Percentage of Hindus, Sikhs in MP declines, of Muslims rises
The percentage of the Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains in Madhya Pradesh has come down marginally, while that of Muslims and Christians has increased, according to the latest census data.
The percentage of Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains in Madhya Pradesh has come down marginally, while that of Muslims and Christians has increased, according to the latest census data.
Of the state’s total 7.2 crore population, according to the 2011 Census figures, 6.6 crore are Hindus, which is around 90.8 % of the total population. As per the 2001 Census, Hindus in Madhya Pradesh comprised 91.5 % of the total population with over 6 crore in numbers.
The population of Muslims is over 47 lakh, which is 6.57 % of the state’s total population. In 2001, the percentage of Muslims was recorded at 6.3 % of the total population of the state. Christians number over 2.1 lakh in the state, comprising around 0.29 % of the total population. In 2001, the Christian population in the state was 1.7 lakh, which was 0.28 % of the total population at that time.
Over 1.51 lakh Sikhs form 0.20 % of the state’s total population. The community’s population has shown a slight increase as their numbers were pegged at 1.50 lakh in 2001(0.24%).
The Buddhists and the Jains – both minority communities – have recorded negative growth in the state. According to the 2011 Census, there are 2.16 lakh Buddhists in MP, constituting 0.29 % of the population.
In 2001, when the Buddhist population was 2 lakh, they stood at 0.34 of the state’s total population. The population of Jains is around 5.6 lakh, which is 0.78 % of the total population. In 2001, Jains formed around 0.90 % of the state’s total population. Interestingly, the population of those under the category of “religion not stated” has increased from over 16,000 to over 97,000.
THE FIGURES
Census 2001 2011
Total 60348023 72626809
Hindus 55004675 (91.5) 66007121(90.8)
Muslims 3841449 (6.3) 4774695(6.5)
Christians 170381 (0.28) 213282(0.29)
Sikhs 150772 (0.24) 151412(0.20)
Buddhists 209322 (0.34) 216052(0.29)
Jains 545446 (0.90) 567028 (0.78)
Others 409285 (0.67) 599594(0.82)
Religion not stated 16693 (0.02) 97625 (0.13)