List of territorial entities where Tamil is an official language

The following is a list of sovereign states and territories where Tamil is an official or language of government.

Historical map of Chola Kingdom where Tamil was the language of administration.

Tamil is the 15th most spoken language in the world. Tamil language speakers make approximately 1% of the world population. Tamil was one of the dominant languages of trade during the pre-colonial era by people like Ainnurruvar, and there are Tamil inscriptions and coins found on many parts of Asia and Africa such as on China, Cambodia, Egypt and Indonesia.[1]

During the 18th century, the British and French rules brought the Tamils to many parts of Asia and Africa which makes many countries with significant Tamil speakers and cultural impact such as there are more than 1,000,000 speakers of Tamil language in the Malaysia itself.

Sovereign states

Singapore 1000 Dollar Currency Showing Tamil Script Along With Chinese And Malay.
Countries where Tamil is a de jure/official language
Country Region Population1
 Singapore[2] Asia 150,184
 Sri Lanka[3] Asia 5,065,930

Dependent entities

Distribution of Tamil speakers in Indian Subcontinent.
Entity Country Population Status
India Andaman and Nicobar Islands India 379,944 Union Territory of India
India Puducherry India 1,244,464 Union Territory of India
India Tamil Nadu India 72,138,958 State of India

Partially recognized and unrecognized territories

Entity Notes
India Karaikal Claiming for a separate union territory in India.[4]

Former territories where Tamil was an official language

Entity Notes
India Haryana Tamil was an official language of the Indian state of Haryana until it was replaced by Punjabi[5]

As working Language

Countries where Tamil is used and has cultural/educational impact but not official

Country Region
 Malaysia[6] Asia
 Mauritius[7] Africa
France Réunion[8] Africa
 Seychelles[9] Africa
 Canada[10] North America

There are also claims to make Tamil an official language of India and UN.[11] The month of January is celebrated as the Tamil Heritage Month by Canadians in Canada.[12]

See also

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ "Tamil Inscriptions". Archaeology India. Tamil Inscriptions of Egypt and Thailand
    2. ↑ Wong, Aline (2000-11-24). "Education in a Multicultural Setting - The Singapore Experience". Ministry of Education, Government of Singapore. Retrieved 2009-01-18. There are four official languages: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil.
    3. ↑ "Language Dept Sri Lanka". Tamil and Sinhala official language of Sri Lanka
    4. ↑ http://www.hindu.com/2005/09/14/stories/2005091404810300.htm
    5. ↑ Punjabi edges out Tamil in Haryana, DNAIndia, Ajay Bharadwaj, Sunday, 7 March 2010 - 12:49am
    6. ↑ "Malaysian Languages and education".
    7. ↑ "Mauritius Culture" (PDF).
    8. ↑ "Reunion Culture".
    9. ↑ "Seychelles National Culture".
    10. ↑ "Tamil Canadians".
    11. ↑ "Make Tamil as Official Language".
    12. ↑ http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=2933&detailPage=bills_detail_the_bill