Religion by Country
Religion in India: Statistics, Demographics & Major Faiths
A Hindu-majority nation, birthplace of four world religions, and home to one of the largest Muslim populations on earth.
Quick answer
Hindus make up 79.8% of India's population, and Muslims 14.2% — one of the world's largest Muslim communities. Christians (2.3%), Sikhs (1.7%), Buddhists (0.7%) and Jains (0.4%) make up most of the remainder. These figures are from the Census of India 2011, the most recent with disaggregated religion data.
- Largest religion
- Hinduism — 79.8%
- Largest minority
- Islam — 14.2% (over 170 million people)
- Other major faiths
- Christianity 2.3% · Sikhism 1.7%
- Data source
- Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India
- Reference year
- Census of India 2011
Religion in India at a glance
India is a Hindu-majority country and the birthplace of four major world religions — Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism — while also being home to one of the world's largest Muslim populations. The most recent official breakdown comes from the Census of India 2011; the subsequent census has been delayed, so 2011 remains the authoritative source for disaggregated figures.
| Religion | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hindu | 966 million | 79.8% |
| Muslim | 172 million | 14.2% |
| Christian | 28 million | 2.3% |
| Sikh | 20.8 million | 1.7% |
| Buddhist | 8.4 million | 0.7% |
| Jain | 4.5 million | 0.4% |
| Other / not stated | ~11 million | 0.9% |
The major religions
Hinduism (79.8%) is the majority tradition across nearly every state. Islam (14.2%) is India's largest minority faith, with populations of over 100 million making India home to one of the biggest Muslim communities on earth. Christianity (2.3%) is concentrated in the south and northeast; Sikhism (1.7%) is centred on Punjab, the world's only Sikh-majority region; and Buddhism and Jainism (each under 1%) remain influential well beyond their numbers.
Regional and community patterns
National figures conceal sharp regional variation. Muslims form a majority in Jammu and Kashmir and Lakshadweep; Christians hold majorities in the northeastern states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya; and Sikhs form a majority in Punjab. Note that the census classifies many members of Scheduled Tribes who follow indigenous beliefs as Hindu.
A short history
The Indian subcontinent gave rise to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, and absorbed Islam from the 8th century onward and Christianity through both ancient and colonial channels. Since the 1947 Partition into Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan, India's religious composition has been relatively stable, with the Muslim share rising modestly and the Hindu share edging down over the decades.
Belief and society
India is constitutionally secular while being intensely religious in daily life. For comparison with other South and Southeast Asian societies, see religion in Indonesia and religion in Malaysia.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main religion in India?
Hinduism is the majority religion of India, followed by 79.8% of the population at the 2011 census.
How many Muslims are in India?
At the 2011 census, Muslims numbered about 172 million, or 14.2% of the population — among the largest Muslim populations of any country in the world.
What religions began in India?
Four major world religions originated in the Indian subcontinent: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.
Why is 2011 the latest religion data for India?
The Census of India is normally conducted every ten years, but the census due after 2011 has been delayed, so the 2011 figures remain the most recent official religious breakdown.
Sources & methodology
Figures are from the Census of India 2011, released by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner. The census records self-declared religion for the entire population. Members of Scheduled Tribes who follow indigenous beliefs are generally classified as Hindu in the official totals.
- Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India — Census 2011, Population by Religious Community (official release).
- Pew Research Center, Key findings about the religious composition of India.