How Many Zeros in a Lakh?

The Quick Answer A lakh is written as:

1,00,000 (Indian format)
100,000 (International format)

That’s a 1 followed by 5 zeros

What Is a Lakh?

A lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system, commonly used in South Asia.

1 lakh = 100,000
Comes after thousand and before million
Used in currency, population, and statistics

Format Difference

Indian system: 1,00,000
Western system: 100,000

How Lakh Fits in Number Scales

Number Name	Numeric Value	Zeros	Used In
Thousand	1,000	3	Global
Lakh	1,00,000 / 100,000	5	Indian subcontinent
Million	1,000,000	6	Global
Crore	1,00,00,000	7	Indian subcontinent
Arab	1,00,00,00,000	9	Indian subcontinent
Billion	1,000,000,000	9	Global

Real-World Examples of a Lakh

Currency: ₹1 lakh = ₹100,000
Population: A village with 2 lakh people = 200,000 people
Vehicles: A car priced at 5.5 lakh = ₹550,000
Income Tax: Exemptions may begin at ₹2.5 lakh income

Memory Tricks for Lakh Zeros

Lakh = 5 zeros
Indian format: 1,00,000 → grouped as [1][00][000]
Rhyme: “Lakh’s alive, with a solid five!”

Lakh vs. Million

Unit	Zeros	Value
Lakh	5	100,000
Million	6	1,000,000

10 lakh = 1 million

Lakh Summary

A lakh has 5 zeros
1 lakh = 100,000
Common in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Used for money, population, and statistics
10 lakh = 1 million

The word lakh is compact but powerful. It reflects the unique numbering system used across South Asia. Knowing how many zeros are in a lakh helps you confidently work with local data, currency, and reporting — and bridges the gap between Indian and international systems.