has the third-largest Hindi-speaking population globally, after India and Nepal. Approximately 649,000 people in the country speak Hindi, making it the 11th most widely spoken foreign language in the US. Hindi is commonly used within households and community settings, while English dominates official and public communication. Most Hindi speakers are immigrants from India, and many second-generation Indian Americans tend to prefer English for education and daily interactions.
Mauritius
Mauritius shares a strong cultural connection with Hindi, which is spoken by around 450,000 people. Although the Mauritian Constitution does not designate any official language, English and French are primarily used for official purposes. Hindi continues to play an important cultural and religious role within the country.
Fiji
In Fiji, about 380,000 people speak a variant known as Fiji Hindi. The language developed during the colonial era when Indian laborers were brought to the islands. Today, Hindi remains a key element of Indo-Fijian identity and is widely used at home, in media, and during religious and cultural events.
South Africa
South Africa is home to an estimated 250,000 Hindi speakers, most of whom belong to the Indian South African community. Indians have been present in the country since the 19th century, and Hindi is one of the languages preserved and spoken within this community.
Suriname
Approximately 150,000 people in Suriname speak Hindi, particularly within the Indo-Surinamese community. The local form, known as Sarnami Hindi, developed during Dutch colonial rule beginning in 1873. Hindi continues to play a significant role in preserving cultural heritage among South Asian Surinamese.
Uganda
In Uganda, around 100,000 people speak Hindi, primarily within the Indian-origin community that has lived in East Africa for generations. The language is commonly used in homes, as well as in religious and community spaces, helping maintain cultural continuity.
United Kingdom
Looking into the United Kingdom, it has around 45,800 Hindi speakers. Though fewer in number than those of other countries in this list, there are still a large number of people who speak Hindi in the United Kingdom due to the British Indian community.
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