With almost all major religions being practiced throughout the country, India is known for its religious diversity. Islam makes up the highest share among minority faiths in the country. According to the Indian census of 2011, the Muslim population in Uttar Pradesh more than ** million, making it the state with the most Muslims.

Socio-economic conditions of Muslims
Muslims seem to lag behind every other religious community in India in terms of living standards, financial stability, education and other aspects, thereby showing poor performance in most of the fields. According to a national survey, 17 percent of the Muslims were categorized under the lowest wealth index, which indicates poor socio-economic conditions.

Growth of Muslim population in India
Islam is one of the fastest-growing religions worldwide. According to India’s census, the Muslim population has witnessed a negative decadal growth of more than ** percent from 1951 to 1960, presumably due to the partitions forming Pakistan and Bangladesh. The population showed a positive and steady growth since 1961, making up ** percent of the total population of India . Even though people following Islam were estimated to grow significantly, they would still remain a minority in India compared to *** billion Hindus by 2050.

India Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Urban data was reported at 68,740,419.000 Person in 2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 49,393,496.000 Person for 2001. India Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Urban data is updated yearly, averaging 59,066,957.500 Person from Mar 2001 (Median) to 2011, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 68,740,419.000 Person in 2011 and a record low of 49,393,496.000 Person in 2001. India Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Urban data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census of India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAE001: Census: Population: by Religion.

It was estimated that by 2050, India's Muslim population would grow by ** percent compared to 2010. For followers of the Hindu faith, this change stood at ** percent. According to this projection, the south Asian country would be home not just to the world's majority of Hindus, but also Muslims by this time period. Regardless, the latter would continue to remain a minority within the country at ** percent, with ** percent or *** billion Hindus at the forefront by 2050.

India Census: Population: by Religion: Hindu: Male data was reported at 498,306,968.000 Person in 2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 428,678,554.000 Person for 2001. India Census: Population: by Religion: Hindu: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 463,492,761.000 Person from Mar 2001 (Median) to 2011, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 498,306,968.000 Person in 2011 and a record low of 428,678,554.000 Person in 2001. India Census: Population: by Religion: Hindu: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census of India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAE001: Census: Population: by Religion.

According to India's last census in 2011, about 14.2 percent of the total population identified as Muslims. This was an increase from about ten percent in 1951. Overall, India has been a religiously pluralistic and multiethnic democracy with people of several faiths.

This statistic shows the religious affiliation of the population in India as of 2011. In 2011, 79.8 percent of the total Indian population were Hindu.

As of 2010, Christianity was the religion with the most followers worldwide, followed by Islam (Muslims) and Hinduism. In the forty years between 2010 and 2050, it is projected that the landscape of world religions will undergo some noticeable changes, with the number of Muslims almost catching up to Christians. The changes in population sizes of each religious group is largely dependent on demographic development, for example, the rise in the world's Christian population will largely be driven by population growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, while Muslim populations will rise across various regions of Africa and South Asia. As India's population is set to grow while China's goes into decline, this will be reflected in the fact that Hindus will outnumber the unaffiliated by 2050. In fact, India may be home to both the largest Hindu and Muslim populations in the world by the middle of this century.

India Census: Population: by Religion: Hindu: Female data was reported at 467,950,385.000 Person in 2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 398,900,314.000 Person for 2001. India Census: Population: by Religion: Hindu: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 433,425,349.500 Person from Mar 2001 (Median) to 2011, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 467,950,385.000 Person in 2011 and a record low of 398,900,314.000 Person in 2001. India Census: Population: by Religion: Hindu: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census of India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAE002: Census: Population: by Religion: Hindu.

Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Uttarakhand data was reported at 1,406,825.000 Person in 03-01-2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,012,141.000 Person for 03-01-2001. Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Uttarakhand data is updated decadal, averaging 1,209,483.000 Person from Mar 2001 (Median) to 03-01-2011, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,406,825.000 Person in 03-01-2011 and a record low of 1,012,141.000 Person in 03-01-2001. Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Uttarakhand data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAE003: Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim.

A survey conducted across India in 2024 found that ** percent of Hindu population and ** percent of minorities agree that India belongs to all religions equally. The survey reflects citizens' faith in the secular and pluralistic fabric of the country.

Census: Population: by Religion: Christian: Madhya Pradesh: Female data was reported at 107,985.000 Person in 03-01-2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 85,025.000 Person for 03-01-2001. Census: Population: by Religion: Christian: Madhya Pradesh: Female data is updated decadal, averaging 96,505.000 Person from Mar 2001 (Median) to 03-01-2011, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 107,985.000 Person in 03-01-2011 and a record low of 85,025.000 Person in 03-01-2001. Census: Population: by Religion: Christian: Madhya Pradesh: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAE004: Census: Population: by Religion: Christian.

Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: West Bengal: Female data was reported at 12,014,733.000 Person in 03-01-2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 9,770,137.000 Person for 03-01-2001. Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: West Bengal: Female data is updated decadal, averaging 10,892,435.000 Person from Mar 2001 (Median) to 03-01-2011, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12,014,733.000 Person in 03-01-2011 and a record low of 9,770,137.000 Person in 03-01-2001. Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: West Bengal: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAE003: Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim.

According to a survey conducted by India's fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) in 2021 stated that about 36 percent of Christian men consumed alcohol in India. In contrast, over six percent of Muslim men consumed alcohol.

According to the latest census data, Lakshadweep, the island union territory had the highest share of Muslim population in the country, where ** percent of its population identified as followers of the Islamic faith. Jammu & Kashmir ranked second at ** percent during the same time period. With almost all major religions being practiced throughout the country, India is known for its religious diversity. Islam makes up the highest share among minority faiths in the country.

Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Kerala data was reported at 4,621,685.000 Person in 03-01-2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,998,397.000 Person for 03-01-2001. Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Kerala data is updated decadal, averaging 3,310,041.000 Person from Mar 2001 (Median) to 03-01-2011, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,621,685.000 Person in 03-01-2011 and a record low of 1,998,397.000 Person in 03-01-2001. Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Kerala data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAE003: Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim.

Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Chandigarh data was reported at 51,447.000 Person in 03-01-2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 35,548.000 Person for 03-01-2001. Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Chandigarh data is updated decadal, averaging 43,497.500 Person from Mar 2001 (Median) to 03-01-2011, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 51,447.000 Person in 03-01-2011 and a record low of 35,548.000 Person in 03-01-2001. Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Chandigarh data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAE003: Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim.

India Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Rural data was reported at 103,504,739.000 Person in 2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 88,794,744.000 Person for 2001. India Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Rural data is updated yearly, averaging 96,149,741.500 Person from Mar 2001 (Median) to 2011, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 103,504,739.000 Person in 2011 and a record low of 88,794,744.000 Person in 2001. India Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Rural data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census of India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAE001: Census: Population: by Religion.

In 2011, about 2.34 percent of the population in India identified Christianity as their religion, an increase from two percent in 1951. Overall, India has been a religiously pluralistic and multiethnic democracy with people of several faiths.

India Census: Population: by Religion: Buddhist: Urban data was reported at 3,628,123.000 Person in 2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 3,061,597.000 Person for 2001. India Census: Population: by Religion: Buddhist: Urban data is updated yearly, averaging 3,344,860.000 Person from Mar 2001 (Median) to 2011, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,628,123.000 Person in 2011 and a record low of 3,061,597.000 Person in 2001. India Census: Population: by Religion: Buddhist: Urban data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census of India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAE001: Census: Population: by Religion.

The statistic shows the total population of India from 2019 to 2029. In 2023, the estimated total population in India amounted to approximately 1.43 billion people.

Total population in India

India currently has the second-largest population in the world and is projected to overtake top-ranking China within forty years. Its residents comprise more than one-seventh of the entire world’s population, and despite a slowly decreasing fertility rate (which still exceeds the replacement rate and keeps the median age of the population relatively low), an increasing life expectancy adds to an expanding population. In comparison with other countries whose populations are decreasing, such as Japan, India has a relatively small share of aged population, which indicates the probability of lower death rates and higher retention of the existing population.

With a land mass of less than half that of the United States and a population almost four times greater, India has recognized potential problems of its growing population. Government attempts to implement family planning programs have achieved varying degrees of success. Initiatives such as sterilization programs in the 1970s have been blamed for creating general antipathy to family planning, but the combined efforts of various family planning and contraception programs have helped halve fertility rates since the 1960s. The population growth rate has correspondingly shrunk as well, but has not yet reached less than one percent growth per year.

As home to thousands of ethnic groups, hundreds of languages, and numerous religions, a cohesive and broadly-supported effort to reduce population growth is difficult to create. Despite that, India is one country to watch in coming years. It is also a growing economic power; among other measures, its GDP per capita was expected to triple between 2003 and 2013 and was listed as the third-ranked country for its share of the global gross domestic product.