Hindi is the most spoken language in Uttar Pradesh. Hindi is widely used across the state for everyday communication, education, administration and media. According to Census 2011 language data, Hindi is the largest language category in Uttar Pradesh. Keep reading to know in detail.
How Many People Speak Hindi in Uttar Pradesh?
Census-based language profiles put the Hindi category at around 80.16% of Uttar Pradesh’s population. This includes Hindi and several mother tongues that the Census places under the Hindi language category. These include Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Brajbhasha, Bundeli and Khari Boli, among others.
Why Is Hindi So Widely Spoken in Uttar Pradesh?
Hindi is used extensively across different parts of Uttar Pradesh. It is an important language for education and government communication. Hindi is widely used in newspapers, television, films and digital media.
Which Regional Languages Are Spoken in Uttar Pradesh?
Uttar Pradesh has considerable linguistic diversity.
| Language / Dialect | Region / Distribution |
| Awadhi | Mainly associated with central and eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh. |
| Bhojpuri | Widely spoken in eastern Uttar Pradesh. |
| Brajbhasha | Traditionally associated with the Braj region, including areas around Mathura and Agra. |
| Bundeli | Spoken mainly in the Bundelkhand region. |
| Khari Boli | Spoken in western Uttar Pradesh and surrounding areas. |
| Urdu | Spoken by a significant population across several districts. |
| Other Mother Tongues | Several other mother tongues are also recorded in the Census data. |
Is Bhojpuri Spoken in Uttar Pradesh?
Bhojpuri is widely spoken in eastern Uttar Pradesh. It is particularly associated with the Purvanchal region. Census 2011 recorded more than 2.18 crore Bhojpuri mother-tongue speakers in Uttar Pradesh. Bhojpuri is included under the Hindi language category in the Census classification.
What Is the Second Most Spoken Language in Uttar Pradesh?
Bhojpuri is one of the largest individual mother tongues after the Hindi category. Census 2011 recorded about 2.18 crore people with Bhojpuri as their mother tongue in Uttar Pradesh. Urdu is another major language spoken across the state. Census-based profiles record about 1.08 crore Urdu speakers in Uttar Pradesh.
Hindi vs Regional Languages in Uttar Pradesh
| Language or mother tongue | Census 2011 population in UP |
| Hindi language category | About 80.16% |
| Bhojpuri | About 10.93% |
| Urdu | About 5.40% |
| Awadhi | About 1.90% |
| Bundeli/Bundelkhandi | About 0.65% |
| Brajbhasha | About 0.36% |
Which Areas of Uttar Pradesh Have Different Languages?
| Region | Prominent Languages / Dialects |
| Western Uttar Pradesh | Khari Boli and Hindi are widely used. |
| Central Uttar Pradesh | Hindi and Awadhi are prominent. |
| Eastern Uttar Pradesh | Bhojpuri is widely spoken. |
| Braj region | Brajbhasha has a strong linguistic and cultural presence. |
| Bundelkhand | Bundeli is traditionally spoken. |