How many people worldwide speak the Bengali language?

It's difficult to give an exact number for how many people speak Bengali worldwide, as different sources use different methodologies and criteria. However, estimates range from 200 million to 300 million speakers.

Here's a breakdown:

* Bangladesh: With a population of over 160 million, Bengali is the official language and spoken by a vast majority of the population.

* India: In India, Bengali is the official language of West Bengal and also widely spoken in neighboring states like Assam and Tripura. Estimates suggest around 80-100 million speakers in India.

* Other Countries: There are also significant communities of Bengali speakers in countries like Pakistan, Myanmar, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Therefore, based on these estimates, the total number of Bengali speakers worldwide is likely to be somewhere between 200 million and 300 million.