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Demographics of India

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Demographics of India

Summary

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FieldValue
placeIndia
imageIndiaPopulationPyramid2024.png
image_size350
captionPopulation pyramid of India in 2024
size_of_population1,408,069,540 (2023)
density483.68 people/km² (2023 est.)
growth+0.89% (2023 est.)
birth16.15 births/1,000 people (2023 est.)
death9.1 deaths/1,000 people (2023 est.)
life72.03 years (2023 est.)
life_male70.52 years (2023 est.)
life_female73.60 years (2023 est.)
fertility1.90 children born per woman (2025)
infant_mortality22.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2023)
net_migration-0.68 (negative net migration)
age_0-14_years25.68% (male 183,695,000/female 166,295,000) (2021 est.)
age_15-64_years67.49% (male 472,653,000/female 447,337,000) (2021 est.)
age_65_years6.83% (male 44,275,000/female 48,751,000) (2021 est.)
total_mf_ratio1.06 male(s)/female (2023)
sr_at_birth1.1 male(s)/female (2023)
sr_under_151.11 male(s)/female (2023)
sr_15-64_years1.07 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
sr_65_years_over0.85 male(s)/female (2023)
nationIndian
major_ethnic{{unbulleted list
{{Hidden begintitleMajor Ethnic Groups (Indo-Aryan & Dravidian)titlestyle=background:lavender; text-align:center;}}
minor_ethnic{{unbulleted list
{{Hidden begintitleMinor Ethnic Groupstitlestyle=background:lavender; text-align:center;}}
officialSee Languages of India
spoken{{plainlist
* (2011)<ref name"CIAWFIN"/}}

the people from the republic of India

| age_0-14_years = 25.68% (male 183,695,000/female 166,295,000) (2021 est.) | age_15-64_years = 67.49% (male 472,653,000/female 447,337,000) (2021 est.)

| sr_15-64_years = 1.07 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

  • Indo-European (70.16%)
  • Indo-Aryan (70.12%) - Hindustani (38.37%) - Bengali (7.91%)
    • Bengali Hindus (6.15%)
    • Bengali Muslims (1.58%)
    • Other Bengalis (0.18%) - Marathi (6.92%) - Gujarati (6.44%) - Punjabi (4.49%) - Kashmiris (0.26%) - Bihari (2.35%) - Assamese (1.03%) - Other Indo-Aryans (2.35%)
  • Iranian (0.04%)
  • Dravidian (24.96%)
  • Telugu (7.97%)
  • Tamil (6.47%)
  • Kannadiga (5.46%)
  • Malayali (3.08%)
  • Gondi (1.03%)
  • Austro-Asiatic (1.48%)
  • Munda & Santali (0.77%)
  • Khasi (0.26%)
  • Tibeto-Burman (0.74%)
  • Bodo (0.44%)
  • Naga (0.21%)
  • Semitic (0.56%)
  • Arab-Indian (0.56%)
  • Others (1.52%)
  • Anglo-Indians, Siddi, Jews, etc.
  • Hindi 43.6%
  • Bengali 8%
  • Marathi 6.9%
  • Telugu 6.8%
  • Tamil 6.7%
  • Gujarati 4.6%
  • Urdu 4.2%
  • Kannada 3.6%
  • Odia 3.1%
  • Malayalam 2.9%
  • Punjabi 2.7%
  • Assamese 1.3%
  • Maithili 1.1%
  • other 5.6%
  • (2011)}}

India is the most populous country in the world, comprising approximately one-sixth of the world population. According to the United Nations' World Population Dashboard, India's population reached slightly over 1.428 billion in April 2023, surpassing China.

India remains a relatively young country, though it is undergoing a gradual demographic transition. As of 2024, the median age is approximately 29.8 years, compared to 40.2 in China. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that 68% of the population is between 15 and 64 years old, creating a potential "demographic dividend" where a large working-age population can drive economic growth. However, the number of children is declining; the under-5 population peaked in 2007 and the under-15 cohort peaked in 2011.

Between 1975 and 2010, the population doubled to 1.2 billion. While the population continues to grow, the rate has slowed significantly from 2.3% annually (1972–1983) to roughly 0.89% in 2023. Current projections suggest the population will reach 1.7 billion by 2050.

India is highly diverse, hosting thousands of ethnic groups and four major language families: Indo-European, Dravidian, Austroasiatic, and Tibeto-Burman. The country also includes linguistic isolates such as Nihali and Burushaski, and distinct minority communities including Anglo-Indians and Siddi.

The human sex ratio has shown an upward trend after decades of decline, reaching 943 females per 1,000 males in 2011 and estimated at 1,060 males per 1,000 females (approx. 944 females/1000 males) in 2023.

History

projection]] to 2100

Prehistory to early 19th century

The following table lists estimates for the population of India (including what are now Pakistan and Bangladesh) from prehistory up until 1820. It includes estimates and growth rates according to five economic historians, along with interpolated estimates and overall aggregate averages derived from their estimates.Angus Maddison, The World Economy: Historical Statistics, Statistical Appendix (2007, ggdc.net). Estimates cited are for the beginning of the 1st millennium ("year 0"), the beginning of the 2nd millennium ("year 1000"), and for the beginning each century since the 16th (years 1820 and 1913 are given for the 19th and 20th century, respectively, as Maddison presents detailed estimates for these years), and a projection for the year 2030.

YearMaddison (2001)Clark (1967)Biraben (1979)Durand (1974)McEvedy (1978)Aggregate averagePeriodAverage
% growth
/ centuryPopulation% growth
/ centuryPopulation% growth
/ centuryPopulation% growth
/ centuryPopulation% growth
/ centuryPopulation% growth
/ centuryPopulation% growth
/ century
10,000 BCStone Age3.9
4000 BC3.93.9
2000 BC9.49.4Bronze Age9.4
500 BC1010Iron Age10.2
400 BC6.313.2
200 BC35.46.322.5Maurya era22.5
1 AD–9.36.518.8Classical
era5.3
20001.7–1.107.11.1
40001.7–18.607.4–0.7
500003.106.51.3
6000012.106.52.3Early
medieval
era1.9
7000035.1010.35.9
80000–16.3010.3–0.5
9000–3.5–13.2011.40
10000–3.55.3011.42.1
110083.527.58.43.98.6Late
medieval
era8.1
120083.527.58.43.89
13008027.58.469.3
140083.378.46.87
150083.378.46.47
160022.826.652.620.73030.1Mughal era31.9
165022.212520.720.724.436.2
170022.277.820.720.721.831.3
175021.80920.712.912.1Colonial
era12.2
180021.8–10.8918.48
182021.80947.722

Population of India over time

India's population has changed significantly due to migrations, technological advancements, and societal developments. Below is a table of historical population estimates:

Estimated Population of India (10,000 BC – 2021)

EraYearEstimated PopulationGrowth Rate (%)
Classical India100 AD52,748,932+2.8%
200 AD54,902,817+4.1%
300 AD57,654,213+5.0%
400 AD60,834,921+5.5%
500 AD64,291,782+5.7%
Early Medieval India600 AD68,102,304+5.9%
700 AD71,837,610+5.5%
800 AD75,983,210+5.8%
900 AD81,274,936+7.0%
1000 AD86,732,843+6.7%
Delhi Sultanate1100 AD91,403,287+5.4%
1200 AD96,289,634+5.4%
1300 AD101,984,726+5.9%
1400 AD111,209,832+9.1%
Mughal Empire1500 AD121,847,294+9.6%
1600 AD136,204,781+11.8%
1700 AD161,874,263+18.9%
1800 AD186,432,976+15.2%
Colonial Period1810190,000,000+2.1%
1820195,000,000+2.6%
1830200,000,000+2.6%
1840205,000,000+2.5%
1850210,000,000+2.4%
British Raj1860215,000,000+2.4%
1870220,000,000+2.3%
1881253,891,821+15.4%
1891287,223,431+13.1%
1901317,318,032+10.5%
1911317,369,222+0.02%
1921318,866,673+0.46%
1931337,515,000+5.8%
1941389,000,000+15.3%
Post-independence India1951361,088,000-7.18%
1961439,235,000+21.7%
1971548,159,652+24.8%
1981683,329,097+24.7%
1991846,387,888+24.0%
20011,028,610,328+21.5%
20111,210,854,977+17.9%
20211,390,537,387+14.9%

The population grew from the South Asian Stone Age in 10,000 BC to the Maurya Empire in 200 BC at a steadily increasing growth rate, before population growth slowed down in the classical era up to 500 AD, and then became largely stagnant during the early medieval era era up to 1000 AD. The population growth rate then increased in the late medieval era (during the Delhi Sultanate) from 1000 to 1500.

Under the Mughal Empire, India experienced a high economic and demographic upsurge, due to Mughal agrarian reforms that intensified agricultural production. 15% of the population lived in urban centres, higher than the percentage of the population in 19th-century British India and contemporary Europe up until the 19th century. These estimates by Abraham Eraly and Paolo Malanima have been criticised by Tim Dyson, who considers them exaggerations and estimates urbanisation of the Mughal Empire to be less than 9% of the population.

Under the reign of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605) in 1600, the Mughal Empire's urban population was up to 17 million people, larger than the urban population in Europe. By 1700, Mughal India had an urban population of 23 million people, larger than British India's urban population of 22.3 million in 1871. Nizamuddin Ahmad (1551–1621) reported that, under Akbar's reign, Mughal India had 120 large cities and 3,200 townships. A number of cities in India had a population between a quarter-million and half-million people, with larger cities including Agra (in Agra Subah) with up to 800,000 people and Dhaka (in Bengal Subah) with over 1 million people. Mughal India also had a large number of villages, with 455,698 villages by the time of Aurangzeb (reigned 1658–1707).

Late 19th century to early 20th century

The total fertility rate is the number of children born per woman. It is based on fairly good data for the entire years. Sources: Our World in Data and Gapminder Foundation.

Years188018811882188318841885188618871888188918901902
Total Fertility Rate in India5.955.925.895.865.825.794.385.765.765.755.755.75
Years1921192219231924192519261927192819291930
Total Fertility Rate in India5.7615.775.785.795.85.815.825.835.855.86

Life expectancy from 1881 to 1950

Years18811891190119051911191519211925193119351941url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/life-expectancy?year=1810title=Life expectancywebsite=Our World in Dataaccess-date=28 August 2018}}
Life expectancy in India25.424.323.524.023.224.024.927.629.331.032.635.4

The population of India under the British Raj (including what are now Pakistan and Bangladesh) according to censuses:

Census yearPopulationGrowth (%)
url=http://www.chaf.lib.latrobe.edu.au/dcd/default.htmtitle=Digital Colonial Documents (India)access-date=9 April 2011archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408000302/http://www.chaf.lib.latrobe.edu.au/dcd/default.htmarchive-date=8 April 2011 }}
18816.3
189113.1
19012.2
url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_And_You/old_report/index%20old%20census.htmltitle=Census of India – Index of Old Census Reportsaccess-date=9 April 2011archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006190625/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_And_You/old_report/index%20old%20census.htmlarchive-date=6 October 2011 }}7.4
19211.2
193110.6
194110.2

Studies of India's population since 1881 have focused on such topics as total population, birth and death rates, geographic distribution, literacy, the rural and urban divide, cities of a million, and the three cities with populations over eight million: Delhi, Greater Mumbai (Bombay), and Kolkata (Calcutta).

Mortality rates fell in the period 1920–45, primarily due to biological immunisation. Suggestions that it was the benefits of colonialism are refuted by academic thinking: "There can be no serious, informed belief... that... late colonial era mortality diminished and population grew rapidly because of improvements in income, living standards, nutrition, environmental standards, sanitation or health policies, nor was there a cultural transformation...".

Languages

Main article: List of languages by number of native speakers in India

Most Commonly Spoken Native Language in India by District, 2011 Census
RankLanguageLanguage FamilySpeakers (1971)Speakers (1981)Speakers (1991)Speakers (2001)Speakers (2011)
1HindiIndo-Aryan202,767,971257,749,009329,505,193422,048,642528,347,193
2BengaliIndo-Aryan44,792,31251,298,31969,595,73883,369,76997,237,669
3TeluguDravidian44,756,92350,624,61166,017,61574,002,85681,127,740
4MarathiIndo-Aryan41,765,19049,452,92262,481,68171,936,89483,026,680
5TamilDravidian37,690,106-53,006,36860,793,81469,026,881
6UrduIndo-Aryan28,620,89534,941,43543,406,93251,536,11150,772,631
7GujaratiIndo-Aryan25,865,01233,063,26740,695,37046,091,61755,492,554
8KannadaDravidian21,710,64925,697,14632,753,67637,924,01143,706,512
9MalayalamDravidian21,938,76025,700,70530,377,17633,066,39234,838,819
10OdiaIndo-Aryan19,863,19823,021,52828,061,31333,017,44637,521,324
11PunjabiIndo-Aryan14,108,44319,611,19923,378,74429,102,47733,124,726
12AssameseIndo-Aryan8,959,558-13,079,69613,168,48415,311,351
13MaithiliIndo-Aryan6,130,0267,522,2657,766,92112,179,12213,583,464
14Bhili/Bhilodi Non-scheduledIndo-Aryan3,399,2854,293,3145,572,3089,582,95710,413,637
15SantaliAustro-Asiatic3,786,8994,332,5115,216,3256,469,6007,368,192
16KashmiriIndo-Aryan2,495,4873,176,975-5,527,6986,797,587
17NepaliIndo-Aryan1,419,8351,360,6362,076,6452,871,7492,926,168
18Gondi Non-scheduledDravidian1,688,2841,913,2622,124,8522,713,7902,984,453
19SindhiIndo-Aryan1,676,8752,044,3892,122,8482,535,4852,772,264
20KonkaniIndo-Aryan1,508,4321,570,1081,760,6072,489,0152,256,502
21DogriIndo-Aryan1,299,1431,530,616-2,282,5892,596,767
22Khandeshi Non-scheduledIndo-Aryan251,8961,216,789973,7092,075,2581,860,236
23Kurukh Non-scheduledDravidian1,235,6651,333,6701,426,6181,751,4891,988,350
24Tulu Non-scheduledDravidian1,158,4191,417,2241,552,2591,722,7681,846,427
25Meiteilon (Manipuri)Sino-Tibetan791,714901,4071,270,2161,466,7051,761,079
26BodoSino-Tibetan556,576-1,221,8811,350,4781,482,929
27Khasi Non-scheduledAustro-Asiatic479,028628,846912,2831,128,5751,431,344
28Mundari Non-scheduledAustro-Asiatic771,253742,739861,3781,061,3521,128,228
29Ho Non-scheduledAustro-Asiatic751,389783,301949,2161,042,7241,421,418
30Tripuri Non-scheduledSino-Tibetan372,579502,067694,940854,0231,011,294

According to the 2001 census, 41.03% of the Indians spoke Hindi natively, while the rest spoke Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Maithili, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and a variety of other languages. There are a total of 122 languages and 234 mother tongues spoken in India. Of these, 22 languages are specified in the Eighth Schedule of Indian Constitution, while 100 are non-specified.

The table below excludes Mao-Maram, Paomata and Purul subdivisions of Senapati District of Manipur state due to cancellation of census results.

Vital statistics

access-date=7 January 2025}}</ref>

UN estimates

YearMid-year populationBirths per yearDeaths per yearAnnual change in populationCrude birth rate
(per 1000)Crude death rate
(per 1000)Natural change
(per 1000)Crude migration rate
(per 1000)Total Fertility rateInfant mortality (per 1000)Life expectancy
1950346,278,81715,287,9987,852,2197,435,77944.1522.6821.65.73181.241.7
1951353,870,05815,663,4407,973,0047,591,24144.2622.5321.60.55.77180.141.7
1952361,874,90416,082,8888,048,9908,004,84644.4422.2421.90.25.82177.542.0
1953370,104,57116,501,1768,169,7228,229,66744.5922.0722.105.87175.342.2
1954378,687,14116,903,3368,122,0908,582,57044.6421.4522.7−0.45.91172.243.0
1955387,700,89117,219,7568,168,7689,013,75044.4121.0722.8−0.15.91169.743.4
1956396,988,90617,526,4028,232,4719,288,01544.1520.7422.805.91167.343.8
1957406,253,89517,825,6508,323,7479,264,98943.8820.4922.805.91165.044.1
1958415,777,43718,053,4268,374,3839,523,54243.4220.1422.7−0.25.90162.744.4
1959425,780,66918,321,0228,395,63010,003,23243.0319.7222.7−0.25.89160.344.9
1960435,990,34418,705,0128,467,29010,209,67542.9019.4222.90.25.92158.245.2
1961446,564,73019,054,9348,586,01210,574,38642.6719.2322.80.55.94156.445.4
1962457,283,09219,422,9868,679,85110,718,36242.4818.9822.90.55.95154.545.7
1963468,138,57619,783,9628,767,24610,855,48442.2618.7322.90.55.97152.745.9
1964479,229,59920,156,9888,871,37711,091,02342.0618.5123.00.35.98151.146.2
1965490,140,14120,414,2069,488,51610,910,54241.6519.3621.70.95.94156.445.0
1966500,740,25020,632,9909,543,20710,600,10941.2019.0621.60.25.88154.745.3
1967511,606,37520,889,4589,609,69110,866,12540.8318.7821.505.83153.145.7
1968522,716,89421,162,2989,155,30311,110,51940.4817.5222.4−0.55.76145.047.5
1969533,880,54421,386,2089,218,62411,163,65040.0617.2722.305.68143.347.9
1970545,864,26821,705,4209,287,48311,983,72439.7617.0122.3−0.15.62141.748.2
1971558,096,38322,169,8749,382,77812,232,11539.7216.8122.5−0.15.57139.948.6
1972570,482,14222,509,8309,468,02612,385,75939.4616.6022.505.48138.549.0
1973583,465,59522,929,8109,517,15012,983,45339.3016.3122.70.15.40136.349.5
1974597,041,39223,284,7969,489,00113,575,79739.0015.8922.805.33133.350.2
1975611,309,53223,451,0709,492,65514,268,14038.3615.5322.605.20130.750.8
1976625,861,88723,935,7429,499,65614,552,35538.2415.1822.7−0.45.13127.951.4
1977640,801,10524,070,4849,494,74114,939,21837.5614.8222.20.15.01124.951.9
1978655,728,22624,359,8349,461,50314,927,12137.1514.4322.10.34.89121.752.5
1979671,155,74524,833,5949,440,52815,427,51937.0014.0722.30.24.81118.453.1
1980687,354,03125,471,0689,452,56716,198,28637.0613.7522.50.44.78115.253.6
1981703,696,25525,868,4409,446,65816,342,22436.7613.4222.70.34.70112.154.2
1982720,313,47426,221,3609,431,25616,617,21936.4013.0922.60.34.62109.354.7
1983737,372,68526,637,4489,418,13117,059,21136.1312.7722.60.24.57106.755.3
1984754,875,45127,113,1149,414,27717,502,76635.9212.4722.70.24.52104.255.8
1985772,647,80127,366,9509,398,79317,772,35035.4212.1622.50.24.43101.856.3
1986790,689,97827,848,4249,392,67018,042,17735.2211.8822.7−0.14.4099.456.8
1987808,931,26127,860,8789,365,35818,241,28334.4411.5822.20.24.3197.057.3
1988827,342,99728,040,3429,337,58318,411,73633.8911.2921.90.24.2294.657.8
1989846,039,53028,154,9869,306,08318,696,53333.2811.0021.60.34.1392.258.2
1990864,972,21928,171,5209,277,65118,932,68932.5710.7321.10.54.0589.858.7
1991883,927,60728,305,7209,256,42518,955,38832.0210.4721.00.23.9687.659.1
1992902,957,07228,365,2049,232,80919,029,46531.4110.2220.70.33.8885.559.5
1993922,118,38028,374,4189,221,70819,161,30830.7710.0020.30.43.8083.559.8
1994941,163,77528,512,6929,201,75619,045,39530.309.7820.00.43.7281.460.2
1995960,301,04828,588,0529,191,89219,137,27329.779.5719.70.43.6579.360.6
1996979,678,46428,623,2849,180,93619,377,41629.229.3719.40.33.5877.161.0
1997999,133,76528,659,9949,166,22419,455,30128.689.1719.00.43.5174.861.4
19981,018,665,07328,724,9349,155,89819,531,30828.208.9918.70.43.4572.561.8
19991,038,225,82128,790,3109,141,49319,560,74827.738.8018.40.33.3870.262.2
20001,057,922,72829,111,7129,127,43119,696,90727.528.6318.30.13.3567.862.7
20011,077,898,57229,324,9309,143,22819,975,84427.218.4818.203.3065.463.1
20021,097,600,38129,128,2169,103,54819,701,80926.548.2917.70.23.2263.163.6
20031,116,802,99728,794,4429,074,46919,202,61625.788.1317.20.23.1260.864.1
20041,135,991,51028,537,7369,067,05319,188,51325.127.9816.70.23.0558.664.5
20051,154,676,31928,063,0009,027,96118,684,80924.307.8216.10.12.9656.365.0
20061,172,878,89027,637,6108,995,89318,202,57123.567.6715.5−0.12.8654.165.4
20071,190,676,02827,304,6228,972,69817,797,13822.937.5415.1−0.32.7851.965.8
20081,207,930,96227,186,0948,950,89417,254,93422.517.4114.7−0.42.7249.666.1
20091,225,524,76027,219,6708,934,34017,593,79822.217.2914.5−0.52.6747.466.5
20101,243,481,56426,900,7108,908,60117,956,80421.637.1614.1−0.22.6045.266.9
20111,261,224,95226,681,9908,889,39317,743,38821.167.0513.702.5443.067.4
20121,278,674,50626,432,4168,879,96417,449,55420.676.9513.30.12.4740.867.9
20131,295,829,50625,995,9988,888,12617,155,00020.066.8613.00.12.4138.768.5
20141,312,277,18425,050,5388,884,41216,447,67819.096.7712.30.22.3136.769.1
20151,328,024,49225,147,2528,936,42615,747,30818.946.7312.1−0.22.2934.769.6
20161,343,944,29325,207,1469,004,53915,919,80118.766.7011.902.2732.870.1
20171,359,657,39224,466,7449,072,74915,713,09918.006.6711.30.32.2031.170.5
20181,374,659,06824,620,2069,169,44915,001,67617.916.6711.0−0.12.1829.470.7
20191,389,030,30324,124,9829,264,48614,371,23517.376.6710.302.1127.970.9
20201,402,617,69223,485,34010,118,28613,587,38916.747.219.20.42.0526.670.1
20211,414,203,88923,321,85413,093,78311,586,19716.499.267.0−1.02.0125.567.2
20221,425,423,21223,286,1249,373,18011,219,32316.346.587.2−0.41.9923.862467.7
20231,438,069,59723,219,4889,507,01312,646,38516.156.619.5−1.41.9822.618672.0
20241,450,935,79123,186,9789,557,05012,999,09415.986.599.39-0.431.96
202515.86.69.11.94
202615.66.78.91.93

Census of India: Sample Registration System

Total fertility rate map: average births per woman by districts, 2011
YearAverage population
Live births1Deaths1Natural changeCrude birth rate
(per 1000)Crude death rate
(per 1000)Natural change
(per 1000)Total fertility rate
1981716,493,00033.912.521.44.52
1982733,152,00033.811.921.94.5
1983750,034,00033.711.921.84.5
1984767,147,00033.912.621.34.5
1985784,491,00032.911.821.14.3
1986802,052,00032.611.121.54.15
1987819,800,00032.110.921.24.1
1988837,700,00031.511.020.54.0
1989855,707,00030.610.320.33.9
1990873,785,00030.29.720.53.8
1991891,910,00029.39.819.53.64
1992910,065,00029.010.118.93.6
1993928,226,00009.319.43.5
1994946,373,00028.79.319.43.5
1995964,486,00028.39.019.33.5
1996982,553,00027.38.918.43.40
19971,000,558,00027.28.918.33.3
19981,018,471,00026.59.017.53.2
19991,036,259,00026.08.717.33.2
20001,053,898,00025.88.517.33.2
20011,071,374,00025.48.417.03.10
20021,088,694,00025.08.116.93.0
20031,105,886,00024.88.016.83.0
20041,122,991,00024.17.516.62.9
20051,140,043,00023.87.616.22.9
20061,157,039,00023.57.516.02.79
20071,134,024,00023.17.415.72.7
20081,150,196,00022.87.415.42.6
20091,166,228,00022.57.315.22.6
20101,182,108,00022.17.214.92.5
20111,197,658,00021.87.114.72.44
20121,212,827,00021.67.014.62.38
20131,227,012,00021.47.014.42.34
20141,243,542,00021.06.714.32.32
20151,259,108,00020.86.514.32.27
20161,273,986,00025,989,3148,153,51017,835,80420.46.414.02.26
url=https://www.indiatoday.in/diu/story/declining-fertility-rate-may-shrink-india-population-300-million-80-years-1703598-2020-07-23title = Declining fertility rate may shrink India's population by 300 million in 80 yearsdate=23 July 2020 }}1,288,522,00026,028,1448,117,68917,910,45520.26.313.92.18
20181,324,609,00026,492,1808,212,57618,279,60420.06.213.82.15
20191,338,995,00024,820,8867,641,07617,179,81018.55.712.82.08
20201,353,378,00024,222,4448,115,88216,106,56217.46.011.52.03
title=Sample Registration System Statistical Report 2021url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/45556website=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Indiapublisher=Ministry of Home Affairsdate=7 May 2025access-date=10 May 2025}}1,414,203,88927,294,13510,606,52916,687,60619.37.511.82.00
title=Sample Registration System Statistical Report 2022url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/45570website=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Indiapublisher=Ministry of Home Affairsdate=12 June 2025access-date=22 July 2025}}1,425,423,21227,225,5839,692,87817,532,70519.16.812.32.00
title=Sample Registration System Statistical Report 2023url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/46172website=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Indiapublisher=Ministry of Home Affairsdate=12 June 2025access-date=5 September 2025}}1,438,069,59626,460,4819,203,64517,256,83618.46.412.01.9
1 The numbers of births and deaths were calculated from the birth and death rates and the average population.

Life expectancy

pmc=11021017 }}</ref>
url=https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/population-and-demography?time=1950..2020&showSelectionOnlyInTable=1&hideControls=false&Metric=Life+expectancy&Sex=Both+sexes&Age+group=Aged+80&Projection+Scenario=None&country=~IND}}</ref>
PeriodLife expectancy at birthLife expectancy at age 15Life expectancy at age 65Life expectancy at age 80
195041.1860.0675.9084.77
195543.7460.9676.1484.86
196045.6161.7576.3384.93
196545.5661.8476.2084.91
197048.5963.4076.5585.30
197550.7664.6877.0085.69
198053.5966.1077.2285.82
198556.3267.3577.3085.81
199058.6268.3277.5985.94
199560.6369.0878.0686.22
200062.7569.9278.5686.44
200564.9470.8478.8786.45
201067.1671.8379.2886.64
201569.3372.8879.9187.14
202070.1672.8179.4886.92

Demographic and Health Surveys From the Demographic Health Survey:

TFR of India to 2016
YearTotalUrbanRuralCBRTFR1CBRTFR1CBRTFR1
1992–199328.73.39 (2.64)24.12.70 (2.09)30.43.67 (2.86)
1998–199924.82.85 (2.13)20.92.27 (1.73)26.23.07 (2.28)
2005–200623.12.68 (1.90)18.82.06 (1.60)25.02.98 (2.10)
2015–201619.02.18 (1.8)15.81.75 (1.5)20.72.41 (1.9)
2019–202117.11.99 (1.6)14.01.63 (1.4)18.62.14 (1.7)
CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman). 1Number in parentheses represents the wanted fertility rate.
YearHinduMuslimChristianSikhBuddhist/
Neo-BuddhistJainOther
2019–20211.94 (1.6)2.36 (1.8)1.88 (1.7)1.61 (1.4)1.39 (1.2)1.60 (1.5)2.15 (1.7)
CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman). 1Number in parentheses represents the wanted fertility rate.
State (Population 2011)TotalUrbanRuralCBRTFR1CBRTFR1CBRTFR1
Uttar Pradesh (199 812 341)22.62.74 (2.06)18.62.08 (1.62)24.02.99 (2.22)
Maharashtra (112 374 333)16.61.87 (1.57)15.51.68 (1.41)17.52.06 (1.73)
Bihar (104 099 452)27.13.41 (2.48)20.42.42 (1.83)28.03.56 (2.58)
West Bengal (91 276 115)16.61.77 (1.53)14.01.57 (1.38)18.01.85 (1.58)
Madhya Pradesh (72 626 809)20.22.32 (1.82)17.71.95 (1.61)21.32.48 (1.91)
Tamil Nadu (72 147 030)15.51.70 (1.51)13.91.54 (1.38)17.21.86 (1.63)
Rajasthan (68 548 437)20.82.40 (1.81)17.51.94 (1.52)22.02.56 (1.91)
Karnataka (61 095 297)15.91.81 (1.42)15.21.65 (1.30)16.51.92 (1.50)
Gujarat (60 439 692)16.72.03 (1.54)15.31.82 (1.39)17.92.19 (1.64)
Andhra Pradesh (49 386 799)16.11.83 (1.64)13.91.53 (1.39)17.01.96 (1.75)
Odisha (41 974 218)18.12.05 (1.69)15.61.73 (1.50)18.72.12 (1.72)
Telangana (35 193 978)17.11.79 (1.59)17.11.67 (1.53)17.21.88 (1.64)
Kerala (33 406 061)11.21.56 (1.47)11.41.57 (1.47)11.01.55 (1.46)
Jharkhand (32 988 134)21.72.55 (2.06)16.31.78 (1.47)23.52.83 (2.27)
Assam (31 205 576)19.52.21 (1.78)13.21.45 (1.25)20.52.34 (1.87)
Punjab (27 743 338)13.81.62 (1.37)13.51.59 (1.32)14.01.63 (1.39)
Chhattisgarh (25 545 198)20.72.23 (1.88)17.91.78 (1.58)21.52.37 (1.97)
Haryana (25 351 462)18.72.05 (1.63)16.31.78 (1.44)20.22.22 (1.75)
Jammu and Kashmir (12 541 302)17.72.01 (1.67)13.91.58 (1.39)19.42.18 (1.77)
Uttarakhand (10 086 292)19.02.07 (1.60)17.11.80 (1.43)20.02.24 (1.71)
Himachal Pradesh (6 864 602)15.31.88 (1.55)12.01.43 (1.15)15.71.92 (1.59)
Tripura (3 673 917)15.31.69 (1.55)12.71.40 (1.34)16.41.80 (1.62)
Meghalaya (2 966 889)24.63.04 (2.79)16.11.67 (1.57)26.73.47 (3.18)
Manipur (2 855 794)21.22.61 (2.33)17.52.14 (1.96)23.72.92 (2.57)
Nagaland (1 978 502)21.42.74 (2.35)16.31.78 (1.58)24.13.38 (2.86)
Goa (1 458 545)12.81.66 (1.37)13.41.72 (1.37)11.71.55 (1.37)
Arunachal Pradesh (1 383 727)17.92.12 (1.64)17.01.69 (1.26)18.22.29 (1.79)
Mizoram (1 097 206)18.72.26 (2.15)16.91.97 (1.89)21.22.71 (2.54)
Sikkim (610 577)11.41.17 (0.88)12.11.11 (0.82)11.11.21 (0.91)
CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman). 1Number in parentheses represents the wanted fertility rate.
State (Population 2011)TotalUrbanRuralCBRTFR1CBRTFR1CBRTFR1
Uttar Pradesh (199 812 341)20.52.35 (1.77)16.71.88 (1.49)21.82.50 (1.86)
Maharashtra (112 374 333)13.81.71 (1.43)12.61.50 (1.27)15.01.89 (1.58)
Bihar (104 099 452)25.92.98 (2.25)20.42.35 (1.88)27.03.11 (2.31)
West Bengal (91 276 115)15.51.64 (1.42)12.41.39 (1.24)17.01.73 (1.48)
Madhya Pradesh (72 626 809)17.21.99 (1.61)13.71.61 (1.34)18.52.12 (1.69)
Tamil Nadu (72 147 030)13.71.76 (1.59)12.71.61 (1.50)14.61.89 (1.66)
Rajasthan (68 548 437)18.72.01 (1.61)15.31.67 (1.42)19.82.11 (1.65)
Karnataka (61 095 297)14.21.67 (1.38)13.21.50 (1.25)14.91.79 (1.46)
Gujarat (60 439 692)15.01.86 (1.53)13.31.65 (1.39)16.32.0 (1.60)
Andhra Pradesh (49 386 799)13.81.68 (1.55)12.51.47 (1.36)14.31.78 (1.64)
Odisha (41 974 218)15.91.82 (1.52)13.11.48 (1.26)16.51.89 (1.57)
Telangana (35 193 978)15.31.75 (1.55)16.01.75 (1.57)15.31.74 (1.54)
Kerala (33 406 061)11.81.79 (1.68)11.91.82 (1.71)11.61.76 (1.65)
Jharkhand (32 988 134)20.22.26 (1.87)14.21.56 (1.32)22.02.48 (2.04)
Assam (31 205 576)16.81.87 (1.56)13.11.50 (1.37)17.41.93 (1.59)
Punjab (27 743 338)13.31.63 (1.35)12.11.55 (1.29)14.01.68 (1.38)
Chhattisgarh (25 545 198)16.41.82 (1.57)13.61.42 (1.28)17.21.94 (1.66)
Haryana (25 351 462)16.41.91 (1.54)14.11.65 (1.38)17.52.04 (1.62)
Jammu and Kashmir (12 541 302)13.11.41 (1.3)
Uttarakhand (10 086 292)16.71.85 (1.46)16.81.84 (1.47)16.61.86 (1.47)
Himachal Pradesh (6 864 602)12.71.66 (1.43)11.21.43 (1.36)12.91.69 (1.44)
Tripura (3 673 917)14.51.70 (1.49)11.01.39 (1.29)15.81.81 (1.56)
Meghalaya (2 966 889)24.22.91 (2.66)14.81.57 (1.43)26.53.31 (3.04)
Manipur (2 855 794)17.42.17 (1.98)14.71.84 (1.73)19.12.38 (2.13)
Nagaland (1 978 502)15.41.72 (1.57)12.51.21 (1.13)16.82.00 (1.82)
Goa (1 458 545)10.31.30 (1.21)10.31.26 (1.19)10.31.36 (1.24)
Arunachal Pradesh (1 383 727)16.01.80 (1.49)14.81.44 (1.24)16.21.88 (1.54)
Mizoram (1 097 206)15.01.87 (1.78)13.91.63 (1.56)16.42.19 (2.08)
Sikkim (610 577)10.21.05 (0.85)7.80.71 (0.54)11.71.32 (1.11)
Delhi14.81.62 (1.29)14.61.60 (1.27)23.42.47 (2.06)
CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman). 1Number in parentheses represents the wanted fertility rate.

Regional vital statistics

State or UTBirth rateDeath rateNatural growth rateInfant mortality rateTotalRuralUrbanTotalRuralUrbanTotalRuralUrbanTotalRuralUrban
Andaman and Nicobar Islands15.615.515.84.34.83.311.310.712.6252918
Andhra Pradesh17.918.316.77.68.65.410.29.711.3465133
Arunachal Pradesh20.522.114.65.96.92.314.615.212.3313412
Assam23.224.415.88.28.65.814.915.810.1586036
Bihar28.128.822.06.87.05.621.321.816.4484938
Chandigarh15.621.615.03.93.73.911.617.911.0222023
Chhattisgarh25.326.818.68.08.46.217.318.412.4515244
Dadra and Nagar Haveli26.626.028.64.75.13.321.920.925.3384322
Daman and Diu18.819.118.34.94.94.813.914.213.6231929
Delhi17.819.717.54.24.64.113.615.013.4303729
Goa13.212.613.76.68.15.76.64.58.0101010
Gujarat21.823.319.46.77.55.515.115.814.0445130
Haryana22.323.319.86.67.05.615.716.314.3485138
Himachal Pradesh16.917.511.56.97.24.210.010.37.3404129
Jammu and Kashmir18.319.513.55.75.94.712.613.68.8434532
Jharkhand25.326.719.37.07.45.418.319.313.9424430
Karnataka19.220.217.57.18.15.412.112.112.1384328
Kerala14.814.814.87.07.16.77.87.78.1131410
Lakshadweep14.315.513.26.46.16.78.09.56.5252327
Madhya Pradesh27.329.220.58.39.06.018.920.214.5626742
Maharashtra17.117.616.46.57.55.310.610.211.1283420
Manipur14.914.815.34.24.34.010.710.511.314159
Meghalaya24.526.614.87.98.45.616.618.29.2555837
Mizoram17.121.113.04.55.43.712.515.79.3374721
Nagaland16.817.016.03.63.73.313.213.312.7232420
Odisha20.521.415.28.69.06.611.912.48.6616343
Puducherry16.716.716.77.48.27.09.38.59.6222521
Punjab16.617.215.67.07.75.89.69.59.8343728
Rajasthan26.727.922.96.76.96.020.020.916.9556131
Sikkim17.818.116.15.65.93.812.312.312.3303119
Tamil Nadu15.916.015.87.68.26.98.37.88.9242522
Tripura14.915.611.55.04.85.79.910.85.8272919
Uttar Pradesh28.329.224.28.18.56.320.220.717.9616444
Uttarakhand19.320.216.26.36.75.113.013.511.1384125
West Bengal16.818.611.96.06.06.310.712.65.6313225

Neonatal and infant demographics

[[Infant mortality]] rate trends in India<br />(per 1000 births, under age 1, national average)
Male to female sex ratio for India, based on its official census data, from 1941 through 2011.<ref>&quot;Sex Composition of the Population&quot;, Office of Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India (2013)</ref> The data suggest the existence of high sex ratios before and after the arrival of ultrasound-based prenatal care and sex screening technologies in India.

The table below represents the infant mortality rate trends in India, based on sex, over the last 15 years. In the urban areas of India, average male infant mortality rates are slightly higher than average female infant mortality rates.

YearMaleFemaleTotal
199869.873.571.6
title=2005–06 National Family Health Survey, Infant and Child Mortalityyear=2006publisher=NFHS, a Government of India Organisationwebsite=MEASURE DHSurl=http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/FRIND3/07Chapter07.pdfurl-status=livearchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513132617/http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/FRIND3/07Chapter07.pdfarchive-date= 13 May 2013 }}56.358url=http://rchiips.org/NFHS/pdf/NFHS4/India.pdftitle=India Fact Sheet – NFHS-4 – 2015–16publisher=International Institute for Population Sciencesurl-status=livearchive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240311005237/http://rchiips.org/nfhs/pdf/NFHS4/India.pdfarchive-date= 11 March 2024 }}
20094952
201443.737.9040.7
url=https://data.unicef.org/resources/data_explorer/unicef_f/?ag=UNICEF&df=GLOBAL_DATAFLOW&ver=1.0&dq=IND.CME_TMM0+CME_MRY1T4+CME_MRY5T14+CME_TMY0T4+CME_TMY5T14+CME_TMY0+CME_MRY0+CME_TMY1T4+CME_MRY0T4..&startPeriod=2018&endPeriod=2020title=Data Warehousewebsite=UNICEF DATAaccess-date=8 March 2020}}29.9529.8829.94

India's 2011 census shows a serious decline in the number of girls under the age of seven – activists posit that eight million female fetuses may have been aborted between 2001 and 2011.

Ethnic groups

The national Census of India does not recognise racial or ethnic groups within India, but recognises many of the tribal groups as Scheduled Castes and Tribes (see list of Scheduled Tribes in India). For a list of ethnic groups in the Republic of India (as well as neighbouring countries), see South Asian ethnic groups. According to a 2009 study published by Reich et al., the modern Indian population is composed of two genetically divergent and heterogeneous populations which mixed in ancient times (about 1,200–3,500 BP), known as Ancestral North Indians (ANI) and Ancestral South Indians (ASI). ASI corresponds to the Dravidian-speaking population of southern India, whereas ANI corresponds to the Indo-Aryan-speaking population of northern India. 700,000 people from the United States of any race live in India. Around 150,000 Anglo-Indian people still live in India. India is a country with a vast diversity of ethnic groups, each with its own distinct culture, language, and traditions. The major ethnic groups in India include the Indo-Aryans, Dravidians, Sino-Tibetans, Austroasiatic peoples, and various indigenous tribes. These groups are spread across different regions of India, each contributing to the country's rich cultural mosaic.

Population size and structure

Map showing the population density in India, per 2011 Census.<ref>(a) [http://censusindia.gov.in/ Census 2011 Final], Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India (may need subscription); (b) The data is mirrored here: [http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/data_files/india/Final_PPT_2011chapter7.pdf Density of Population], Chapter 7, Census of India (2013)</ref>

India occupies 2.41% of the world's land area but supports over 18% of the world's population. At the 2001 census 72.2% of the population lived in about 638,000 villages and the remaining 27.8% lived in more than 5,100 towns and over 380 urban agglomerations. By 2011, the share of the population living in rural areas decreased to 68.84%, while that of those living in urban areas increased to 31.16%. India's population exceeded that of the entire continent of Africa by 200 million people in 2010. However, because Africa's population growth is extremely high compared to the rest of the world, it is expected to surpass both China and India by the early 2030s. Comparative demographics

CategoryGlobal rankingReferences
Area7thwork=The World Factbookpublisher=Central Intelligence Agency, USAaccess-date=1 January 2012url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/india/title=India – the World Factbook}}
Population1st
Population growth rate102nd of 212title=World Bank Indicators Databank, by topicpublisher=The World Bankaccess-date=1 January 2012url=http://data.worldbank.org/indicator}}
Population density24th of 212in 2010
Male to Female ratio, at birth12th of 214in 2009
Census yearPopulationChange (%)
1951
196121.6
197124.8
198124.7
199123.9
200121.5
20111,210,193,42217.7

List of states and union territories by demographics Main article: List_of_states_and_union_territories_of_India_by_population#List

RankState/UTPopulationPercent (%)MaleFemaleDifference between male and femaleSex ratioRuralUrbanArea (km2)Density (per km2)Total (India)100943
1Uttar Pradesh16.50930
2Maharashtra9.28929
3Bihar8.60918
4West Bengal7.54950
5Madhya Pradesh6.00931
6Tamil Nadu5.96996
7Rajasthan5.66928
8Karnataka5.05973
9Gujarat4.99919
10Andhra Pradesh4.08996
11Odisha3.47979
12Telangana2.91988
13Kerala2.761084
14Jharkhand2.72948
15Assam2.58958
16Punjab2.29895
17Chhattisgarh2.11991
18Haryana2.09879
19Delhi (UT)1.39868
20Jammu and Kashmir1.04889
21Uttarakhand0.83963
22Himachal Pradesh0.57972
23Tripura0.30960
24Meghalaya0.25989
25Manipur0.24985
26Nagaland0.16931
27Goa0.12973
28Arunachal Pradesh0.11938
29Puducherry (UT)0.101037
30Mizoram0.09976
31Chandigarh (UT)0.09818
32Sikkim0.05890
33Andaman and Nicobar Islands (UT)0.03876
34Dadra and Nagar Haveli (UT)0.03774
35Daman and Diu (UT)0.02618
36Lakshadweep (UT)0.01946

Literacy rate

archive-date=8 June 2019 }}</ref>
State or UT codeState or UTOverall (%)Male (%)Female (%)Overall (India)
1Jammu and Kashmir
2Himachal Pradesh
3Punjab
4Chandigarh
5Uttarakhand
6Haryana
7Delhi
8Rajasthan
9Uttar Pradesh
10Bihar
11Sikkim
12Arunachal Pradesh
13Nagaland
14Manipur
15Mizoram
16Tripura
17Meghalaya
18Assam
19West Bengal
20Jharkhand
21Odisha
22Chhattisgarh
23Madhya Pradesh
24Gujarat
25Daman and Diu
26Dadra and Nagar Haveli
27Maharashtra
28Andhra Pradesh
29Karnataka
30Goa
31Lakshadweep
32Kerala
33Tamil Nadu
34Puducherry
35Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercentage (%)Cumulative percentageTotal100.00Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–49.329.32
5–910.4819.8
10–1410.9630.76
15–199.9540.71
20–249.2049.91
25–298.3858.29
30–347.3265.61
35–397.0372.64
40–445.9878.62
45–495.1583.77
50–544.0587.82
55–593.2391.05
60–643.1194.16
65–692.1896.34
70–741.5997.93
75–790.7698.69
80–840.5199.2
85–890.2099.4
90–940.1299.52
95–990.0599.57
100+0.0599.62
Unknown0.3799.99
0–14194,351,375178,092,741372,444,11630.76
15–64394,175,879373,559,847767,735,72663.40
65+32,370,12333,815,21066,185,3335.47
Age groupMaleFemaleTotal%Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent
Total100
0–49.21
5–99.18
10–149.67
15–199.92
20–249.36
25–298.57
30–347.75
35–396.98
40–446.33
45–495.55
50–544.63
55–593.70
60–642.98
65–692.43
70–741.76
75–791.24
80+0.75
0–1428.05
15–6465.77
65+6.18
Age groupMaleFemaleTotal%Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent
Total100
0–48.38
5–98.63
10–148.66
15–199.12
20–249.34
25–298.80
30–348.04
35–397.25
40–446.51
45–495.88
50–545.10
55–594.19
60–643.27
65–692.52
70–741.94
75–791.29
80+1.07
0–1425.68
15–6467.50
65+6.83
State or UT codeState or UTTotalMaleFemaleDifferenceTotal (India)
1Jammu and Kashmir
2Himachal Pradesh
3Punjab
4Chandigarh
5Uttarakhand
6Haryana
7Delhi
8Rajasthan
9Uttar Pradesh
10Bihar
11Sikkim
12Arunachal Pradesh
13Nagaland
14Manipur
15Mizoram
16Tripura
17Meghalaya
18Assam
19West Bengal
20Jharkhand
21Odisha
22Chhattisgarh
23Madhya Pradesh
24Gujarat
25Daman and Diu
26Dadra and Nagar Haveli
27Maharashtra
28Andhra Pradesh
29Karnataka
30Goa
31Lakshadweep
32Kerala
33Tamil Nadu
34Puducherry
35Andaman and Nicobar Islands
State or UT codeState or UTTotalMaleFemaleTotal (India)
1Jammu and Kashmir
2Himachal Pradesh
3Punjab
4Chandigarh
5Uttarakhand
6Haryana
7Delhi
8Rajasthan
9Uttar Pradesh
10Bihar
11Sikkim
12Arunachal Pradesh
13Nagaland
14Manipur
15Mizoram
16Tripura
17Meghalaya
18Assam
19West Bengal
20Jharkhand
21Odisha
22Chhattisgarh
23Madhya Pradesh
24Gujarat
25Daman and Diu
26Dadra and Nagar Haveli
27Maharashtra
28Andhra Pradesh
29Karnataka
30Goa
31Lakshadweep
32Kerala
33Tamil Nadu
34Puducherry
35Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Religion

Main article: Religion in India

Based on the latest Census Data {{Pie chart

Dharma Wheel Rotating
Jain Prateek Chihna

Population pyramid by religion

Hindu population pyramid in India based on the 2011 Census data. This chart visualizes the distribution of the Hindu population across various age groups in India.
Muslim population pyramid in India based on the 2011 Census data. This chart visualizes the distribution of the Muslim population across various age groups in India.
Buddhist population pyramid in India based on the 2011 Census data. This chart visualizes the distribution of the Buddhist population across various age groups in India.
Jain population pyramid in India based on the 2011 Census data. This chart visualizes the distribution of the Jain population across various age groups in India.

The table below summarises India's demographics (excluding the Mao-Maram, Paomata and Purul subdivisions of Senapati district of Manipur state due to cancellation of census results) according to religion at the 2011 census in per cent. The data are "unadjusted" (without excluding Assam and Jammu and Kashmir); the 1981 census was not conducted in Assam and the 1991 census was not conducted in Jammu and Kashmir.

ReligionPopulationPercentage (%)
Hindus
Muslims
Christians
Sikhs
Buddhists
Jains
Others
Not Stated
YearHindusMuslimsChristiansSikhsBuddhistsJainisZoroastriansOthers/
Religion not specified
1951
1961
1971
1981
1991
2001
url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLStitle=Population by religious community – 2011work=2011 Census of Indiapublisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioneraccess-date=25 August 2015archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825155850/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLSarchive-date=25 August 2015}}
Religious
groupPopulation (2011)
%Growth
(2001–2011)Sex ratio (2011)Literacy (2011)
(%)Work participation (2011)
(%)url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-census-2011-sikhs-jains-have-the-worst-sex-ratio-2161061title=Census 2011: Sikhs, Jains have the worst sex ratio & Updates at Daily News & Analysisdate=31 December 2015access-date=20 July 2016}}ruralurbanchildHinduismIslamChristianitySikhismBuddhismJainismOthers/Religion Not Specified
79.80%16.8%93994692191373.3%41.0%
14.23%24.6%95195794194368.5%32.6%
2.30%15.5%10231008104695884.5%41.9%
1.72%8.4%90390589882875.4%36.3%
0.70%6.1%96596097393381.3%43.1%
0.37%5.4%95493595988994.9%35.5%
0.90%n/a959947975974n/an/a
access-date=25 August 2022}}</ref>

Caste/tribe

Caste and community statistics as recorded from "Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission" (SEBC) or Mandal Commission of 1979, which was completed in 1983.

India has chosen not to officially count caste population since then.

The following data are from the Mandal report:

Caste/TribePopulationPercentageNotes
Total population731,000,000*Margin of error 0.34%
Scheduled castes and tribes164,913,600
Scheduled castes110,015,500
Scheduled tribes54,898,100
Non OBC/SC/ST Hindu castes/communities128,509,800
Brahmin (including Bhumihar)40,351,200
Kshtriyas(Rajput)28,509,000
Maratha16,155,100
Jats7,310,000
Vaishya, Bania, etc.13,742,800
Kayasthas7,821,700
Others [ Including Yadavs (Kshtriyas) ]14,620,000
Non-Hindu communities and groups121,346,000Non-Hindu scheduled and OBC
Muslim (Non S.T)81,798,900
Christian (Non S.T)15,789,600
Sikh (Non scheduled)12,207,700
Buddhist (Non S.T)4,897,700
Jain (Non scheduled)3,435,700
Other backward classes and communities (OBC)380,120,000*OBC is a derived figure
Hindu OBC318,716,000
Non-Hindu OBC61,404,000*52% of Non-Hindus

Largest cities of India

Main article: List of cities in India by population

Charts

Notes

References

Bibliography

;Medieval India

  • Lal, K. S. (1978). Growth of Muslim population in medieval India (A.D. 1000–1800). Delhi, Research Publications.
  • Lal, K. S. (1995). Growth of scheduled tribes and castes in medieval India. New Delhi: Aditya Prakashan.

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