Indian numbering system

Information red.svg
Scan the QR code to donate via UPI
Dear reader, We need your support to keep the flame of knowledge burning bright! Our hosting server bill is due on June 1st, and without your help, Bharatpedia faces the risk of shutdown. We've come a long way together in exploring and celebrating our rich heritage. Now, let's unite to ensure Bharatpedia continues to be a beacon of knowledge for generations to come. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. Together, let's preserve and share the essence of Bharat.

Thank you for being part of the Bharatpedia family!
Please scan the QR code on the right click here to donate.

0%

   

transparency: ₹0 raised out of ₹100,000 (0 supporter)



The Indian numbering system is used in the Indian subcontinent (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Pakistan) to express large numbers. The terms lakh (100,000) and crore (10,000,000)[1] are the most commonly used terms (even in English, such as in a local variety called Indian English) to express large numbers in the system.

SystemEdit

The Indian numbering system corresponds to the Western system for the zeroth through fourth powers of ten: one (100), ten (101), one hundred (102), one thousand (103), ten thousand (104). For higher powers of ten, the names no longer correspond. In the Indian system, the next powers of ten are called one lakh, ten lakh, one crore, ten crore, one arab (or one hundred crore), and so on; there are new words for every second power of ten (105 + 2n): lakh (105), crore (107), arab (109), etc. In the Western system, the next powers of ten are called one hundred thousand, one million, ten million, one hundred million, one billion (short scale)/one thousand million (long scale), and so on; in the short scale, there are new words for every third power of ten (103n): million (106), billion (109), trillion (1012), etc.

Written numbers differ in the placement of commas, grouping digits into powers of one hundred (102) in the Indian system (except for the first thousand), and into powers of one thousand (103) in the Western system. The Indian and most English systems both use the decimal point and the comma digit-separator, while some other languages and countries using the Western numbering system use the decimal comma and the thin space or point to group digits.[2]

There are terms for numbers larger than 1 crore as well, but these are not commonly used and are unfamiliar to most.[citation needed] These include 1 arab (equal to 100 crore or 1 billion (short scale)), 1 kharab (equal to 100 arab or 100 billion (short scale)), 1 nil (sometimes incorrectly transliterated as neel; equal to 100 kharab or 10 trillion), 1 padma (equal to 100 nil or 1 quadrillion), 1 shankh (equal to 100 padma or 100 quadrillion), and 1 mahashankh (equal to 100 shankh or 10 quintillion). In common parlance, the thousand, lakh, and crore terminology (though inconsistent) repeats for larger numbers: thus 1,000,000,000,000 (one trillion) becomes 1 lakh crore, written as 10,00,00,00,00,000.

ExamplesEdit

150,000 rupees in India is referred to as "1.5 lakh rupees", which is written as 1,50,000 rupees; 30,000,000 (thirty million) rupees is referred to as "3 crore rupees", which is written as 3,00,00,000 rupees with commas at the thousand, lakh, and crore places.

Use of separatorsEdit

The Indian numbering system uses separators differently from the international norm. Instead of grouping digits by threes as in the international system, the Indian numbering system groups the rightmost three digits together (until the hundreds place), and thereafter groups by sets of two digits.[3] One trillion would thus be written as 10,00,00,00,00,000 or 10 kharab (or one lakh crore). This makes the number convenient to read using the system's terminology. For example:

Indian system Indian system (words) International system International system (words)
5,00,000 Five lakh
500,000 Five hundred thousand
12,34,56,789 Twelve crore thirty-four lakh fifty-six thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine 123,456,789 One hundred and twenty-three million four hundred and fifty-six thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine
17,00,00,00,000 Seventeen arab 17,000,000,000 Seventeen billion (short scale)
6,78,90,00,00,00,00,000 Six padma seventy-eight nil ninety kharab 6,789,000,000,000,000 Six quadrillion seven hundred and eighty nine trillion

This accords with the Indian numbering system, which has units for thousands, hundreds of thousands, tens of millions, etc.

Names of numbersEdit

The table below follows the short scale usage of one billion being one thousand million. In India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, following former British usage, the long scale was used, with one billion equivalent to one million million.

Names of numbers
Hindustani Marathi Bengali Odia Tamil Telugu Kannada Malayalam Nepali Indian notation Power
notation
International notation[4] Short scale Western
(long scale Western)
South Asian English
एक / ایک
(ēk)
एक
(ēk)
এক
(êk)
ଏକ
(eka)
ஒன்று
(oṉṟu)
ఒకటి
(okaṭi)
ಒಂದು
(ondu)
ഒന്ന്
(onn)
एक
(ēk)
1 100 1 One
One
दस / دس
(das)
दहा
(dahā)
দশ
(dôś)
ଦଶ
(dasa)
பத்து
(pattu)
పది
(padi)
ಹತ್ತು
(hattu)
പത്ത്
(patt)
दश
(daś)
10 101 10 Ten
SI prefix: deca-
Ten
सौ / سو
(sau)
शंभर
(śambhar)
একশ
(êkśō)
ଶହେ
(sahe)
நூறு
(nūṟu)
వంద/నూరు
(vanda/nūru)
ನೂರು
(nūru)
നൂറ്
(nuṟ)
सय
(saya)
100 102 100 One hundred
SI prefix: hecto-
One hundred
हज़ार / ہزار
(hazār)
एक हजार
(ēk hajār)
হাজার
(hāzār)
ହଜାର
(hajāra)
ସହସ୍ର
(sahasra)
ஆயிரம்
(āyiram)
వెయ్యి
(veyyi)
ಸಾವಿರ
(sāvira)
ആയിരം
(āyiraṁ)
एक हजार
(ēk hajār)
1,000 103 1,000 One thousand
SI prefix: kilo-
One thousand
दस हज़ार / دس ہزار
(das hazār)
दहा हजार
(dahā hajār)
দশ হাজার
(dôś hāzār)
অযুত
(ōjut)
ଦଶ ହଜାର
(dasa hajāra)
ଅୟୁତ
(ayuta)
பத்தாயிரம்
(pattāyiram)
ஆயுதம்
(āyutam)
పది వేలు
(padi vēlu)
ಹತ್ತು ಸಾವಿರ
(hattu sāvira)
പതിനായിരം
(patināyiraṁ)
दश हजार
(daś hajār)
10,000 104 10,000 Ten thousand
Ten thousand
लाख / لاکھ
(lākh)
एक लाख
(ēk lākh)
লক্ষ
(lôkkhō)
লাখ
(lākh)
ଲକ୍ଷ
(lakhya)
இலட்சம்
(ilaṭcam)
நியுதம்
(niyutam)
లక్ష
(lakṣa)
ಲಕ್ಷ
(lakṣa)
ലക്ഷം
(lakṣaṁ)
एक लाख
(ēk lākh)
1,00,000 105 100,000 One hundred thousand
One lakh (sometimes transliterated as lac)
दस लाख / دس لاکھ
(das lākh)
दहा लाख
(dahā lākh)
দশ লাখ
(dôś lākh)
নিযুত
(nijut)
ଦଶ ଲକ୍ଷ
(daśa lakhya)
ନିୟୁତ
(niyuta)
பத்து இலட்சம்
(pattu ilaṭcam)
పది లక్షలు
(padi lakṣalu)
ಹತ್ತು ಲಕ್ಷ
(hattu lakṣa)
പത്തുലക്ഷം
(pattulakṣaṁ)
दश लाख
(daś lākh)
10,00,000 106 1,000,000 One million
SI prefix: mega-
Ten lakh
करोड़ / کروڑ
(karōṛ)
एक कोटी
(ēk kōṭī)
কোটি
(kōṭi)
କୋଟି
(koṭi)
கோடி
(kōṭi)
కోటి
(kōṭi)
ಕೋಟಿ
(kōṭi)
കോടി
(kōṭi)
एक करोड
(ēk karoḍ)
1,00,00,000 107 10,000,000 Ten million
One crore
दस करोड़ / دس کروڑ
(das karōṛ)
दहा कोटी
(dahā kōṭī)
দশ কোটি
(dôś kōṭi)
অর্বুদ
(ōrbud)
ଦଶ କୋଟି
(dasa koṭi)
ଅର୍ବୁଦ
(arbuda)
அற்புதம்
(aṟputam)
పది కోట్లు
(padi kōṭlu)
ಹತ್ತು ಕೋಟಿ
(hattu kōṭi)
പത്തുകോടി
(pattukōṭi)
दश करोड
(daś karoḍ)
10,00,00,000 108 100,000,000 One hundred million
Ten crore
अरब / ارب
(arab)
सौ करोड़ / سو کروڑ
(sau karōṛ)
एक अब्ज
(ēk abja)
একশ কোটি
(êkśō kōṭi)
মহার্বুদ
(môhārbud)
ଏକ ଶହେ କୋଟି
(eka sahe koṭi)
ବୃନ୍ଦ
(brunda)
நிகற்புதம்
(nikaṟputam)
వంద కోట్లు
(vanda kōṭlu)
ನೂರು ಕೋಟಿ
(nūru kōṭi)
നൂറുകോടി
(nūṟukōṭi)
एक अर्ब
(ēk arba)
1,00,00,00,000 109 1,000,000,000 One billion
(one milliard)
SI prefix: giga-
One arab / one hundred crore
दस अरब / دس ارب
(das arab)
एक हज़ार करोड़ / ایک ہزار کروڑ
(ēk hazār karōṛ)
एक खर्व
(ek kharva)
হাজার কোটি
(hāzār kōṭi)
খর্ব
(khôrbō)
ହଜାର କୋଟି
(hajāra koṭi)
ଖର୍ବ
(kharba)
கும்பம்
(kumpam)
వెయ్యి కోట్లు
(veyyi kōṭlu)
ಒಂದು ಸಾವಿರ ಕೋಟಿ
(ondu sāvira kōṭi)
ആയിരം കോടി
(āyiraṁ kōṭi)
दश अर्ब
(daś arba)
10,00,00,00,000 1010 10,000,000,000 Ten billion
(ten milliard)
Ten arab / one thousand crore
खरब / کھرب
(kharab)
एक निखर्व
(ek nikharva)
দশ হাজার কোটি
(dôś hājār kōṭi)
মহাখর্ব
(môhākhôrbō)
ଦଶ ହଜାର କୋଟି
(dasa hajāra koṭi)
ନିଖର୍ବ
(nikharba)
கணம்
(kaṇam)
పది వేల కోట్లు
(padi vēla kōṭlu)
ಹತ್ತು ಸಾವಿರ ಕೋಟಿ
(hattu sāvira kōṭi)
പതിനായിരം കോടി
(patināyiraṁ kōṭi)
एक खर्ब
(ēk kharba)
1,00,00,00,00,000 1011 100,000,000,000 One hundred billion
(one hundred milliard)
One kharab / one hundred arab / ten thousand crore
दस खरब / دس کھرب
(das kharab)
एक लाख करोड़ / ایک لاکھ کروڑ
(ēk lākh karōṛ)
एक पद्म
(ēk padma)
লাখ কোটি
(lākh kōṭi)
শঙ্খ
(śôṅkhō)
ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି
(lakhya koṭi)
ଶଙ୍ଖ
(saṅkha)
கற்பம்
(kaṟpam)
లక్ష కోట్లు
(lakṣa kōṭlu)
ಒಂದು ಲಕ್ಷ ಕೋಟಿ
(ondu lakṣa kōṭi)
ഒരു ലക്ഷം കോടി
(oru lakṣaṁ kōṭi)
दश खर्ब
(daś kharba)
10,00,00,00,00,000 1012 1,000,000,000,000 One trillion
(one billion)
SI prefix: tera-
Ten kharab / one thousand arab / one lakh crore
नील / نیل
(nīl)
एक महापद्म
(ek mahāpadma)
দশ লাখ কোটি
(dôś lākh kōṭi)
পদ্ম
(pôddō)
মহাশঙ্খ
(môhāśôṅkhō)
ଦଶ ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି
(dasa lakhya koṭi)
ପଦ୍ମ
(padma)
நிகற்பம்
(nikaṟpam)
పది లక్షల కోట్లు
(padi lakṣala kōṭlu)
ಹತ್ತು ಲಕ್ಷ ಕೋಟಿ
(hattu lakṣa kōṭi)
പത്തുലക്ഷം കോടി
(pattulakṣaṁ kōṭi)
नील
(nīl)
1,00,00,00,00,00,000 1013 10,000,000,000,000 Ten trillion
(ten billion)
One nil / one hundred kharab / ten thousand arab / ten lakh crore
दस नील / دس نیل
(das nīl)
एक करोड़ करोड़ / ایک کروڑ کروڑ
(ēk karōṛ karōṛ)
एक शंखू
(ēk śaṅkhū)
একশ লাখ কোটি
(êkśō lākh kōṭi)
শতকোটি লক্ষ
(śôtôkōṭi lôkkō)
মহাপদ্ম
(môhāpôddō)
ଶହେ ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି
(sahe lakhya koṭi)
ସାଗର
(sāgara)
பதுமம்
(patumam)
కోటి కోట్లు
(kōṭi kōṭlu)
ಒಂದು ಕೋಟಿ ಕೋಟಿ
(ondu kōṭi kōṭi)
നൂറ് ലക്ഷം കോടി
(nuṟ lakṣaṁ kōṭi)
दश नील
(daś nīl)
10,00,00,00,00,00,000 1014 100,000,000,000,000 One hundred trillion
(one hundred billion)
Ten nil / one crore crore
पद्म / پدم
(padma)
एक जलधि शंखू
(eka jaladhi śaṅkhū)
হাজার লাখ কোটি
(hāzār lākh kōṭi)
ହଜାର ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି
(hajāra lakhya koṭi)
ଅନ୍ତ୍ୟ
(antya)
சங்கம்
(caṅkam)
పది కోట్ల కోట్లు
(padi kōṭla kōṭlu)
ಹತ್ತು ಕೋಟಿ ಕೋಟಿ
(hattu kōṭi kōṭi)
ആയിരം ലക്ഷം കോടി
(āyiraṁ lakṣaṁ kōṭi)
पद्म
(padma)
100,00,00,00,00,00,000 1015 1,000,000,000,000,000 One quadrillion
(one billiard)
SI prefix: peta-
One padma / one hundred nil / ten crore crore
दस पद्म / دس پدم
(das padma)
एक अंत्य
(eka antya)
দশ হাজার লাখ কোটি
(dôś hāzār lākh kōṭi)
ଦଶ ହଜାର ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି
(dasa hajāra lakhya koṭi)
ମଧ୍ୟ
(madhya)
வெள்ளம்
(veḷḷam)
சமுத்திரம்
(camuttiram)
వంద కోట్ల కోట్లు
(vanda kōṭla kōṭlu)
ನೂರು ಕೋಟಿ ಕೋಟಿ
(nūru kōṭi kōṭi)
പതിനായിരം ലക്ഷം കോടി
(patināyiraṁ lakṣaṁ kōṭi)
दश पद्म
(daś padma)
10,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 1016 10,000,000,000,000,000 Ten quadrillion
(ten billiard)
Ten padma / one hundred crore crore
शंख / شنکھ
(śaṅkh)
एक परार्ध
(eka parārdha)
শত হাজার লাখ কোটি
(śoto hāzār lākh kōṭi)
ଶହେ ହଜାର ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି
(sahe hajāra lakhya koṭi)
ପରାର୍ଦ୍ଧ
(parārddha)
அந்நியம்
(anniyam)
వెయ్యి కోట్ల కోట్లు
(veyyi kōṭla kōṭlu)
ಒಂದು ಸಾವಿರ ಕೋಟಿ ಕೋಟಿ
(ondu sāvira kōṭi kōṭi)
ലക്ഷം ലക്ഷം കോടി
(lakṣaṁ lakṣaṁ kōṭi)
शंख
(śaṅkha)
100,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 1017 100,000,000,000,000,000 One hundred quadrillion
(one hundred billiard)
One shankh / one hundred padma / one thousand crore crore / one lakh lakh crore
दस शंख / دس شنکھ
(das śaṅkh)
गुलशन / گلشن
(gulśan)
एक महापरार्ध
(eka mahāparārdha)
দশ শত হাজার লাখ কোটি
(doś śoto hāzār lākh kōṭi)
গুলশান
(gulśān)
ଦଶ ଶହେ ହଜାର ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି
(dasa sahe hajāra lakhya koṭi)
ଦଶ ପରାର୍ଦ୍ଧ
(daśa parārddha)
அர்த்தம்
(arttam)
పది వేల కోట్ల కోట్లు
(padi vēla kōṭla kōṭlu)
ಹತ್ತು ಸಾವಿರ ಕೋಟಿ ಕೋಟಿ
(hattu sāvira kōṭi kōṭi)
പത്തുലക്ഷം ലക്ഷം കോടി
(pattulakṣaṁ lakṣaṁ kōṭi)
दश शंख
(daś śaṅkha)
10,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 1018 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 One quintillion
(one trillion)
SI prefix: exa-
Ten shankh / ten thousand crore crore

Vedic numbering systemsEdit

There are various systems of numeration found in various ancient Vedic literary works of India. The following table gives one such system used in the Valmiki Ramayana.[5]

Indian notation Power notation Equivalent numeric representation Indian system Short scale Western
एक (ēka) 0,00,001 100 1 One One
दश (daśa) 0,00,010 101 10 Ten Ten
शत (śata) 0,00,100 102 100 One hundred One hundred
सहस्र (sahasra) 0,01,000 103 1,000 One thousand One thousand
अयुत (ayuta) 0,10,000 104 10,000 Ten thousand Ten thousand
लक्ष (lakṣa) 1,00,000 105 100,000 One lakh One hundred thousand
नियुत (niyuta) 1,00,000 daśa 106 1,000,000 Ten lakh One million
कोटि (kōṭi)
1,00,000 śata 107 10,000,000 One crore Ten million
शङ्कु (śaṅku) 1,00,000 koṭi 1012 1,000,000,000,000 One Shankh Or Ten kharab Or One lakh crore One trillion
महाशङ्कु (mahāśaṅku) 1,00,000 śaṅku 1017 100,000,000,000,000,000 One shankh One hundred quadrillion
कणिका (Kanika) 1,00,000 mahāśaṅku 1022 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Mahashankh Ten sextillion (ten trilliard)
महाकणिका (mahākanika) 1,00,000 kanika 1027 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Vrinda One octillion
पद्म (padma) 1,00,000 mahāvr̥nda 1032 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Padma One hundred nonillion
महापद्म (mahāpadma) 1,00,000 padma 1037 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Mahapadma Ten undecillion
खंडवा (khandwa) 1,00,000 mahāpadma 1042 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Khandwa One tredecillion
महाखंडवा (mahākhandwa) 1,00,000 khandwa 1047 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Mahakhandwa One hundred quattuordecillion
समुद्र (samudra) 1,00,000 mahākhandwa 1052 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Samudra Ten sexdecillion
नेहा (ōgha) 1,00,000 samudra 1057 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Aasman One octodecillion
महासमान (mahaasmaan) 1,00,000 aasman 1062 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Mahaasman One hundred novemdecillion
विक्रांत (vikrant) 1,00,000 mahaneha 1067 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Vikranta Ten unvigintillion
महाविक्रांत (mahāvikrant) 1,00,000 vikranta 1072 10

,00,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

Mahavikranta One trevigintillion

Usage in different languagesEdit

  • In Assamese, a lakh is also called লক্ষ lokhyo, or লাখ lakh and a crore is called কৌটি বা কোটি kouti
  • In Bengali, a lakh is natively (tadbhava) known as লাখ lākh, though some use the ardha-tatsama লক্ষ lokkho. A crore is called কোটি kōṭi
  • In Burmese, crore is called ကုဋေ [ɡədè]. Lakh is used in Burmese English.
  • In Dhivehi, a lakh is called ލައްކަ la'kha and a crore is called ކްރޯރް kroaru
  • In Gujarati, a lakh is called લાખ lākh and a crore is called કરોડ karoḍ. A hundred crore is called અબજ abaj
  • In Kannada, a lakh is called ಲಕ್ಷ lakṣha and a crore is called ಕೋಟಿ kōṭi
  • In Khasi, a lakh is called lak and a crore is called klur or krur. A billion is called arab and hundred billion is called kharab.
  • In Malayalam, a lakh is called ലക്ഷം laksham and a crore is called കോടി kodi.
  • In Marathi, a lakh is called लाख/लक्ष lākh and a crore is called कोटी koṭi or करोड karoḍ, and an arab (109) is called अब्ज abja.
  • In Nepali, a lakh is called लाख lākh and a crore is called करोड karoḍ.
  • In Odia, a lakh is called ଲକ୍ଷ lakhya and a crore is called କୋଟି koṭi.
  • In Punjabi, a lakh is called lakkh (Shahmukhi: لکھ, Gurmukhi: ਲੱਖ) and a crore is called karoṛ (Shahmukhi: کروڑ, Gurmukhi: ਕਰੋੜ).
  • In Rohingya, a lakh is called lák and a crore is called kurul. A thousand crore is called kuthí.
  • In Sinhala, a lakh is called ලක්ෂ lakṣa and a crore is called කෝටි kōṭi.
  • In Tamil, a lakh is called இலட்சம் ilaṭcam and a crore is called கோடி kōṭi.
  • In Telugu, a lakh is called లక్ష lakṣha and a crore is called కోటి kōṭi.
  • In Urdu, a lakh is called لاکھ lākh and a crore is called کروڑ karoṛ. A billion is called arab (ارب), and one hundred billion/arab is called a kharab (کھرب).
  • Lakh has entered the Swahili language as "laki" and is in common use.

Formal written publications in English in India tend to use lakh/crore for Indian currency and International numbering for foreign currencies.[6]

Current usageEdit

The usage of this system is limited to the nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. It is universally employed within these countries, and is preferred to the English numbering system.[7]

Sri Lanka used this system in the past but has switched to the English numbering system in recent years.

In the Maldives, the term lakh is widely used in official documents and local speech. However the English numbering system is preferred for higher denominations (i.e millions etc).

Most institutions and citizens in India use the Indian number system, although the Reserve Bank of India has been noted as a rare exception.[8]

ReferencesEdit

  1. "Knowing our Numbers". Department Of School Education And Literacy. National Repository of Open Educational Resources. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  2. "Decimal and Thousands Separators (International Language Environments Guide)". docs.oracle.com. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  3. Emmons, John (25 March 2018). "UNICODE LOCALE DATA MARKUP LANGUAGE (LDML) PART 3: NUMBERS". Unicode.org. Archived from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  4. Use of separator in digit grouping here follows customs in most English-speaking countries. For international standards and details, see decimal mark.
  5. "Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda". www.valmikiramayan.net.
  6. Shapiro, Richard (16 August 2012). "The most distinctive counting system in English? Indian cardinal numbers". Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved 24 May 2020. - Shapiro is/was an OED employee. The article states: "The opinions and other information contained in the OED blog posts and comments do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Oxford University Press."
  7. Krulwich, Robert; Block, Ezra (21 October 2010). "Hey! Who Can Explain What India Does With Its Commas?". NPR. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  8. Gurpur (10 August 2015). "Can we follow Indian numbering system for simplicity and good order?". Moneylife News & Views. Retrieved 3 September 2020.