PerformanceGurus Staff
New Delhi
In sheer percentage terms, the Muslim population is on the rise in the country while the Hindu population is on the decline. According to the latest census data on religion, the Muslim population has gone up by 0.8% and the Hindu population fallen by 0.7% from 2001 when the last similar census was conducted.
Of the total population of 121.09 crores (1.21 billion), Muslims constitute 17.22 crores (172.2 million) up from 13.8 crores (138 million) from 2001 while the Hindu population stands at 96.63 crores (966.3 million).
According to the census data released on Tuesday, in comparison to a population percentage of 80.46 in 2001 , the Hindus now constitute 79.8% of the population while Muslims constitute 14.2%, 0.8% up from 13.4% in 2001.
As per the date released by the Census department under Union Home Ministry,Christian population stands at 2.78 crores (2.3%); Sikh 2.08 crores (1.7%); Buddhist 0.84 crores (0.7%); Jain 0.45 crores (0.4%), Other religions and persuasions (ORP) 0.79 crores (0.7%) and religion not stated 0.29 crores (0.2%).
“The proportion of Hindu population to total population in 2011 has declined by 0.7 percentage point (PP); the proportion of Sikh population has declined by 0.2 PP and the Buddhist population has declined by 0.1 PP during the decade 2001-2011. The proportion of Muslim population to total population has increased by 0.8 PP. There has been no significant change in the proportion of Christians & Jains,”
– Statement by the Government of India
The census painted a grim picture of gender inequality. There has been decline in the female population in both Hindu and Muslim communities. Of the 121 crore population, 62.32 crore are males and 58.75 crore females. In Hindus , males populations stands at 49.8 crore and females at 46.7 crore while among Muslims there are 8.82 crore males and only 8.39 crore females.
Just like the Hindu population, the proportion of Sikhs population declined by (0.2%) and the Buddhist population declined by 0.1% during the decade 2001-2011.
The overall growth rate of population in the decade 2001-2011 was 17.7%. The growth rate of population of the different religious communities in the same period was as Hindus: 16.8%; Muslim: 24.6%; Christian: 15.5%; Sikh: 8.4%; Buddhist: 6.1% and Jain: 5.4%.
| Religion | Numbers (Per cent of the population) |
| Hindus | 96.63 crores (79.8 %) |
| Muslim | 17.22 crore (14.2%) |
| Christian | 2.78 crore (2.3%) |
| Sikh | 2.08 crore (1.7%) |
| Buddhist | 0.84 crore (0.7%) |
| Jain | 0.45 crore (0.4%) |
| Other Religions & Persuasions (ORP) | 0.79 crore (0.7%) |
| Religion Not Stated | 0.29 crore (0.2%) |
Growth rate
The growth rate of population in the decade 2001-2011 was 17.7%. The growth rate of population of the different religious communities in the same period was:
| Religion | Growth |
| Hindu | 16.8% |
| Muslim | 24.6% |
| Christian | 15.5% |
| Sikh | 8.4% |
| Buddhist | 6.1% |
| Jain | 5.4% |
The statewise distribution is shown below:
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