Complete Indian ⇄ Western Number System Converter

Convert between Indian numbering (Lakh, Crore, Arab, Kharab, Nil, Padma, Shankh) and Western numbering (Million, Billion, Trillion, Quadrillion) instantly

Quick Reference: 1 Lakh = 100,000 | 1 Crore = 10 Million | 1 Arab = 1 Billion | 1 Kharab = 10 Billion | 1 Nil = 1 Trillion | 1 Padma = 100 Trillion

Indian Format Indian Pronunciation Western Format Western Pronunciation
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Key Conversion Formulas

Common Indian to Western:

1 Lakh = 100,000 (Hundred Thousand) 1 Crore = 10,000,000 (Ten Million) 1 Arab = 1,000,000,000 (One Billion) 1 Kharab = 10,000,000,000 (Ten Billion) 1 Nil = 1,000,000,000,000 (One Trillion) 1 Padma = 100,000,000,000,000 (Hundred Trillion)

Western to Indian:

1 Million = 10 Lakhs 1 Billion = 1 Arab = 100 Crores 1 Trillion = 1 Nil = 100 Kharab

Examples:

5 Crores = 50 Million 2.5 Arab = 2.5 Billion = 250 Crores 1.2 Nil = 1.2 Trillion = 120 Kharab
Complete Number System Reference Table

Indian Number System (Complete)

Power Indian Name Alternative Names Numeric Value Western Name
10²SauHundred100Hundred
10³HazaarThousand1,000Thousand
10⁴Das HazaarTen Thousand10,000Ten Thousand
10⁵LakhLac1,00,000Hundred Thousand
10⁶Das LakhTen Lakh10,00,000Million
10⁷Karod / Crore-1,00,00,000Ten Million
10⁸Das CroreTen Crore10,00,00,000Hundred Million
10⁹ArabAbja, Hundred Crore1,00,00,00,000Billion
10¹⁰KharabTen Arab10,00,00,00,000Ten Billion
10¹¹Lakh ArabHundred Kharab1,00,00,00,00,000Hundred Billion
10¹²NilNeel, Crore Arab1,00,00,00,00,00,000Trillion
10¹³Das NilTen Neel10,00,00,00,00,00,000Ten Trillion
10¹⁴PadmaArab Arab1,00,00,00,00,00,00,000Hundred Trillion
10¹⁵Das PadmaTen Padma10,00,00,00,00,00,00,000Quadrillion
10¹⁶ShankhSankh1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000Ten Quadrillion

Quick Conversion Guide

Indian Format Western Format Example
1 Lakh100 Thousand₹1 Lakh = $1,200 (approx)
10 Lakhs1 Million₹10 Lakhs = $12,000
1 Crore10 Million₹1 Crore = $120,000
100 Crores1 Billion₹100 Crores = $12 Million
1 Arab1 BillionCompany valued at 1 Arab
1 Kharab10 BillionNational budget: 1.5 Kharab
1 Nil1 TrillionGDP: 3 Nil
1 Padma100 TrillionGlobal economy measure
Understanding Number Systems

Indian Number System (Traditional)

The Indian (Vedic) numbering system has ancient roots and includes traditional names for very large numbers. After the first thousand, it groups numbers in units of hundreds:

  • 1 Lakh = 1,00,000 (hundred thousand)
  • 1 Crore = 1,00,00,000 (ten million)
  • 1 Arab = 1,00,00,00,000 (one billion) - also called "Abja"
  • 1 Kharab = 10,00,00,00,000 (ten billion)
  • 1 Nil = 1,00,00,00,00,00,000 (one trillion) - also called "Neel"
  • 1 Padma = 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 (hundred trillion)
  • 1 Shankh = 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 (ten quadrillion)
  • Commas are placed after every two digits after the thousands place
  • Example: 12,34,56,78,90,000 = Twelve Arab, Thirty-Four Crore, Fifty-Six Lakh, Seventy-Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred

Traditional Names Beyond Common Use

The Vedic numbering system continues with even larger denominations:

  • Mahashankh (10¹⁷), Vrindam (10¹⁸), Maha Vrindam (10¹⁹)
  • Padma (10²⁰), Maha Padma (10²¹), Kharva (10²²)
  • These names are primarily of historical and mathematical interest

Western Number System

The Western (International) numbering system groups digits in units of thousands:

  • 1 Thousand = 1,000
  • 1 Million = 1,000,000
  • 1 Billion = 1,000,000,000
  • 1 Trillion = 1,000,000,000,000
  • 1 Quadrillion = 1,000,000,000,000,000
  • Commas are placed after every three digits from the right
  • Example: 123,456,789,000 = One Hundred Twenty-Three Billion, Four Hundred Fifty-Six Million, Seven Hundred Eighty-Nine Thousand

Key Differences

The main difference lies in how numbers are grouped and named. The Indian system has unique names for each power of 10 after 10⁵, while the Western system follows a pattern based on thousands (10³). Understanding both systems is essential for global business, education, and cross-cultural communication.

Why Convert Between Number Systems?

Practical Applications

Converting between Indian and Western number systems is essential in many scenarios:

1. International Business
When working with global partners, financial reports, or international contracts, standardizing number formats ensures clarity and prevents misunderstandings in financial communications.

2. Financial Reporting
Companies operating in multiple regions need to present financial data in formats familiar to different audiences. Converting between systems makes reports accessible to all stakeholders.

3. Data Analysis
Analysts working with datasets from different regions need to normalize number formats for accurate comparisons and computations.

4. Education and Communication
Students, researchers, and professionals from different regions need to understand numbers in both systems for effective global communication.

How the Conversion Works

Understanding the Mathematics

The conversion is based on fixed mathematical relationships:

Indian to Western Conversion

Lakhs to Thousands/Millions:
1 Lakh = 100 Thousand = 0.1 Million
To convert: Divide lakhs by 10 to get millions

Crores to Millions/Billions:
1 Crore = 10 Million = 0.01 Billion
To convert: Divide crores by 100 to get billions

Western to Indian Conversion

Millions to Lakhs/Crores:
1 Million = 10 Lakhs = 0.1 Crore
To convert: Multiply millions by 10 to get lakhs

Billions to Crores:
1 Billion = 100 Crores
To convert: Multiply billions by 100 to get crores

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Confusing comma placement

Indian format: 12,34,56,789 vs Western format: 123,456,789. The same number looks different due to comma placement. Always verify the system being used.

Mistake #2: Mixing terminology

Don't mix "lakhs" with "millions" in the same context. Choose one system and stay consistent throughout your document or conversation.

Mistake #3: Incorrect decimal conversions

Remember: 1 Crore = 10 Million (not 1 Million). Getting the decimal point wrong can lead to massive errors in financial calculations.

Mistake #4: Assuming universal understanding

When communicating internationally, don't assume everyone understands Indian numbering. Provide conversions or use the Western system for clarity.

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Salary Package

Indian Format: ₹15 Lakhs per annum

Western Format: ₹1.5 Million = $18,000 (approx)

This helps in comparing job offers across different countries.

Example 2: Real Estate

Indian Format: Property price of 2.5 Crores

Western Format: ₹25 Million = $300,000 (approx)

Essential for international property investors to understand pricing.

Example 3: Company Valuation (Startup)

Indian Format: Startup valued at 500 Crores

Western Format: Valued at $600 Million (5 Billion INR)

Critical for investors and journalists reporting on startup ecosystems.

Example 4: Unicorn Company

Indian Format: Company valuation of 10 Arab

Western Format: $1.2 Billion (10 Billion INR)

When a startup reaches unicorn status (valuation over 1 Arab/1 Billion).

Example 5: National Budget

Indian Format: Budget allocation of 2.5 Kharab

Western Format: $300 Billion (25 Trillion INR)

Government budgets are often reported in Kharab in Indian media.

Example 6: GDP Statistics

Indian Format: India's GDP at 3 Nil

Western Format: $3.6 Trillion (3 Trillion INR)

National economic statistics use these large denominations.

Example 7: Global Economy

Indian Format: Global wealth estimated at 4.5 Padma

Western Format: $540 Trillion (450 Trillion INR)

Used in macroeconomic analysis and global financial reporting.

Example 8: Population Statistics

Indian Format: City population of 1.2 Crores

Western Format: City population of 12 Million

Important for demographic studies and international comparisons.

Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakhs make a million?
10 Lakhs = 1 Million. This is one of the most common conversions needed between the two systems.
How many crores make a billion?
100 Crores = 1 Billion. This conversion is particularly useful for understanding large-scale financial figures and company valuations.
Which countries use the Indian numbering system?
The Indian numbering system is primarily used in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Most other countries use the Western (International) system.
Why does India use a different numbering system?
The Indian numbering system has historical roots dating back centuries and is deeply embedded in the region's culture and language. It groups larger numbers in ways that align with traditional Indian languages.
What is an Arab in Indian numbering?
Arab (also spelled Abja) is 1 billion in Western terms, or 100 Crores in Indian terms. It equals 1,00,00,00,000 (one thousand million). This term is commonly used in financial reporting and large-scale business valuations in South Asia.
What are Kharab, Nil, and Padma?
These are traditional Indian names for very large numbers: Kharab = 10 Billion (10 Arab), Nil (or Neel) = 1 Trillion (100 Kharab), and Padma = 100 Trillion (100 Nil). While less common in everyday use, they appear in government budgets, GDP statistics, and large-scale economic reporting. The Indian numbering system continues beyond these with even larger denominations like Shankh, reflecting the ancient Vedic mathematical tradition.
Are these traditional names still used today?
Lakh and Crore are used daily across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other South Asian countries. Arab is frequently used in financial media and business reporting. Kharab appears in government budget discussions and national economic statistics. Nil and Padma are less common but still used in specialized contexts like GDP reporting, global economic analysis, and academic discourse. The even larger traditional names (Shankh, Mahashankh, etc.) are primarily of historical and mathematical interest today.
Is one system better than the other?
Neither system is inherently better - they're just different conventions. The Western system is more widely used internationally, but the Indian system is perfectly logical and works well within its cultural context. The Indian system actually has a richer vocabulary for large numbers, reflecting the advanced mathematical heritage of ancient India. The key is understanding both for effective global communication.
How do I read numbers in Indian format?
In Indian format, read the digits from right to left: first three digits are "hundreds", next two are "thousands", next two are "lakhs", next two are "crores", next two are "arabs", and so on. For example: 12,34,56,78,90,000 reads as "Twelve arab, thirty-four crore, fifty-six lakh, seventy-eight thousand, nine hundred." Notice how commas are placed every two digits after the thousands place, unlike the Western system which uses commas every three digits.
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