Languages · Profile
बज्जिका
Bajjika
The language of the old Vajji country, spoken in the plains where Madhesh meets Bihar. Long counted under other languages, Bajjika is now claimed by more than a million people in Nepal as their own.
1,133,764
mother tongue speakers in Nepal (2021 census)
3.89%
of Nepal's population
Indo-Aryan
language family
Devanagari
script
In Nepal
Where it is spoken
Growing recognition as a distinct language
Mainly in Madhesh Province, in Sarlahi, Rautahat and Mahottari, with speakers across the eastern Madhesh-Terai.
MadheshKoshi
Beyond Nepal
Who else speaks it
- India: Spoken in north Bihar, around Vaishali, Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi, where it is usually counted under Hindi
The Dehat
Our work in Bajjika
Coverage of Bajjika-speaking communities of eastern Madhesh.
Speak Bajjika, or know someone who does? We want to hear your stories.
ContributeSources: National Population and Housing Census 2021, Nepal (mother tongue); Census of India 2011. Figures for small and endangered languages are estimates.