* Native speakers: The number of native Bengali speakers is estimated to be around 265 million, making it the seventh most spoken language in the world.
* Total speakers: This includes people who speak Bengali as a second language. The total number of Bengali speakers could be significantly higher, potentially reaching 300 million or more.
* "Bengali world": This term can be interpreted broadly to include all countries where Bengali is spoken. This includes Bangladesh, West Bengal in India, and significant communities in other countries like Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
To summarize:
* There are approximately 265 million native Bengali speakers.
* The total number of Bengali speakers, including those who speak it as a second language, could be much higher, possibly reaching 300 million or more.
It's important to note that these numbers are estimates, and the actual number of speakers could be higher or lower.