1. Bangladesh: Bengali is the official language of Bangladesh and is spoken by almost the entire population, making it the native language of around 160 million people.
2. India: Bengali is the official language of the Indian state of West Bengal and is spoken by a significant portion of the population in the states of Tripura, Assam, and Odisha. It is estimated to be spoken by around 90 million people in India.
3. Other Countries: Bengali is also spoken by smaller communities in countries like:
* Pakistan: In the Chittagong Hill Tracts region.
* Myanmar: In the Rakhine State.
* United Kingdom: In areas with significant Bengali diaspora.
* United States: In areas with significant Bengali diaspora.
* Canada: In areas with significant Bengali diaspora.
Total Speakers: The total number of Bengali speakers worldwide is estimated to be around 260 million. This makes Bengali one of the most widely spoken languages in the world.
Important Note: While these are the primary areas where Bengali is spoken, there are also smaller pockets of speakers in other countries due to migration and diaspora communities.