Dr. Devendra
Kothari
Population and
Development Analyst
Forum for
Population Action
If the economy is
allowed to develop unimpeded the population issue has to be discussed
thoroughly.
Differential
population growth and fertility rates by religion are a major political issue
in India. Unless it is resolved, it will have serious implications for the socio-economic
development. Further, it is argued that the growing
demographic imbalances in India should indeed be matter of serious concern as
they seem to have serious repercussions on the very survival of the “Indian
civilization”[1]. There is a widespread feeling that the main cause of
population explosion in India is due to the
higher fertility among Muslims as compared to other religious groups,
especially Hindus. This post discusses
the issue and provides facts/information for rational analysis and conclusions.[2]
India
is home to many religions and cultures in the world. Various religions like
Hinduism apart from Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism started in India. With around
80
per cent
of India's population, Hinduism is the most dominant religion in India. Islam
is the second most dominant religion in the country with 14
per cent
Muslim population. Jain, Sikhs and Christians are also present in the country
but in a very small proportions and their share is declining
or stable. The Hindus are present
in almost every nook and corner of the country. On the other hand, the Muslims
are mainly concentrated in the States of Jammu & Kashmir, Assam,
West Bengal, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa
and Karnataka.
Although the census might say that India contains a
majority of persons who describe themselves as Hindu, it remains a
constitutionally secular republic which does not officially recognize any
religious identity as a defining characteristic of an Indian. However, Census data
on demographic transition shows a journey split on religion lines. According to the 2011 Census
data on Population by Religious Communities, the share of Hindus in the
population came down marginally from 80.5 per cent in 2001 to 79.8 per cent in
2011. In 2001, Muslims constituted 13.4 per cent % of the country’s population;
this went up marginally to 14.2 per cent (Table 1). In absolute numbers, the Hindu population increased by 139 million during
2001-11; the Muslim population increased by 34 million. The
share of other religious groups like Sikhs and Christians in the total
population remained steady at a little over 2 per cent each, roughly in the
same range as in the 2001 census (Table1).
Table 1: Trends in Indian population by religious
groups, 1991-2011
Religious group
|
Percentage of
total population
|
Decadal growth in
per cent
|
||||
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
|
1991
|
2001
|
2011
|
1981-91
|
1991-01
|
2001-11
|
|
Hindus
|
81.5
|
80.5
|
79.8
|
22.7
|
19.9
|
16.8
|
Muslims
|
12.6
|
13.4
|
14.2
|
32,9
|
29.3
|
24.6
|
Christians
|
2.3
|
2.3
|
2.3
|
17.7
|
22.5
|
15.5
|
Sikhs
|
1.9
|
1.9
|
1.7
|
25.5
|
16.9
|
08.4
|
Buddhists
|
0.8
|
0.8
|
0.7
|
36.1
|
22.8
|
06.1
|
Jains
|
04
|
0.4
|
0.4
|
04.1
|
25.9
|
05.4
|
Others
|
0.4
|
0.7
|
0.9
|
04.1
|
25.9
|
05.4
|
Total
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
23.9
|
21.5
|
17.7
|
To be concluded....
[1] For details, see:
“A note on the growing demographic imbalances in the Indian subcontinent” by
Dr. M.D. Srinivas, Centre for Policy Studies, Chennai, 1999.
[2] Refer
my earlier post:”Growing Population in India and Islam: Some Facts” at
http://kotharionindia.blogspot.in/2011/09/growing-population-in-india-and-islam.html
.
