India
भारत
Waiting for the first voice
تا مرد سخن نگفته باشد / عیب و هنرش نهفته باشد
Until a man has spoken, his faults and his gifts both stay hidden.
No advice from here yet. Know an elder from this country? Your recording could be the first: 2–3 minutes on a phone.
Did you know
Chaturanga, the ancestor of chess, emerged in India in the 6th century AD. (source)
Elders in numbers
- of people are 65 or older
- 7.4%
- people aged 65 or older
- 108M
- will be 65 or older in 2050
- 14.7%
- is how long people live after 60, on average
- 18.8 years
- of people 65+ live alone
- 5.1%
- women 7.5%, men 2.8%
Sources: World Bank, 2025; World Bank projection for 2050; WHO, 2023; UN, 2020
Languages
457 languages, 254 of them endangered
- KhamyangCritically endangered
- NefameseCritically endangered
- PurumCritically endangered
- RanglongCritically endangered
- RugaCritically endangered
- Sri Lankan Portuguese CreoleCritically endangered
- LepchaSeverely endangered
- OinamSeverely endangered
- RalteSeverely endangered
- ThadouSeverely endangered
- ThulungSeverely endangered
- A'TongDefinitely endangered
Show all 457
- AimolDefinitely endangered
- AitonDefinitely endangered
- Alipur Sign LanguageDefinitely endangered
- AllarDefinitely endangered
- Alu KurumbaDefinitely endangered
- AranadanDefinitely endangered
- AsurDefinitely endangered
- BadagaDefinitely endangered
- BazigarDefinitely endangered
- BellariDefinitely endangered
- Betta KurumbaDefinitely endangered
- BirhorDefinitely endangered
- BondaDefinitely endangered
- BrokpaDefinitely endangered
- BrokskatDefinitely endangered
- BurushaskiDefinitely endangered
- ByangsiDefinitely endangered
- ChaudangsiDefinitely endangered
- ChauraDefinitely endangered
- ChiruDefinitely endangered
- ChotheDefinitely endangered
- DamuDefinitely endangered
- DarmiyaDefinitely endangered
- DeoriDefinitely endangered
- DhimalDefinitely endangered
- Digaro MishmiDefinitely endangered
- East TusomDefinitely endangered
- Eastern MagarDefinitely endangered
- GahriDefinitely endangered
- GataqDefinitely endangered
- GorumDefinitely endangered
- GurungDefinitely endangered
- GutobDefinitely endangered
- Hakha–ChinDefinitely endangered
- HinduriDefinitely endangered
- HrusoDefinitely endangered
- Idu MishmiDefinitely endangered
- IrulaDefinitely endangered
- JadDefinitely endangered
- JangshungDefinitely endangered
- KachariDefinitely endangered
- KaltoDefinitely endangered
- KanashiDefinitely endangered
- KhambaDefinitely endangered
- KhowaDefinitely endangered
- KinnauriDefinitely endangered
- KodavaDefinitely endangered
- KolavaDefinitely endangered
- KondekorDefinitely endangered
- KongaiDefinitely endangered
- KoroDefinitely endangered
- KotaDefinitely endangered
- KulluiDefinitely endangered
- KulungDefinitely endangered
- KurichiyaDefinitely endangered
- LadakhiDefinitely endangered
- LamkangDefinitely endangered
- LimbuDefinitely endangered
- LishDefinitely endangered
- MajhiDefinitely endangered
- MajhwarDefinitely endangered
- MandaDefinitely endangered
- Maring NagaDefinitely endangered
- MijuDefinitely endangered
- MoyonDefinitely endangered
- Mudu KoragaDefinitely endangered
- NaDefinitely endangered
- NaikiDefinitely endangered
- NamfauDefinitely endangered
- NihaliDefinitely endangered
- NishiDefinitely endangered
- NocteDefinitely endangered
- NtenyiDefinitely endangered
- ÖngeDefinitely endangered
- PangwaliDefinitely endangered
- PochuriDefinitely endangered
- PonthaiDefinitely endangered
- PuroikDefinitely endangered
- RajiDefinitely endangered
- RawatDefinitely endangered
- RengmaDefinitely endangered
- RiangDefinitely endangered
- Rongpo languageDefinitely endangered
- SajolangDefinitely endangered
- SansiDefinitely endangered
- SherdukpenDefinitely endangered
- SherpaDefinitely endangered
- ShompenDefinitely endangered
- ShumchoDefinitely endangered
- SimteDefinitely endangered
- SingphoDefinitely endangered
- Southern NicobareseDefinitely endangered
- Spiti BhotiDefinitely endangered
- SuansuDefinitely endangered
- SunamDefinitely endangered
- Tai PhakeDefinitely endangered
- TangkhulDefinitely endangered
- TaraoDefinitely endangered
- TeressaDefinitely endangered
- ThangmiDefinitely endangered
- TikhakicDefinitely endangered
- TinaniDefinitely endangered
- TodaDefinitely endangered
- TotoDefinitely endangered
- TuriDefinitely endangered
- VishavanDefinitely endangered
- WalunggeDefinitely endangered
- Western PuroikDefinitely endangered
- YakkhaDefinitely endangered
- YerukalaDefinitely endangered
- ZakhringDefinitely endangered
- ZangskariDefinitely endangered
- ZemeDefinitely endangered
- AngamiVulnerable
- AngikaVulnerable
- AoVulnerable
- ApataniVulnerable
- BateriVulnerable
- BawmVulnerable
- BhadrawahiVulnerable
- Bhoti KinnauriVulnerable
- BhunjiaVulnerable
- BieteVulnerable
- Bishnupriya ManipuriVulnerable
- BodoVulnerable
- BokarVulnerable
- CarVulnerable
- Central NicobareseVulnerable
- ChallowVulnerable
- ChamphungVulnerable
- ChangVulnerable
- ChangthangVulnerable
- ChinaliVulnerable
- Chitkuli KinnauriVulnerable
- ChokriVulnerable
- ChugVulnerable
- DakpaVulnerable
- Daman and Diu Portuguese CreoleVulnerable
- DubliVulnerable
- DuruwaVulnerable
- DzalaVulnerable
- DzongkhaVulnerable
- Eastern TamangVulnerable
- EravallanVulnerable
- FalamVulnerable
- GallongVulnerable
- GangteVulnerable
- GarhwaliVulnerable
- GaroVulnerable
- GodwariVulnerable
- GromaVulnerable
- HmarVulnerable
- HoliyaVulnerable
- HrangkholVulnerable
- HuishuVulnerable
- JarawaVulnerable
- JaunsariVulnerable
- JuangVulnerable
- KadarVulnerable
- KakkalaVulnerable
- KalanadiVulnerable
- KannaujiVulnerable
- KhalingVulnerable
- KhamtiVulnerable
- KhangoiVulnerable
- KhariaVulnerable
- KhasiVulnerable
- KhezaVulnerable
- KhiamniunganVulnerable
- KhoiraoVulnerable
- KochVulnerable
- KodaVulnerable
- KoirengVulnerable
- KokborokVulnerable
- KomVulnerable
- KondaVulnerable
- KonyakVulnerable
- KorakuVulnerable
- Korra KoragaVulnerable
- KorwaVulnerable
- KudiyaVulnerable
- KumaoniVulnerable
- Kumarbhag PahariaVulnerable
- KunduvadiVulnerable
- KupiaVulnerable
- KurmukarVulnerable
- KurukhVulnerable
- Lahul LoharVulnerable
- LairamloVulnerable
- LhomiVulnerable
- Liangmai NagaVulnerable
- LyngngamVulnerable
- MahaliVulnerable
- Mal PahariaVulnerable
- MalapandaramVulnerable
- MalavedanVulnerable
- MannanVulnerable
- Mao NagaVulnerable
- MaraVulnerable
- MaramVulnerable
- MeiteiVulnerable
- MilangVulnerable
- MizoVulnerable
- MruVulnerable
- MziemeVulnerable
- NahariVulnerable
- NahenicVulnerable
- Northern GondiVulnerable
- OllariVulnerable
- PaiteVulnerable
- PaliyanVulnerable
- PangkhuVulnerable
- ParaVulnerable
- PathiyaVulnerable
- PattaniVulnerable
- PhomVulnerable
- PhudagiVulnerable
- PowariVulnerable
- RauteVulnerable
- ReliVulnerable
- Rongmei NagaVulnerable
- SakVulnerable
- SangtamVulnerable
- SantaliVulnerable
- Sauria PahariaVulnerable
- SholagaVulnerable
- Stod BhotiVulnerable
- TaginVulnerable
- TangamVulnerable
- TangsaVulnerable
- ThachanadanVulnerable
- TiwaVulnerable
- TshanglaVulnerable
- TuluVulnerable
- TurungVulnerable
- Vaagri BooliVulnerable
- VaipheiVulnerable
- WanchoVulnerable
- Wayanad ChettiVulnerable
- WuiVulnerable
- YimkhiungrüVulnerable
- ZoVulnerable
- Adilabad Gondi
- Adivasi Odia
- Adiwasi Garasia
- Aheri Gondi
- Amri
- Andaman Creole Hindi
- Assamese
- Attapady Kurumba
- Awadhi
- Bagheli
- Bagri
- Balti
- Bangla
- Bauria
- Bhariati
- Bhateali
- Bhatri
- Bhilali
- Bhili
- Bhilori
- Bhojpuri
- Bilaspuri
- Birjia
- Bodo Parja
- Bori
- Braj Bhasha
- Buksa
- Bundeli
- Chakma
- Chambeali
- Chenchu
- Chhattisgarhi
- Chitwania Tharu
- Chodri
- Churahi
- Dandami Maria
- Dangaura Tharu
- Darlong
- Dhanki
- Dhatki
- Dhodia
- Dhundari
- Dimasa
- Dogri
- Dungra Bhil
- Eastern Muria
- Eastern Punjabi
- Far Western Muria
- Gaddi
- Gade Lohar
- Gamit
- Goan Konkani
- Gujarati
- Gujari
- Hadauti
- Hajong
- Halbi
- Harijan Kinnauri
- Haryanvi
- Hindi
- Ho
- Indian Sign Language
- Inpui
- Jennu Kurumba
- Judeo-Iraqi Arabic
- Juray
- Kadodi
- Kaikadi
- Kalaktang Monpa
- Kamar
- Kangri
- Kanikkaran
- Kanjari
- Kannada
- Karbi
- Kashmiri
- Kathariya Tharu
- Katkari
- Khah
- Khams Tibetan
- Khandeshi
- Kharam Naga
- Kharia Thar
- Khelma
- Khirwar
- Khoibu
- Khowar
- Khumi
- Kochila Tharu
- Koli
- Korku
- Korlai Portuguese Creole
- Koya
- Kudmali
- Kui
- Kutchi language
- Kuvi
- Lambadi
- Lehndi
- Levai
- Lisu
- Lodhi
- Lotha
- Magahi
- Maharashtrian Konkani
- Mahasu Pahari
- Maithili
- Mala Malasar
- Malankuravan
- Malasar
- Malayalam
- Maldivian
- Malvi
- Mandeali
- Marathi
- Maria
- Marma
- Marwari (India)
- Marwari (Pakistan)
- Matu Chin
- Mawchi
- Megam
- Merwari
- Mewari
- Mewati
- Mishing
- Monsang
- Moundadan Chetty
- Muduga
- Mugom
- Mukha-Dora
- Muklomic
- Mullu Kurumba
- Mundari
- Muthuvan
- Nagamese Creole
- Nagpuri
- Newar
- Nimadi
- Northern Pashto
- Od
- Odia
- Oraon Sadri
- Pahari-Pothohari
- Palya Bareli
- Panchpargania
- Paniya
- Pardhi
- Parkari Koli
- Pattapu
- Pauri Bareli
- Pengo
- Pnar
- Poumei Naga
- Purik
- Rabha
- Rajbanshi
- Rajput Garasia
- Rana Tharu
- Rangpuri
- Rathawi
- Rathwi Bareli
- Ravula
- Rawang
- Saihriem
- Sambalpuri
- Saraiki
- Sartang
- Shekhawati
- Shendu
- Shina
- Sikkimese Bhutia
- Sindhi
- Sirajic
- Sirmauri
- Sora
- Sorbung
- Sourashtra
- Sukte
- Sumi
- Surjapuri
- Sylheti
- Tamil
- Tanchangya
- Telugu
- Tibetan
- Tippera
- Tutsa
- Urdu
- Usui
- Uyghur
- Varhadi
- Varli
- Vasavi
- Waddar
- Wadiyara
- Wagdi
- War
- Western Muria
- Zyphe
- Angami Naga Sign Language
- Butler English
- Dadhkai Village Sign Language
Languages and their status: Glottolog v5.3, CC BY 4.0. Names: Wikidata.
UNESCO intangible heritage
- Deepavali2025
- Nawrouz, Novruz, Nowrouz, Nowrouz, Nawrouz, Nauryz, Nooruz, Nowruz, Navruz, Nevruz, Nowruz, Navruz2024
- Garba of Gujarat2023
- Durga Puja in Kolkata2021
- Kumbh Mela2017
- Yoga2016
- Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab, India2014
- Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur2013
Show all 16
- Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, India2012
- Chhau dance2010
- Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan2010
- Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala2010
- Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas, India2009
- Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre2008
- Tradition of Vedic chanting2008
- Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana2008
List and years: ich.unesco.org
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