* India has 22 official languages: This doesn't mean there are only 22 languages spoken, just that these are recognized at the national level.
* Countless dialects and regional variations: Many languages have diverse dialects, making it difficult to classify them.
* Lack of comprehensive data: There isn't a single, reliable source that accurately tracks all languages and their speakers across the vast and diverse nation.
However, I can provide a breakdown of the major language families and some of their prominent members, along with approximate percentages:
1. Indo-Aryan (74% of population):
* Hindi (43.63%) - Spoken mainly in the north and central parts of India.
* Bengali (8.1%) - Predominant in West Bengal and Bangladesh.
* Marathi (7.8%) - Spoken in Maharashtra.
* Telugu (7.2%) - Spoken in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
* Urdu (5.0%) - Spoken mainly in northern India and Pakistan.
* Punjabi (2.8%) - Spoken in Punjab and parts of Haryana.
* Gujarati (4.5%) - Spoken in Gujarat.
* Odia (3.3%) - Spoken in Odisha.
* Assamese (1.4%) - Spoken in Assam.
* Kashmiri (0.5%) - Spoken in Jammu and Kashmir.
* Bhojpuri (1.7%) - Spoken in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand.
* Maithili (1.1%) - Spoken in Bihar and Nepal.
2. Dravidian (24% of population):
* Tamil (5.9%) - Spoken in Tamil Nadu and parts of Sri Lanka.
* Telugu (7.2%) - Spoken in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
* Kannada (4.4%) - Spoken in Karnataka.
* Malayalam (3.7%) - Spoken in Kerala.
* Tulu (0.2%) - Spoken in coastal Karnataka.
* Kodava (0.02%) - Spoken in Coorg, Karnataka.
3. Other (2% of population):
* Sino-Tibetan (including Nepali) (1.8%) - Spoken in the northeastern regions of India.
* Austroasiatic (including Santali) (0.3%) - Spoken in parts of eastern and central India.
* Others (including tribal languages)
Important Note: These figures are approximate and may vary depending on the source. Also, it is crucial to remember that this is not an exhaustive list.
For a more detailed and comprehensive look at languages in India, I recommend exploring resources like:
* Census of India website: Provides data on language speakers.
* Ethnologue: An online resource for information on languages worldwide.
* The Language Map of India: An interactive map showcasing the linguistic diversity of India.