India’s Hindu population falls below 80%
August 27, 2015
India’s Hindu population has fallen below 80% of the nation’s population, according to 2011 census data released on August 25.
In 2011, 79.8% of the nation’s people were Hindus, down from 80.5% in 2001 and 85.0% in 1951. In contrast, the nation’s Muslim population has risen from 9.9% (1951), to 13.4% (2001), to 14.2% (2011).
The percentage of Christians has remained relatively steady since the nation’s independence, rising from 2.2% in 1951, peaking at 2.6% in 1971, and declining slightly to a steady 2.3% in 1991, 2001, and 2011.
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Further information:
- India has 79.8% Hindus, 14.2% Muslims: Census (IANS)
- Census of Religion: Three Charts That Show the Changing Face of Faith in India (The Wall Street Journal)
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