Hindi’s presence is not limited to India; it has a significant impact worldwide. More than 600 million people around the globe speak and comprehend Hindi, making it the third most spoken language. The spread of the Indian diaspora has led to the establishment of substantial Hindi-speaking populations in various countries, giving Indian expats a sense of belonging.
Nepal: Around 80,000 people in Nepal speak Hindi, which is about 0.29% of the population. The number of people who comprehend Hindi is much greater, estimated at over 8 million. The influence of Hindi in Nepal is due to cultural parallels and the popularity of Hindi films.
Mauritius: Approximately one-third of Mauritius’ population of 1.3 million speaks Hindi, around 450,000 people. Hindi is the native tongue for about 0.8% of the population. Though Hindi is widely spoken, Creole and Bhojpuri are also used. Indian indentured laborers came to Mauritius in the 19th century, and Hindi films and cultural events remain popular. French and English are the official parliamentary languages; nonetheless, Hindi plays a vital cultural role.
Fiji: In Fiji, where the population is 900,000, about 40%, or 380,000, people speak Hindi. About 40% of the population has Indian ancestry. Hindi of Fiji is used by Hindi-speaking Indians. It is used in formal, academic, religious, and media settings.
United States: The United States has the third-largest Hindi-speaking population outside of India. Roughly 650,000 people speak Hindi, making it the 11th most popular foreign language. Most Hindi speakers in the US are immigrants from India. The number continues to rise because of the growing number of Indians in the technical and business sectors.
Hindi in the Caribbean: In Suriname, there are 150,000 Hindi speakers. Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana also have Hindi-speaking communities. Indian culture and festivals are still celebrated in these nations. South Africa is home to 250,000 Hindi speakers.
Hindi in Europe: There are 45,800 Hindi speakers in the United Kingdom. According to statistics, approximately 1.53% of the UK population speaks Hindi. A large number of Indian immigrants live in the UK, and Hindi is one of the languages used by Indian-origin communities. Germany is also home to over 20,000 Hindi speakers.
Hindi-speaking communities are rapidly growing in Singapore, Bangladesh, Canada, and Australia, and Hindi courses are being introduced in these countries. The United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and New Zealand have a high number of Hindi speakers and understanders because of Indian expatriates. Bollywood movies have boosted the worldwide expansion of Hindi.