View source for 2011 census of India-231125

{{short description|15th Indian census}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox census
| name = 15th census of India
| logo = 
| logo_caption = Our Census, Our Future
| image = The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India, Dr. C. Chandramouli and Additional Registrar General, India, Shri RC Sethi presenting the Report of Census-2011 to the President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil.jpg
| image_caption = President of India [[Pratibha Patil]] receiving the 2011 census report from the Census Commissioner C. Chandramouli
| country = India
| date = 9 to 28 February 2011
| population = 1,210,854,977
| percent_change = {{increase}} 17.7%<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 May 2011 |title=Decadal Growth censusindia.gov.in |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/43333 |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=Census India |archive-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603061029/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/43333 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| region_type = state
| most_populous = {{awrap|[[Uttar Pradesh]] (199,812,341)}}
| least_populous = {{awrap|[[Sikkim]] (610,577)}}
| additional_label1 = Densest state
| additional_data1 = [[Bihar]] {{nowrap|(1102 per km²)}}
| additional_label2 = Least dense state
| additional_data2 = [[Arunachal Pradesh]] {{nowrap|(17 per km²)}}
| previous_census = 2001 census of India
| previous_year = 2001
| next_census = 2027 census of India
| next_year = 2027
| authority = [[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India|RGCCI]]
| website = {{URL|censusindia.gov.in}}
}}
[[File:Stamp of India - 2011 - Colnect 259244 - Census Of India.jpeg|thumb|Postage stamp dedicated to the 2011 census of India]]

The '''2011 census of India''' or the '''15th [[Census of India|Indian census]]''' was conducted in two phases, house listing and population enumeration. The House listing phase began on 1 April 2010 and involved the collection of information about all buildings. Information for [[National Population Register]] (NPR) was also collected in the first phase, which will be used to issue a 12-digit unique identification number to all registered Indian residents by [[Aadhaar|Unique Identification Authority of India]]. The second population enumeration phase was conducted between 9 and 28 February 2011. Census has been conducted in India since 1871 and 2011 marks the first time biometric information was collected. According to the provisional reports released on 31 March 2011, the Indian population increased to 1.21 billion with a decadal growth of 17.70%.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indias-population-at-5pm-today-1274239769/articleshow/48033866.cms |title=India's population at 5pm today – 127,42,39,769 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=11 July 2015 |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=12 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212014210/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indias-population-at-5pm-today-1274239769/articleshow/48033866.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> Adult literacy rate increased to 74.04% with a decadal growth of 9.21%. The motto of the [[Census of India|census]] was ''Our Census, Our Future''.

Spread across 28 [[States of India|states]]{{efn|name=preTG|Prior to the creation of Telangana.}} and 8 [[union territories]], the census covered 640 districts, 5,924 sub-districts, 7,935 towns and more than 600,000 villages. A total of 2.7 million officials visited households in 7,935 towns and 600,000 villages, classifying the population according to gender, religion, education and occupation.<ref name="pr_census_2011">{{cite web | url = http://pib.nic.in/newsite/efeatures.aspx?relid=74556 | title = Census of India 2011 – A Story of Innovations | author = C Chandramouli | publisher = Press Information Bureau, Government of India | date = 23 August 2011 | access-date = 23 August 2011 | archive-date = 25 December 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051048/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/efeatures.aspx?relid=74556%20 | url-status = live }}</ref> The cost of the exercise was approximately {{INR convert|2200|c}}<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-commentary/do-we-really-need-the-census/ |title=Do we really need the census? |date=26 August 2017 |work=[[The Economic Times]] |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051041/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-commentary/do-we-really-need-the-census/ |url-status=live }}</ref> – this comes to less than {{USD|0.50}} per person, well below the estimated world average of {{USD|4.60}} per person.<ref name="pr_census_2011"/> 

Information on [[Caste system in India|castes]] was included in the census following demands from several ruling coalition leaders including [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]], and [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]] supported by opposition parties [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], [[Shiromani Akali Dal]], [[Shiv Sena]] and [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Demand-for-caste-census-rocks-Lok-Sabha/articleshow/5887995.cms |title=Demand for caste census rocks Lok Sabha |date=4 May 2010 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=15 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415232219/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Demand-for-caste-census-rocks-Lok-Sabha/articleshow/5887995.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> Information on caste was last collected during the [[British Raj]] in 1931. During the early census, people often exaggerated their caste status to garner social status and it is expected that people downgrade it now in the expectation of gaining government benefits.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7122236.ece |title=India to conduct first record of nation's caste system since days of the Raj |work=[[The Times]] |first1=Rhys |last1=Blakely |date=10 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528201456/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7122236.ece |archive-date=28 May 2010}}</ref> Earlier, there was speculation that there would be a caste-based census conducted in 2011, the first time in 80 years (last was in 1931), to find the exact population of the "[[Other Backward Class]]es" (OBCs) in India.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/obc-data-not-in-2011-census-says-moily/555760/ |title=OBC data not in 2011 Census, says Moily |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=18 December 2009 |first1=Suman K |last1=Jha |access-date=24 July 2016 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051101/http://archive.indianexpress.com/static/sorry/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/No-data-since-1931-will-2011-Census-be-all-caste-inclusive/articleshow/5669801.cms | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202233810/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-03-11/india/28125455_1_caste-wise-census-caste-wise-obc-census | url-status=live | archive-date=2 December 2013 | work=[[The Times of India]] |agency=TNN | title=No data since 1931, will 2011 Census be all-caste inclusive? | date=11 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-05-28/news/27587821_1_caste-census-caste-system-affirmative-action | work=[[The Economic Times]] | title=Caste in Census 2011: Is it necessary? | date=28 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202232549/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-05-28/news/27587821_1_caste-census-caste-system-affirmative-action |archive-date=2 December 2013 |first1=Rajindar |last1=Sachar}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/OBCs-form-41-of-population-Survey/articleshow/2328117.cms | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823152201/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-09-01/india/27954417_1_obc-population-nsso-survey-scs-and-sts | url-status=live | archive-date=23 August 2013 | work=[[The Times of India]] | title=OBCs form 41% of population: Survey | date=1 September 2007}}</ref> This was later accepted and the [[Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011]] was conducted whose first findings were revealed on 3 July 2015 by Central Finance Minister [[Arun Jaitley]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/govt-releases-socio-economic-and-caste-census-for-better-policy-making/story-Ajf4fLjhq9ghHZDDVxYOMP.html |title=Govt releases socio-economic and caste census for better policy-making |date=3 July 2015 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref> Mandal Commission report of 1980 quoted OBC population at 52%, though National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) survey of 2006 quoted OBC population at 41%.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/OBc-count-52-or-41/articleshow/263918.cms | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203020047/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-11-01/india/27792478_1_obc-count-obc-numbers-nsso | url-status=live | archive-date=3 December 2013 | work=[[The Times of India]] | title=OBc count: 52 or 41%? | date=1 November 2006}}</ref>

There is only one other instance of a caste count in post-independence India. It was conducted in Kerala in 1968 by the [[Government of Kerala]] under [[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]] to assess the social and economic backwardness of various lower castes. The census was termed [[Ethnic groups in Kerala#1968 Socio-Economic Survey of Kerala|Socio-Economic Survey of 1968]] and the results were published in the Gazetteer of Kerala, 1971.<ref>G.O.K dew1971: Appendix XVIII</ref>

==History==
C. Chandramouli [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]] was the [[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]] for the 2011 Indian census. Census data was collected in 16 languages and the training manual was prepared in 18 languages. In 2011, [[India]] and [[Bangladesh]] also conducted their first-ever joint census of areas along their border.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-14149042 |title=Joint Bangladesh and India census |first=Ethirajan |last=Anbarasan |date=14 July 2011 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=22 June 2018 |archive-date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023121617/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-14149042 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/census-in-indian-and-bangladesh-enclaves-ends/article2260223.ece |title=Census in Indian and Bangladesh enclaves ends |first=Raktima |last=Bose |date=19 July 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051019/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/census-in-indian-and-bangladesh-enclaves-ends/article2260223.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> The census was conducted in two phases. The first, the house-listing phase, began on 1 April 2010 and involved collection of data about all the buildings and census houses.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/article387955.ece| title=House listing operations for Census 2011 progressing well| work=[[The Hindu]]| date=4 April 2010| access-date=16 April 2011| location=Chennai, India| first=Vinay| last=Kumar| archive-date=25 December 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051117/https://www.thehindu.com/news/House-listing-operations-for-Census-2011-progressing-well/article16364029.ece| url-status=live}}</ref> Information for the National Population Register was also collected in the first phase. The second, the population enumeration phase, was conducted from 9 – 28 February 2011 all over the country. The eradication of epidemics, the availability of more effective medicines for the treatment of various types of diseases and the improvement in the [[standard of living]] were the main reasons for the high decadal growth of population in India.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

==Information==

===House-listings===
The House-listing schedule contained 35 questions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-Schedule/Shedules/Houselist%20English.pdf |title=Census of India 2011; Houselisting and Housing Census Schedule |access-date=22 January 2011 |publisher=Government of India |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051121/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-Schedule/Shedules/Houselist%20English.pdf%20 |url-status=live }}</ref>

# Building number / ''Census house number''
# Predominant material of floor, wall and roof of the census house
# Ascertain use of actual house
# Condition of the census house
# Household number
# Total number of persons in the household
# Name of the head of the household
# Sex of the head
# Caste status (SC or ST or others)
# Ownership status of the house
# Number of dwelling rooms
# Number of married couples in the household
# Main source of drinking water
# Availability of drinking water source
# Main source of lighting
# Latrine within the premises
# Type of latrine facility
# Waste water outlet connection
# Bathing facility within the premises
# Availability of kitchen
# Fuel used for cooking
# Radio/Transistor
# Television
# Computer/Laptop
# Telephone/Mobile phone
# Bicycle
# Scooter/Motor cycle/Moped
# Car/Jeep/Van
# Availing Banking services

===Population enumeration===
The Population enumeration schedule contained 30 questions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-Schedule/Shedules/English_HH_Side_A_NT.pdf |title=Census of India 2011; Household Schedule-Side A |access-date=22 January 2011 |publisher=Government of India |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051028/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-Schedule/Shedules/English_HH_Side_A_NT.pdf%20 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-Schedule/Shedules/English_HH_Side_B_NT.pdf |title=Census of India 201a1; Household Schedule-Side B |access-date=22 January 2011 |publisher=Government of India |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051015/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-Schedule/Shedules/English_HH_Side_B_NT.pdf%20 |url-status=live }}</ref>

# Name of the person
# Relationship to head
# Sex
# Date of birth and age
# Current marital status
# Age at marriage
# Religion
# Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe
# Disability
# Mother tongue
# Other languages known
# Literacy status
# Status of attendance (Education)
# Highest educational level attained
# Working any time during last year
# Category of economic activity
# Occupation
# Nature of industry
# Trade or service
# Class of worker
# Non economic activity
# Seeking or available for work
# Travel to place of work
# Birthplace
# Place of last residence
# Reason for migration
# Duration of stay in the place of migration
# Children surviving
# Children ever born
# Number of children born alive during last one year

===National Population Register===
The National Population Register household schedule contained 9 questions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-Schedule/Shedules/NPR%20English.pdf |title=National population register; Household Schedule |access-date=22 January 2011 |publisher=Government of India |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051040/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-Schedule/Shedules/NPR%20English.pdf%20 |url-status=live }}</ref>

# Name of the person and resident status
# Name of the person as should appear in the population register
# Relationship to head
# Gender
# Date of birth
# Marital status
# Educational qualification
# Occupation/Activity
# Names of father, mother and spouse

Once the information was collected and digitised, fingerprints were taken and photos collected. [[Unique Identification Authority of India]] was to issue a 12-digit identification number to all individuals and the first ID have been issued in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article362605.ece |title=Census operation in history kicks off |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=1 April 2010 |access-date=1 April 2010 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225050957/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Biggest-Census-operation-in-history-kicks-off/article16343201.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8598159.stm |title=India launches biometric census |work=[[BBC News]] |date=1 April 2010 |access-date=1 April 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100401053517/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8598159.stm |archive-date=1 April 2010 |url-status= live}}</ref>

==Census report==
[[File:Decadal variation in population 1901-2011, India.svg|thumb|Decadal growth of Indian population (1901–2011).|left]]
[[File:2011 Census India population density map, states and union territories.svg|thumb|2011 census density map of India, by state and UT.]]
Provisional data from the census was released on 31 March 2011 (and was updated on 20 May 2013).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/rmZay6rxYDggHLlKCaHPfN/Indias-total-population-is-now-121-crore.html |title=India's total population is now 121 crore |work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]] |date=30 April 2013 |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |access-date=26 February 2015 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051017/https://www.livemint.com/Politics/rmZay6rxYDggHLlKCaHPfN/Indias-total-population-is-now-121-crore.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-population-2011-census-at-12-billion-160685-2013-04-29 |title=It's official. We are the second most populous nation in the world at 1.2 billion |work=[[India Today]] |date=30 April 2013 |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |access-date=26 February 2015 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051131/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-population-2011-census-at-1.2-billion-160685-2013-04-30 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-04-30/news/38929876_1_urban-population-population-growth-highest-decadal-growth |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503045326/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-04-30/news/38929876_1_urban-population-population-growth-highest-decadal-growth |archive-date=3 May 2013 |date=30 April 2013 |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |title=India's total population is now 1.21 billion |work=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indias-total-population-is-1-21-billion-final-census-reveals-520736 |date=30 April 2013 |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |title=India's total population is 1.21 billion, final census reveals |work=[[NDTV]] |access-date=26 February 2015 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051129/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indias-total-population-is-1-21-billion-final-census-reveals-520736 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Transgender]] population was counted in population census in India for the first time in 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistan-counts-transgender-people-in-national-census-for-first-time/articleshow/56428364.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109213448/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistan-counts-transgender-people-in-national-census-for-first-time/articleshow/56428364.cms |archive-date=9 January 2017 |date=9 January 2017 |agency=[[Reuters]] |title=Pakistan counts transgender people in national census for first time |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/over-70000-transgenders-in-rural-india-up-tops-list-socio-economic-and-caste-census-2011-280664-2015 |title=Over 70,000 transgenders in rural India, UP tops list: Census 2011 |date=4 July 2015 |work=[[India Today]]}}</ref> The overall sex ratio of the population is 943 females for every 1,000 males in 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sex-ratio-worsens-in-small-families-improves-with-3-or-more-children/articleshow/50989227.cms |title=Sex ratio worsens in small families, improves with 3 or more children |date=15 February 2016 |first1=Subodh |last1=Varma |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=15 April 2018 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051046/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sex-ratio-worsens-in-small-families-improves-with-3-or-more-children/articleshow/50989227.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> The official count of the [[third gender]] in India is 490,000<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/First-count-of-third-gender-in-census-4-9-lakh/articleshow/35741613.cms |title=First count of third gender in census: 4.9 lakh |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=30 May 2014 |first1=Rema |last1=Nagarajan |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=11 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711052731/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/First-count-of-third-gender-in-census-4-9-lakh/articleshow/35741613.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|'''Population'''
| align=left| Total
| align=right| 1,210,854,977
|-
| align=left| Males
| align=right| 623,724,568
|-
| align=left| Females
| align=right| 586,469,294
|-
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|'''Literacy'''
| align=left| Total
| align=right| 74%
|-
| align=left| Males
| align=right| 82.10%
|-
| align=left| Females
| align=right| 65.46%
|-
|  style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|'''Density of population'''
| align=left|per km<sup>2</sup>
| align=right| 382
|-
|  style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|'''Sex ratio'''
| align=left|per 1000 males
| style="text-align:right;"| 943 females
|-
|  style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|'''Child sex ratio (0–6 age group)'''
| align=left|per 1000 males
| align=right| 919 females
|}

==Population==
The population of [[India]] as per 2011 census was {{formatnum:1210854977}}.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/why-activists-are-upset-with-census-disability-numbers/ |title=Why activists are upset with Census disability numbers |date=15 June 2015 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |first1=Zeeshan |last1=Shaikh |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=27 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327102355/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/why-activists-are-upset-with-census-disability-numbers/ |url-status=live }}</ref> India added 181.5 million to its population since 2001, slightly lower than the population of [[Brazil]]. India, with 2.4% of the world's surface area, accounts for 17.5% of its population. Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state with roughly 200 million people. Over half the population resided in the six most populous states of [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Bihar]], [[West Bengal]], [[Andhra Pradesh (1956–2014)|Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Madhya Pradesh]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php?iess1=0-6 |title=Contemporary India - I |publisher=[[NCERT]] |year=2022 |isbn=978-81-7450-520-0 |edition=Revised |location=New Delhi |page=48 |language=en |format=PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214000000/https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php?iess1=0-6 |archive-format=PDF |archive-date=14 December 2023 |url-status=live |df=ymd}} [https://archive.org/details/contemporary_india-I Alt URL]</ref> Of the 1.21 billion Indians, 833 million (68.84%) live in rural areas while 377 million stay in urban areas.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/About-70-per-cent-Indians-live-in-rural-areas-Census-report/article13744351.ece |title=About 70 per cent Indians live in rural areas: Census report |date=15 July 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] |agency=Press Trust of India |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161205073130/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/About-70-per-cent-Indians-live-in-rural-areas-Census-report/article13744351.ece |archive-date=5 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS|title=Rural population (% of total population) &#124; Data|website=data.worldbank.org|access-date=16 August 2019|archive-date=19 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319224609/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS|url-status=live}}</ref> 453.6 million people in [[India]] are migrants, which is 37.8% of total population.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/tamil-nadu-kerala-daily-wages-migrant-population-4410694/ |title=Every 3rd Indian migrant, most headed south |date=5 December 2016 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |first1=Zeeshan |last1=Shaikh |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=27 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327101957/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/tamil-nadu-kerala-daily-wages-migrant-population-4410694/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/minorityview/migration-in-india-is-still-largely-remains-a-social-rather-than-an-economic-phenomenon/ |title=Migration in India still largely remains a social rather than an economic phenomenon |date=5 December 2016 |work=[[The Times of India]] |first1=Pyaralal |last1=Raghavan |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=11 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911040533/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/minorityview/migration-in-india-is-still-largely-remains-a-social-rather-than-an-economic-phenomenon/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/minorityview/migration-in-india-is-slowly-becoming-more-urban-and-driven-by-economic-factors/ |title=Migration in India is slowly becoming more urban and driven by economic factors |date=10 December 2016 |work=[[The Times of India]] |first1=Pyaralal |last1=Raghavan |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=2 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202202024/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/minorityview/migration-in-india-is-slowly-becoming-more-urban-and-driven-by-economic-factors/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

India is home to many religions such as [[Hinduism in India|Hinduism]], [[Islam in India|Islam]], [[Christianity in India|Christianity]], [[Buddhism in India|Buddhism]], [[Sikhism]] and [[Jainism]], while also being home to several indigenous faiths and tribal religions which have been practiced alongside major religions for centuries. According to the 2011 census, the total number of households in India is 248.8 million. Of which 202.4 million are Hindu, 31.2 million are Muslim, 6.3 million are Christian, 4.1 million are Sikh, and 1.9 million are Jain.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/248-8-million-households-across-india-202-mn-hindus-31-mn-muslims-1245845.html |title=248.8 Million Households Across India; 202 mn Hindus, 31 mn Muslims |work=[[News18 India]] |date=20 May 2016 |agency=Press Trust of India |access-date=25 April 2021 |archive-date=25 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425195843/https://www.news18.com/news/india/248-8-million-households-across-india-202-mn-hindus-31-mn-muslims-1245845.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/indian-muslim-family-size-shrinking-rapidly-census-report |title=Indian Muslim Family Size Shrinking Rapidly: Census Report |work=[[The Quint]] |date=21 May 2016 |access-date=25 April 2021 |archive-date=25 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425195842/https://www.thequint.com/news/india/indian-muslim-family-size-shrinking-rapidly-census-report |url-status=live }}</ref> According to 2011 census, there are around 3.01 million places of worship in India.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/ZXd6OysrQLMe5s2gERVhOO/India-has-more-places-of-worship-than-schools-or-colleges.html |title=India has more places of worship than schools or colleges |work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]] |date=5 July 2016 |first1=Roshan |last1=Kishore |access-date=1 May 2021 |archive-date=1 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501093232/https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/ZXd6OysrQLMe5s2gERVhOO/India-has-more-places-of-worship-than-schools-or-colleges.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{static row numbers}}{{sort under}}{{Table alignment}}{{row hover highlight}}
{|class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-text defaultright col1left col2left col3center hover-highlight"
|+ Population distribution in India by states<ref>{{cite web|title=Basic Population Figures of India and States, 2011 |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/42555/download/46181/2011-IndiaState-0000.xlsx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510145218/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/42555/download/46181/2011-IndiaState-0000.xlsx |archive-date=10 May 2022|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan=2| [[States and union territories of India|State / <br /> Union Territory]] (UT)
!rowspan=2| Capital
!rowspan=2| Type
!colspan=2| Population
!rowspan=2| Males
!rowspan=2| Females
!rowspan=2| [[human sex ratio|Sex<br />Ratio]] <br /><ref name="2011 Provisional population tables">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/data_files/india/Final%20PPT%202011_progresstables.pdf |title=Population |work=Government of India (2011) |publisher=Census of India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112151910/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/data_files/india/Final%20PPT%202011_progresstables.pdf |archive-date=12 January 2012 }}</ref>
!rowspan=2| Literacy<br />rate (%)<!-- (%) -->
!colspan=2| Population
!rowspan=2| Area<ref name="Area of India/state/district">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Administrative_Divisions/Area_of_India.aspx|title=Area ofIndia/state/district|work=Government of India (2001)|publisher=Census of India|access-date=27 October 2008|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225050954/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/CensusDataOnline_Login.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> <br /> (km<sup>2</sup>)
!rowspan=2| Density <br /> (1/km<sup>2</sup>)
!rowspan=2| Decadal<br />Growth%<br />(2001–11)
|-
! number
! % of total<!-- Percent(%) of <br />Total Population --><ref name="States and UT %">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Data_Products/Library/Provisional_Population_Total_link/PDF_Links/chapter3.pdf|title=Ranking of States and Union territories by population size: 1991 and 2001|work=Government of India (2001)|publisher=Census of India|pages=5–6|access-date=12 December 2008|archive-date=2 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192159/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Data_Products/Library/Provisional_Population_Total_link/PDF_Links/chapter3.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

! Rural<ref name="Rural Urban distribution">{{cite web|url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/prov_results_paper2_india.html|title=Provisional Population Totals|work=Government of India (2011)|publisher=Census of India|access-date=23 July 2011|archive-date=13 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113152711/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/prov_results_paper2_india.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
! Urban<ref name="Rural Urban distribution"/>
|-
| [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| [[Lucknow]]
| State
| 199,812,341
| {{percentage bar|width=70|16.50}}
| 104,480,510
| 95,331,831
| 912
| {{percentage bar|width=70|67.68}}
| 155,111,022
| 44,470,455
| 240,928
| 828
| 20.1%
|-
| [[Maharashtra]]
| [[Mumbai]]
| State
| 112,374,333
| {{percentage bar|width=70|9.28}}
| 58,243,056
| 54,131,277
| 929
| {{percentage bar|width=70|82.34}}
| 61,545,441
| 50,827,531
| 307,713
| 365
| 16.0%
|-
| [[Bihar]]
| [[Patna]]
| State
| 104,099,452
| {{percentage bar|width=70|8.60}}
| 54,278,157
| 49,821,295
| 918
| {{percentage bar|width=70|61.80}}
| 92,075,028
| 11,729,609
| 94,163
| 1,102
| 25.1%
|-
| [[West Bengal]]
| [[Kolkata]]
| State
| 91,276,115
| {{percentage bar|width=70|7.54}}
| 46,809,027
| 44,467,088
| 950
| {{percentage bar|width=70|76.26}}
| 62,213,676
| 29,134,060
| 88,752
| 1,030
| 13.9%
|-
| [[Andhra Pradesh (1956–2014)|Andhra Pradesh]]{{efn|name=preTG}}
| [[Hyderabad]]
| State
| 84,580,777
| {{percentage bar|width=70|6.99}}
| 42,442,146
| 42,138,631
| 993
| {{percentage bar|width=70|67.02}}
| 56,361,702
| 28,219,075
| 275,045
| 308
| 10.98%
|-
| [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| [[Bhopal]]
| State
| 72,626,809
| {{percentage bar|width=70|6.00}}
| 37,612,306
| 35,014,503
| 931
| {{percentage bar|width=70|69.32}}
| 52,537,899
| 20,059,666
| 308,245
| 236
| 20.3%
|-
| [[Tamil Nadu]]
| [[Chennai]]
| State
| 72,147,030
| {{percentage bar|width=70|5.96}}
| 36,137,975
| 36,009,055
| 996
| {{percentage bar|width=70|80.09}}
| 37,189,229
| 34,949,729
| 130,058
| 555
| 15.6%
|-
| [[Rajasthan]]
| [[Jaipur]]
| State
| 68,548,437
| {{percentage bar|width=70|5.66}}
| 35,550,997
| 32,997,440
| 928
| {{percentage bar|width=70|66.11}}
| 51,540,236
| 17,080,776
| 342,239
| 201
| 21.4%
|-
| [[Karnataka]]
| [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]]
| State
| 61,095,297
| {{percentage bar|width=70|5.05}}
| 30,966,657
| 30,128,640
| 973
| {{percentage bar|width=70|75.36}}
| 37,552,529
| 23,578,175
| 191,791
| 319
| 15.7%
|-
| [[Gujarat]]
| [[Gandhinagar]]
| State
| 60,439,692
| {{percentage bar|width=70|4.99}}
| 31,491,260
| 28,948,432
| 919
| {{percentage bar|width=70|78.03}}
| 34,670,817
| 25,712,811
| 196,024
| 308
| 19.2%
|-
| [[Odisha]]
| [[Bhubaneswar|Bhubaneshwar]]
| State
| 41,974,218
| {{percentage bar|width=70|3.47}}
| 21,212,136
| 20,762,082
| 979
| {{percentage bar|width=70|72.87}}
| 34,951,234
| 6,996,124
| 155,707
| 269
| 14.0%
|-
| [[Kerala]]
| [[Thiruvananthapuram]]
| State
| 33,406,061
| {{percentage bar|width=70|2.76}}
| 16,027,412
| 17,378,649
| 1,084
| {{percentage bar|width=70|94.00}}
| 17,445,506
| 15,932,171
| 38,863
| 859
| 4.9%
|-
| [[Jharkhand]]
| [[Ranchi]]
| State
| 32,988,134
| {{percentage bar|width=70|2.72}}
| 16,930,315
| 16,057,819
| 948
| {{percentage bar|width=70|66.41}}
| 25,036,946
| 7,929,292
| 79,714
| 414
| 22.3%
|-
| [[Assam]]
| [[Dispur]]
| State
| 31,205,576
| {{percentage bar|width=70|2.58}}
| 15,939,443
| 15,266,133
| 958
| {{percentage bar|width=70|72.19}}
| 26,780,526
| 4,388,756
| 78,438
| 397
| 16.9%
|-
| [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
| [[Chandigarh]]
| State
| 27,743,338
| {{percentage bar|width=70|2.29}}
| 14,639,465
| 13,103,873
| 895
| {{percentage bar|width=70|75.84}}
| 17,316,800
| 10,387,436
| 50,362
| 550
| 13.7%
|-
| [[Chhattisgarh]]
| [[Raipur]]
| State
| 25,545,198
| {{percentage bar|width=70|2.11}}
| 12,832,895
| 12,712,303
| 991
| {{percentage bar|width=70|70.28}}
| 19,603,658
| 5,936,538
| 135,191
| 189
| 22.6%
|-
| [[Haryana]]
| [[Chandigarh]]
| State
| 25,351,462
| {{percentage bar|width=70|2.09}}
| 13,494,734
| 11,856,728
| 879
| {{percentage bar|width=70|75.55}}
| 16,531,493
| 8,821,588
| 44,212
| 573
| 19.9%
|-
| [[Delhi]]
| [[Delhi]]
| UT
| 16,787,941
| {{percentage bar|width=70|1.39}}
| 8,887,326
| 7,800,615
| 868
| {{percentage bar|width=70|86.21}}
| 944,727
| 12,905,780
| 1,484
| 11,297
| 21%
|-
| [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
| [[Jammu]](winter)<br>[[Srinagar]](summer)
| State
| 12,541,302
| {{percentage bar|width=70|1.04}}
| 6,640,662
| 5,900,640
| 889
| {{percentage bar|width=70|67.16}}
| 9,134,820
| 3,414,106
| 222,236
| 56
| 23.7%
|-
| [[Uttarakhand]]
| [[Dehradun]]
| State
| 10,086,292
| {{percentage bar|width=70|0.83}}
| 5,137,773
| 4,948,519
| 963
| {{percentage bar|width=70|79.63}}
| 7,025,583
| 3,091,169
| 53,483
| 189
| 19.2%
|-
| [[Himachal Pradesh]]
| [[Shimla]]
| State
| 6,864,602
| {{percentage bar|width=70|0.57}}
| 3,481,873
| 3,382,729
| 972
| {{percentage bar|width=70|82.80}}
| 6,167,805
| 688,704
| 55,673
| 123
| 12.8%
|-
| [[Tripura]]
| [[Agartala]]
| State
| 3,673,917
| {{percentage bar|width=70|0.30}}
| 1,874,376
| 1,799,541
| 960
| {{percentage bar|width=70|87.22}}
| 2,710,051
| 960,981
| 10,486
| 350
| 14.7%
|-
| [[Meghalaya]]
| [[Shillong]]
| State
| 2,966,889
| {{percentage bar|width=70|0.25}}
| 1,491,832
| 1,475,057
| 989
| {{percentage bar|width=70|74.43}}
| 2,368,971
| 595,036
| 22,429
| 132
| 27.8%
|-
| [[Manipur]]
| [[Imphal]]
| State
| 2,721,756
| {{percentage bar|width=70|0.21}}
| 1,290,171
| 1,280,219
| 992
| {{percentage bar|width=70|79.21}}
| 1,899,624
| 822,132
| 22,327
| 122
| 18.7%
|-
| [[Nagaland]]
| [[Kohima]]
| State
| 1,978,502
| {{percentage bar|width=70|0.16}}
| 1,024,649
| 953,853
| 931
| {{percentage bar|width=70|79.55}}
| 1,406,861
| 573,741
| 16,579
| 119
| −0.5%
|-
| [[Goa]]
| [[Panaji]]
| State
| 1,458,545
| {{percentage bar|width=70|0.12}}
| 739,140
| 719,405
| 973
| {{percentage bar|width=70|88.70}}
| 551,414
| 906,309
| 3,702
| 394
| 8.2%
|-
| [[Arunachal Pradesh]]
| [[Itanagar]]
| State
| 1,383,727
| {{percentage bar|width=70|0.11}}
| 713,912
| 669,815
| 938
| {{percentage bar|width=70|65.38}}
| 1,069,165
| 313,446
| 83,743
| 17
| 25.9%
|-
| [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
| [[Puducherry (city)|Pondicherry]]
| UT
| 1,247,953
| {{percentage bar|width=70|0.10}}
| 612,511
| 635,442
| 1,037
| {{percentage bar|width=70|85.85}}
| 394,341
| 850,123
| 479
| 2,598
| 27.7%
|-
| [[Mizoram]]
| [[Aizawl]]
| State
| 1,097,206
| {{percentage bar|width=70|0.09}}
| 555,339
| 541,867
| 976
| {{percentage bar|width=70|91.33}}
| 529,037
| 561,997
| 21,081
| 52
| 22.8%
|-
| [[Chandigarh]]
| [[Chandigarh]]
| UT
| 1,055,450
| {{percentage bar|width=70|0.09}}
| 580,663
| 474,787
| 818
| {{percentage bar|width=70|86.05}}
| 29,004
| 1,025,682
| 114
| 9,252
| 17.1%
|-
| [[Sikkim]]
| [[Gangtok]]
| State
| 610,577
| {{percentage bar|width=70|0.05}}
| 323,070
| 287,507
| 890
| {{percentage bar|width=70|81.42}}
| 455,962
| 151,726
| 7,096
| 86
| 12.4%
|-
| [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
| [[Port Blair]]
| UT
| 380,581
| {{percentage bar|width=70|0.03}}
| 202,871
| 177,710
| 876
| {{percentage bar|width=70|86.63}}
| 244,411
| 135,533
| 8,249
| 46
| 6.7%
|-
| [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli]]
| [[Silvassa]]
| UT
| 343,709
| {{percentage bar|width=70|0.03}}
| 193,760
| 149,949
| 774
| {{percentage bar|width=70|76.24}}
| 183,024
| 159,829
| 491
| 698
| 55.5%
|-
| [[Daman and Diu]]
| [[Daman, India|Daman]]
| UT
| 243,247
| {{percentage bar|width=70|0.02}}
| 150,301
| 92,946
| 618
| {{percentage bar|width=70|87.10}}
| 60,331
| 182,580
| 112
| 2,169
| 53.5%
|-
| [[Lakshadweep]]
| [[Kavaratti]]
| UT
| 64,473
| {{percentage bar|width=70|0.01}}
| 33,123
| 31,350
| 946
| {{percentage bar|width=70|91.85}}
| 14,121
| 50,308
| 32
| 2,013
| 6.2%
|- class=sortbottom
! colspan="3"| [[India]]
! 1,210,854,977  
! {{percentage bar|width=70|100}} 
! 623,724,248
! 586,469,174 
! 943 
! {{percentage bar|width=70|74.04}} 
! 833,087,662 
! 377,105,760 
! 3,287,240 
! 382 
! 17.64%
|}

==Religious demographics==
The religious data on India census 2011 was released by the Government of India on 25 August 2015.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/indias-population-121-09-crores-hindus-79-8-pc-muslims-14-2-pc-census/| title=Census 2011: Hindus dip to below 80 per cent of population; Muslim share up, slows down |first1=Sagnik |last1=Chowdhury |first2=Abantika |last2=Ghosh |first3=Ruhi |last3=Tewari |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=26 August 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826001032/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/indias-population-121-09-crores-hindus-79-8-pc-muslims-14-2-pc-census/ |archive-date=26 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="Muslim population growth slows">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Muslim-population-growth-slows/article10336665.ece|title=Muslim population growth slows|first1=Rukmini|last1=S|first2=Vijaita|last2=Singh|date=25 August 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=16 August 2019|archive-date=7 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107231443/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Muslim-population-growth-slows/article10336665.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/c-01.html |title=India Census 2011 |publisher=Censusindia.gov.in |access-date=25 August 2015 |archive-date=13 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913045700/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Hindus are 79.8% (966.3 million) while Sikhs are 20.8 million comprising 1.72% of the population,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/religious-communities-census-2011-what-the-numbers-say/article7582284.ece |title=India's religions by numbers |date=26 August 2015 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=15 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115030444/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/religious-communities-census-2011-what-the-numbers-say/article7582284.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> Muslims are 14.23% (172.2 million) in India<ref name="Muslim population growth slows"/><ref name="auto1">{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Muslim-representation-on-decline/articleshow/48737293.cms |title=Muslim representation on decline |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=31 August 2015 |access-date=31 August 2015 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051023/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Muslim-representation-on-decline/articleshow/48737293.cms%20 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Hindu-population-declined-Muslims-increased-Census-2011/articleshow/48671407.cms |title=Muslim share of population up 0.8%, Hindus' down 0.7% between 2001 and 2011 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=26 August 2015 |access-date=24 July 2016 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051134/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Hindu-population-declined-Muslims-increased-Census-2011/articleshow/48671407.cms%20 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Christians are 2.30% (28.7 million). According to the 2011 census of India, there are 57,264 Parsis in India.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/where-we-belong-the-fight-of-parsi-women-in-interfaith-marriages-4900480/ |title=Where we belong: The fight of Parsi women in interfaith marriages |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=24 October 2017 |first1=Ruhi |last1=Bhasin |first2=Ankita Dwivedi |last2=Johri |first3=Preeti |last3=Das |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=11 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311041351/https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/where-we-belong-the-fight-of-parsi-women-in-interfaith-marriages-4900480/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/Parsi-population-dips-by-22-per-cent-between-2001-2011-study/article14508859.ece |title=Parsi population dips by 22 per cent between 2001–2011: study |date=26 July 2016 |work=[[The Hindu]] |agency=Press Trust of India |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=6 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106014327/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/Parsi-population-dips-by-22-per-cent-between-2001-2011-study/article14508859.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> For the first time, a "No religion" category was added in the 2011 census.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.dailyo.in/lifestyle/lokayata-hinduism-atheist-india-religion-narendra-dabholkar/story/1/5954.html |title=Why a Tinder date is better than 72 virgins in paradise |work=[[DailyO]] |date=29 August 2015 |first1=Palash Krishna |last1=Mehrotra |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051011/https://www.dailyo.in/lifestyle/lokayata-hinduism-atheist-india-religion-narendra-dabholkar/story/1/5954.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 2.87 million were classified as people belonging to "No Religion" in India in the 2011 census,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/against-all-gods-meet-the-league-of-atheists-from-rural-uttar-pradesh/ |title=Against All Gods: Meet the league of atheists from rural Uttar Pradesh |work=[[The Indian Express]] |first1=Hamza |last1=Khan |date=6 September 2015 |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=12 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812150816/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/against-all-gods-meet-the-league-of-atheists-from-rural-uttar-pradesh/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://scroll.in/article/753475/people-without-religion-have-risen-in-census-2011-but-atheists-have-nothing-to-cheer-about |title=People without religion have risen in Census 2011, but atheists have nothing to cheer about |date=7 September 2015 |first=Shoaib |last=Daniyal |work=[[Scroll.in]] |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=31 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731052404/https://scroll.in/article/753475/people-without-religion-have-risen-in-census-2011-but-atheists-have-nothing-to-cheer-about |url-status=live }}</ref> 0.24% of India's population of 1.21 billion.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/2-87-million-Indians-have-no-faith-census-reveals-for-first-time/articleshow/48689278.cms |date=27 August 2015 |first1=Sivakumar |last1=B |title=2.87 million Indians have no faith, census reveals for first time |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=10 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510014741/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/2-87-million-Indians-have-no-faith-census-reveals-for-first-time/articleshow/48689278.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-188-lakh-people-in-tamil-nadu-state-no-religion-in-2011-census-2118958 |title=1.88 lakh people in Tamil Nadu state 'no religion' in 2011 census |date=27 August 2015 |work=[[DNA India]] |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051126/https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-188-lakh-people-in-tamil-nadu-state-no-religion-in-2011-census-2118958 |url-status=live }}</ref> Given below is the decade-by-decade religious composition of India until the 2011 census.<ref name="censusindia2011">{{cite news |url=http://www.livemint.com/Home-Page/hxXBcoatDPlDVgcjecQDfJ/Muslim-politics-At-a-crossroads.html |work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]] |title=Muslim politics:At a crossroads |date=30 May 2014 |first1=Devendra |last1=Kumar |access-date=28 October 2014 |archive-date=6 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106014338/https://www.livemint.com/Home-Page/hxXBcoatDPlDVgcjecQDfJ/Muslim-politics-At-a-crossroads.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="census1">{{cite web| url= http://www.milligazette.com/news/6953-demographic-dividend-and-indian-muslims-i| title= Demographic Dividend and Indian Muslims – i| author= Aariz Mohammed| date= 1–15 May 2013| work= Milli Gazette| access-date= 15 May 2013| archive-date= 25 December 2018| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051111/http://www.milligazette.com/news/6953-demographic-dividend-and-indian-muslims-i%20| url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="census2">{{cite web | url= http://www.milligazette.com/print/issue/1-15-may-2013/11 | title= Demographic Dividend and Indian Muslims – i | author= Aariz Mohammed | date= 1–15 May 2013 | work= Milli Gazette | access-date= 15 May 2013 | archive-date= 12 August 2018 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180812115038/http://www.milligazette.com/print/issue/1-15-may-2013/11 | url-status= dead }}</ref> There are six religions in India that have been awarded "National Minority" status – Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and Parsis.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140121/jsp/nation/story_17847192.jsp |title=National minority status for Jains |work=[[The Telegraph (India)]] |date=20 January 2014 |agency=Press Trust of India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124170154/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1140121/jsp/nation/story_17847192.jsp#.UuKchS3fXWc |archive-date=24 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-jains-become-sixth-minority-community-1954568 |title=Jains become sixth minority community |date=21 January 2014 |work=[[DNA India]] |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=18 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218001030/https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-jains-become-sixth-minority-community-1954568 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sunnis, Shias, Bohras, Agakhanis and [[Ahmadiyya]]s were identified as sects of Islam in India.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/ahmadiyyas-islam-sects-islam-ahmadiyyas-sect-ahmadiyyas-islam-islamic-sects-islam-india-ahmadiyya-legal-status-2011-census-india-population-india-news-2952701/ |first1=Zeeshan |last1=Shaikh |title=Ahmadiyyas find place as Islam sect in census |date=4 August 2016 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051133/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/ahmadiyyas-islam-sects-islam-ahmadiyyas-sect-ahmadiyyas-islam-islamic-sects-islam-india-ahmadiyya-legal-status-2011-census-india-population-india-news-2952701/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Protest-against-inclusion-of-Ahmediyyas-in-Muslim-census/articleshow/53645457.cms |date=11 January 2016 |agency=TNN |title=Protest against inclusion of Ahmediyyas in Muslim census |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051052/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Protest-against-inclusion-of-Ahmediyyas-in-Muslim-census/articleshow/53645457.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/ahmadiyya-community-census-india-muslims-2954285/ |title=Minority in a minority. The census acknowledges Ahmadis as Muslims. It is a recognition long overdue. |date=5 August 2016 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051103/https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/ahmadiyya-community-census-india-muslims-2954285/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As per 2011 census, six major faiths – Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains make up over 99.4% of India's 1.21 billion population, while "other religions, persuasions" (ORP) count is 8.2 million. Among the ORP faiths, six faiths – 4.957 million-strong [[Sarnaism]], 1.026 million-strong [[Gondi people|Gond]], 506,000-strong [[Sari Dharam|Sari]], [[Donyi-Polo]] (302,000) in Arunachal Pradesh, [[Sanamahism]] (222,000) in Manipur, [[Khasi people|Khasi]] (138,000) in Meghalaya dominate.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/india-religion-census-fewer-minor-faiths-in-india-now-finds-census-number-of-their-adherents-up-2946824/ |url-access=subscription |title=Fewer minor faiths in India now, finds Census; number of their adherents up |date=1 August 2016 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |first1=Zeeshan |last1=Shaikh |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326035002/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/india-religion-census-fewer-minor-faiths-in-india-now-finds-census-number-of-their-adherents-up-2946824/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Maharashtra is having the highest number of non-religious in the country with 9,652 such people, followed by Kerala.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/o9Soxay5xhcsCiVJl7pTCM/God-versus-Atheism-Bengal-vouches-for-believers.html |title=God versus Atheism, Bengal vouches for believers |first=Soumonty |last=Kanungo |date=10 August 2016 |work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]] |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051028/https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/o9Soxay5xhcsCiVJl7pTCM/God-versus-Atheism-Bengal-vouches-for-believers.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+Population trends for major religious groups in India (1951–2011)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hindu Muslim Population in India |url=https://www.census2011.co.in/religion.php |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=www.census2011.co.in}}</ref>
|-
! Year
! [[Hinduism|Hindus]]
! [[Islam|Muslims]]
! [[Christianity|Christians]]
! [[Sikhism|Sikhs]]
! [[Buddhism|Buddhists]]
! [[Jainism|Jains]]
! [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrians]]
! [[Atheism|Atheists]] or<br>other religion
|-
| 1951
| {{percentage bar|width=75|84.1}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|9.8}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|2.3}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|1.79}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.74}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.46}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.13}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.8}}
|-
| 1961
| {{percentage bar|width=75|83.45}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|10.69}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|2.44}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|1.79}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.74}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.46}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.09}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.8}}
|-
| 1971
| {{percentage bar|width=75|82.73}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|11.21}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|2.60}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|1.89}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.70}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.48}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.09}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.41}}
|-
| 1981
| {{percentage bar|width=75|82.30}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|11.75}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|2.44}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|1.92}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.70}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.47}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.09}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.42}}
|-
| 1991
| {{percentage bar|width=75|81.53}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|12.61}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|2.32}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|1.94}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.77}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.40}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.08}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.44}}
|-
| 2001
| {{percentage bar|width=75|80.46}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|13.43}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|2.34}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|1.87}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.77}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.41}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.06}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.8}}
|-
| 2011
| {{percentage bar|width=75|79.80}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|14.23}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|2.37}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|1.72}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.70}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.37}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.05}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.9}}
|-
| {{Tooltip|%±|Change in growth rate since 1951 viz. (% in 2011)-(% in 1951)}/(% in 1951)]*100}}
| {{decrease}} 5.12%
| {{increase}} 45.21%
| {{increase}} 3.04%
| {{decrease}} 3.91%
| {{decrease}} 5.41%
| {{decrease}} 19.56%
| {{decrease}} 61.53%
| {{increase}} 12.51%
|}
{{Clear}}

==Language demographics==
{{Main|Languages of India}}
[[File:Fastest growing languages of India — Hindi (first), Kashmiri (second), Gujarati & Meitei alias Manipuri (third), Bengali (fourth) — based on 2011 census of India.jpg|thumb|150px|Fastest growing [[languages of India]] — [[Hindi]] (first), [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]] (second), [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] & [[Meitei language|Meitei]]/[[Manipuri language|Manipuri]] (third), [[Bengali language|Bengali]] (fourth) — based on 2011 [[census of India]]<ref name="deccanherald.com">—{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=What census data reveals about use of Indian languages |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/what-census-data-reveals-about-use-of-indian-languages-738340.html |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=[[Deccan Herald]] |language=en |archive-date=16 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116215415/https://www.deccanherald.com/india/what-census-data-reveals-about-use-of-indian-languages-738340.html |url-status=live }}<br />—{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2018-06-28 |title=Hindi Added 100Mn Speakers In A Decade; Kashmiri 2nd Fast Growing Language |url=https://www.indiaspend.com/hindi-added-100mn-speakers-in-a-decade-kashmiri-2nd-fast-growing-language-93096/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |website= |language=en |archive-date=16 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116215644/https://www.indiaspend.com/hindi-added-100mn-speakers-in-a-decade-kashmiri-2nd-fast-growing-language-93096/ |url-status=live }}<br />—{{Cite web |title=Hindi fastest growing language in India, finds 100 million new speakers |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/hindi-fastest-growing-language-in-india-finds-100-million-new-speakers-118070200029_1.html |access-date=16 November 2023 |archive-date=16 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116221313/https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/hindi-fastest-growing-language-in-india-finds-100-million-new-speakers-118070200029_1.html |url-status=live }}<br />—{{Cite web |title=Hindi grew rapidly in non-Hindi states even without official mandate |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/diu/story/hindi-grows-in-non-hindi-states-without-official-mandate-1936196-2022-04-11 |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=[[India Today]] |date=11 April 2022 |language=en |archive-date=16 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116221422/https://www.indiatoday.in/diu/story/hindi-grows-in-non-hindi-states-without-official-mandate-1936196-2022-04-11 |url-status=live }}</ref>]]

The 2011 Census of India reported 121 languages having over 10,000 speakers, constituting 1.20{{nbsp}}billion (~99%) of the population, consolidated from 1,369 classified and 1,474 unclassified forms out of 19,569 raw mother tongue entries recorded from respondents.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-01 |title=More than 19,500 mother tongues spoken in India: Census |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/more-than-19500-mother-tongues-spoken-in-india-census-5241056/ |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Out of 121 languages, 22 languages designated as [[Languages with official recognition in India|scheduled language]] of India, which spoken by 96.71 percent of population as mother tongue.<ref>{{Cite web |title=More Than 19,500 Languages Spoken In India: Census |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/more-than-19-500-languages-spoken-as-mother-tongue-in-india-census-1876085 |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}</ref> The language data was released on 26 June 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/hindi-mother-tongue-of-44-in-india-bangla-second-most-spoken/articleshow/64755458.cms |title=Hindi mother tongue of 44% in India, Bangla second most spoken |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=28 June 2018 |first1=Bharti |last1=Jain |access-date=27 June 2018 |archive-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720174858/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/hindi-mother-tongue-of-44-in-india-bangla-second-most-spoken/articleshow/64755458.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> As per census, 57.1% of Indian population know Hindi,<ref name="fulllangdatacensus 2011"/> in which 43.63% of Indian people have declared Hindi as their native language or mother tongue.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/what-india-speaks-south-indian-languages-are-growing-not-fast-hindi-83823 |title=What India speaks: South Indian languages are growing, but not as fast as Hindi |date=28 June 2018 |work=[[The News Minute]] |first1=Haripriya |last1=Suresh |access-date=29 June 2018 |archive-date=16 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216003937/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/what-india-speaks-south-indian-languages-are-growing-not-fast-hindi-83823 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://scroll.in/article/884754/surging-hindi-shrinking-south-indian-languages-nine-charts-that-explain-the-2011-language-census |title=Surging Hindi, shrinking South Indian languages: Nine charts that explain the 2011 language census |first=Shoaib |last=Daniyal |work=[[Scroll.in]] |date=4 July 2018 |access-date=5 July 2018 |archive-date=21 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721110224/https://scroll.in/article/884754/surging-hindi-shrinking-south-indian-languages-nine-charts-that-explain-the-2011-language-census |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the census takes the widest possible definition of "Hindi" as a broad variety of "[[Hindi languages]]" which is widely spoken language in northern parts of India.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hindi-the-first-choice-of-people-in-only-12-states/article27459774.ece |title=Hindi the first choice of people in only 12 States |first=Sumant |last=Sen |date=4 June 2019 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=13 June 2019 |archive-date=6 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606145751/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hindi-the-first-choice-of-people-in-only-12-states/article27459774.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf|title=Abstract of Speakers' Strength of Languages and Mother Tongues - 2011 |work=Census of India 2011 - Paper 1 of 2018 - Language - India, States and Union Territories (Table C-16) |publisher=Census of India  |access-date=27 June 2018|archive-date=27 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627064326/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Hindi]] is the fastest growing [[languages of India|language of India]], followed by [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]] in the second place, with [[Meitei language|Meitei]] (officially called [[Manipuri language|Manipuri]]) as well as [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], in the third place, and [[Bengali language|Bengali]] in the fourth place, according to the 2011 [[census of India]].<ref name="deccanherald.com"/>
 
The 2011 census report on [[bilingualism]] and [[trilingualism]], which provides data on the two languages in order of preference in which a person is proficient other than the mother tongue, was released in September 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-17/DDW-C17-0000.XLSX |website=Census of India |title=C-17 Population by Bilingualism and Trilingualism|access-date=4 October 2018|archive-date=4 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004104130/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-17/DDW-C17-0000.XLSX|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/after-mother-tongue-city-more-proficient-in-english/662470.html |date=2 October 2018 |first1=Bhartesh Singh |last1=Thakur |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)]] |title=After mother tongue, city more proficient in English |access-date=4 October 2018 |archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004103927/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/after-mother-tongue-city-more-proficient-in-english/662470.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/C-Series/C-Series_link/DDWC-000018.pdf |website=Census of India |title=C-18 Population by Bilingualism, Trilingualism, Age and Sex|access-date=4 October 2018|archive-date=21 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221082819/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/C-Series/C-Series_link/DDWC-000018.pdf|url-status=dead }}</ref> The number of bilingual speakers in India is 314.9 million, which is 26% of the population in 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/hindi-migrants-speaking-marathi-rise-to-60-lakh/articleshow/66061624.cms |date=4 October 2018 |first1=Sivakumar |last1=B |title=Hindi migrants speaking Marathi rise to 60 lakh |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=4 October 2018 |archive-date=5 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005013624/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/hindi-migrants-speaking-marathi-rise-to-60-lakh/articleshow/66061624.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> 7% of Indian population is trilingual.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/52-of-indias-urban-youth-are-now-bilingual-18-speak-three-languages/articleshow/66530958.cms |title=52% of India's urban youth are now bilingual, 18% speak three languages |date=7 November 2018 |first1=Rema |last1=Nagarajan |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=7 November 2018 |archive-date=8 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108004342/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/52-of-indias-urban-youth-are-now-bilingual-18-speak-three-languages/articleshow/66530958.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> Hindi, Bengali speakers are India's least multilingual groups.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/hindi-bengali-speakers-indias-least-multilingual-groups/articleshow/66612384.cms |title=Hindi, Bengali speakers India's least multilingual groups |date=14 November 2018 |first1=Rema |last1=Nagarajan |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=14 November 2018 |archive-date=14 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114020902/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/hindi-bengali-speakers-indias-least-multilingual-groups/articleshow/66612384.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
|+First, Second, and Third languages by number of speakers in India (2011 census)
|-
! rowspan="2" | Language
! colspan="2" | First language<br />speakers
! rowspan="2" | Second language<br />speakers
! rowspan="2" | Third language<br />speakers
! colspan="2" | Total speakers
|-
! num.<ref name="1971-2001">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf|title=Comparative Speakers'strength of Scheduled Languages - 1971, 1981, 1991,2001 and 2011 |work=Census of India 2011 - Paper 1 of 2018 - Language - India, States and Union Territories (Table C-16) |publisher=Census of India  |access-date=27 June 2018|archive-date=27 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627064326/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
! % of total pop.
! num.<ref name="fulllangdatacensus 2011">{{cite news |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/how-languagesintersect-in-india/story-g3nzNwFppYV7XvCumRzlYL.html |title=How languages intersect in India |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=22 November 2018 |first1=Vijdan Mohammad |last1=Kawoosa |access-date=26 November 2018 |archive-date=22 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122091352/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/how-languagesintersect-in-india/story-g3nzNwFppYV7XvCumRzlYL.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/static/iframes/language_probability_interactive/index.html |title=How many Indians can you talk to? |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=26 November 2018 |archive-date=22 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122133636/https://www.hindustantimes.com/static/iframes/language_probability_interactive/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
! % of total pop.
|-
|align=left|[[Hindi]]
|528,347,193
|{{percentage bar|width=80|43.63}}
|139,207,180
|24,000,000
|692,000,000
|{{percentage bar|width=80|57.1}}
|-
|align=left|[[English language|English]]
|259,678
|{{percentage bar|width=80|0.02}}
|83,125,221
|46,000,000
|129,000,000
|{{percentage bar|width=80|10.6}}
|-
|align=left|[[Bengali language|Bengali]]
|97,237,669
|{{percentage bar|width=80|8.3}}
|9,037,222
|1,000,000
|107,000,000
|{{percentage bar|width=80|8.9}}
|-
|align=left|[[Marathi language|Marathi]]
|83,026,680
|{{percentage bar|width=80|7.09}}
|13,000,000
|3,000,000
|99,000,000
|{{percentage bar|width=80|8.2}}
|-
|align=left|[[Telugu language|Telugu]]
|81,127,740
|{{percentage bar|width=80|6.93}}
|12,000,000
|1,000,000
|95,000,000
|{{percentage bar|width=80|7.8}}
|-
|align=left|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]
|69,026,881
|{{percentage bar|width=80|5.89}}
|7,000,000
|1,000,000
|77,000,000
|{{percentage bar|width=80|6.3}}
|-
|align=left|[[Urdu]]
|50,772,631
|{{percentage bar|width=80|4.34}}
|11,000,000
|1,000,000
|63,000,000
|{{percentage bar|width=80|5.2}}
|-
|align=left|[[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]
|55,492,554
|{{percentage bar|width=80|4.74}}
|4,000,000
|1,000,000
|60,000,000
|{{percentage bar|width=80|5}}
|-
|align=left|[[Kannada]]
|43,706,512
|{{percentage bar|width=80|3.73}}
|14,000,000
|1,000,000
|59,000,000
|{{percentage bar|width=80|4.94}}
|-
|align=left|[[Odia language|Odia]]
|37,521,324
|{{percentage bar|width=80|3.2}}
|5,000,000
|390,000
|43,000,000
|{{percentage bar|width=80|3.56}}
|-
|align=left|[[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]
|33,124,726
|{{percentage bar|width=80|2.83}}
|2,230,000
|720,000
|36,600,000
|{{percentage bar|width=80|3}}
|-
|align=left|[[Malayalam]]
|34,838,819
|{{percentage bar|width=80|2.97}}
|500,000
|210,000
|36,000,000
|{{percentage bar|width=80|2.9}}
|-
|align=left|[[Maithili language|Maithili]]
|13,063,042
|{{percentage bar|width=80|1.08}}
|400,000
|130,000
|13,583,464
|{{percentage bar|width=80|1.12}}
|-
|align=left|[[Sanskrit]]
|24,821
|{{percentage bar|width=80|0.01|<0.01%}}
|1,230,000
|1,960,000
|3,190,000
|{{percentage bar|width=80|0.19}}
|}

==Literacy==
Any individual above age seven who can read and write in any language with an ability to understand was considered literate. In censuses before 1991, children below the age five were treated as illiterates. The literacy rate taking the entire population into account is termed as "crude literacy rate", and taking the population from age seven and above into account is termed as "effective literacy rate". Effective literacy rate increased to a total of 74.04% with 82.14% of the males and 65.46% of the females being literate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/censusinfodashboard/index.html |title=Census Provional Population Totals |access-date=14 February 2013 |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India|The Registrar General & Census Commissioner]], India |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051050/http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/censusinfodashboard/index.html%20 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
! colspan="5" |Effective literacy rate (1901–2011){{Citation needed|date=February 2013}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-13 |title=Census 2011: Literacy Rate and Sex Ratio in India Since 1901 to 2011 |url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/census-2011-literacy-rate-and-sex-ratio-in-india-since-1901-to-2011-1476359944-1 |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=[[Jagranjosh]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! S.No.
! Census year
! Total (%)
! Male (%)
! Female (%)
|-
| 1
| 1901
| {{percentage bar|5.35}}
| {{percentage bar|9.83}}
| {{percentage bar|0.60}}
|-
| 2
| 1911
| {{percentage bar|5.92}}
| {{percentage bar|10.56}}
| {{percentage bar|1.05}}
|-
| 3
| 1921
| {{percentage bar|7.16}}
| {{percentage bar|12.21}}
| {{percentage bar|1.81}}
|-
| 4
| 1931
| {{percentage bar|9.50}}
| {{percentage bar|15.59}}
| {{percentage bar|2.93}}
|-
| 5
| 1941
| {{percentage bar|16.10}}
| {{percentage bar|24.90}}
| {{percentage bar|7.30}}
|-
| 6
| 1951
| {{percentage bar|16.67}}
| {{percentage bar|24.95}}
| {{percentage bar|9.45}}
|-
| 7
| 1961
| {{percentage bar|24.02}}
| {{percentage bar|34.44}}
| {{percentage bar|12.95}}
|-
| 8
| 1971
| {{percentage bar|29.45}}
| {{percentage bar|39.45}}
| {{percentage bar|18.69}}
|-
| 9
| 1981
| {{percentage bar|36.23}}
| {{percentage bar|46.89}}
| {{percentage bar|24.82}}
|-
| 10
| 1991
| {{percentage bar|42.84}}
| {{percentage bar|52.74}}
| {{percentage bar|32.17}}
|-
| 11
| 2001
| {{percentage bar|64.83}}
| {{percentage bar|75.26}}
| {{percentage bar|53.67}}
|-
| 12
| 2011
| {{percentage bar|74.04}}
| {{percentage bar|82.14}}
| {{percentage bar|65.46}}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|India}}
* [[Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011]]
* [[Demography of India]]
* [[Irreligion in India]]
* [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]]
* [[Other Backward Class]]
* [[Caste Census]]
{{Clear}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/ Census of India Official Website]
* [https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog Data catalogues on Official Website]
* [https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/census-tables Census tables on Official Website]
* [https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/42876 Cities having population 1 lakh and above, Census 2011]
* {{Cite news|date=11 April 2010 |title=Bhujbal, Munde pitch for OBC census |language=en-IN |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Bhujbal-Munde-pitch-for-OBC-census/article16365507.ece |access-date=24 July 2020 |issn=0971-751X}}

{{Census of India}}

[[Category:2011 in India|Census of India, 2011]]
[[Category:Censuses in India]]
[[Category:Political history of India]]
[[Category:Manmohan Singh administration]]
[[Category:2011 censuses|India]]