* Defining "Hindi speaker" is complex: There's a difference between:
* Native Hindi speakers: Those who grew up speaking Hindi as their first language.
* Second language Hindi speakers: Those who learned Hindi later in life.
* People who understand Hindi but don't speak it fluently: This includes people who understand Hindi due to exposure but may not be able to hold a conversation.
* Data collection is challenging: Gathering accurate data on language use across the globe is a difficult task.
* Hindi varieties: There are numerous dialects and varieties of Hindi, which can further complicate counting.
However, we can estimate:
* Most sources indicate that Hindi is the fourth most spoken language in the world, with a significant number of speakers primarily concentrated in India and neighboring countries.
* Estimates vary: Some sources suggest that there are over 600 million Hindi speakers globally, while others put the number closer to 400 million.
Therefore, while a precise percentage is unavailable, it's safe to say that Hindi is spoken by a substantial portion of the world's population, ranking among the most widely used languages.