Manipuri, also known as Meitei, belongs to the Tibeto-Burman language family and dominates northeast India. It serves as Manipur’s official language and lingua franca, while also holding official status in Assam. The Indian Constitution recognizes Meitei as one of its scheduled languages. Among Tibeto-Burman languages in India, Meitei ranks as the most widely spoken and stands as the third most spoken language in northeast India, following Assamese and Bengali.
Demographics of Manipuri Speakers
According to the 2011 Census, 1.76 million people in India speak Meitei as their native language. Most speakers—around 1.52 million—live in Manipur, where they form the majority population. In addition, Meitei-speaking communities reside in neighboring states such as Assam (168,000 speakers), Tripura (24,000 speakers), Nagaland (9,500 speakers), and other regions (37,500 speakers). Beyond India, smaller groups in Myanmar and Bangladesh also speak Meitei.
Growth and Status of Manipuri Language
Meitei continues to grow rapidly in India, keeping pace with Gujarati and following Hindi and Kashmiri in growth rate. Ethnologue classifies Meitei as a “provincial language” under EGIDS level 2, meaning it remains safe. However, UNESCO categorizes it as vulnerable.
Historical Associations of Manipuri
Several dynasties, including the Ningthouja (Mangangs), Khuman, Moirang, Angom, Luwang, Chenglei (Sarang-Leishangthem), and Khaba-Nganba, originally spoke distinct dialects and ruled independently. Over time, the Ningthouja dynasty consolidated power and brought these groups under its rule, turning them from independent ethnicities into clans within the broader Meitei community. The Ningthouja dialect became dominant, incorporating elements from other speech forms.