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According to data presented in the Lok Sabha, the anticipated Muslim population in India for 2023 is projected to reach 19.75 crore. This information was disclosed in response to a query raised by TMC MP Mala Roy and addressed by Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani. Minister Irani referred to the Census 2011, which recorded a Muslim population of 17.22 crore, constituting 14.2% of the nation’s total population. Citing the Technical Group on Population Projections report from July 2020 by the National Commission on Population, Minister Irani highlighted that India’s projected population for 2023 stands at 138.82 crore. Extrapolating from the 14.2% proportion observed in the Census 2011, the estimated Muslim population for 2023 is expected to be 19.75 crore.
Muslim Population in India 2024
India is a diverse and vibrant country known for its secular ethos, where people from various religious backgrounds peacefully coexist. The Muslim population in India constitutes a dynamic community that has made significant contributions to and embraced the nation’s culture and society. Within India’s Muslim community, there are various sects, including Sunni, Shia, Ahmadiyya, and Sufi, each contributing to the rich tapestry of religious diversity in the country.
In the multi-religious country, Hinduism is the first most followed religion in India. The second largest religion is Islam in India after Hinduism with over 15% of the Muslim population. As per estimations by the government, the Muslim population in India is expected to be 19.7 crore in 2023.
As per the 2011 census, India is home to the world’s third-largest Muslim population, following Indonesia and Pakistan, with approximately 200 million Muslims. Islam, as the second-largest religion in India, encompasses about 79.8% of the population.
Highest Muslim Population in India State-Wise
The list entails the Indian states with the Highest Muslim population in 2023 according to the last census 2011 data along with the percentage of Muslim population in 2023 out of the total population of India.
Top 10 States with Highest Muslim Population In India | |||
State | Muslim Population | Total Population | % of Muslim Population |
Uttar Pradesh | 38,483,967 | 199,812,341 | 19.26% |
West Bengal | 24,654,825 | 91,276,115 | 27.01% |
Bihar | 17,557,809 | 104,099,452 | 16.87% |
Maharashtra | 12,971,152 | 112,374,333 | 11.54% |
Assam | 10,679,345 | 31,205,576 | 34.22% |
Kerala | 8,873,472 | 33,406,061 | 26.56% |
Jammu and Kashmir | 8,567,485 | 12,541,302 | 68.31% |
Karnataka | 7,893,065 | 61,095,297 | 12.92% |
Gujarat | 5,846,761 | 60,439,692 | 9.67% |
Rajasthan | 6,215,377 | 68,548,437 | 9.07% |
Lowest Muslim Population in India 2024 State Wise
Nearly 47% of India’s Muslim population is concentrated in the states of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Bihar. Additionally, several other states in India also have a significant density of Muslims.
List of Top 5 Lowest Muslim Population in India 2024 | |||
State | Total Population | Muslim Population | Percentage |
Delhi | 16.8 million | 2.1 million | 12.9% |
Madhya Pradesh | 72.6 million | 4.8 million | 6.6% |
Andhra Pradesh | 84.6 million | 6.9 million | 16.34% |
Telangana | 36 million | 4.5 million | 12.68% |
Tamil Nadu | 72 million | 4.2 million | 5.86% |
Check out the linked article on the India Sex Ratio 2024 Here!
Indian States with Highest Muslim Population
India’s Union Territories exhibit diverse demographics, with varying religious compositions. Lakshadweep stands out as having the highest proportion of Muslims, comprising 97% of its population. Jammu and Kashmir follow closely, with 68.31% of its residents practicing Islam. Assam, West Bengal, and Kerala also have significant Muslim populations, contributing to the religious tapestry of these regions. These demographic insights offer a glimpse into the cultural richness and diversity within India’s Union Territories.
- Lakshadweep, an island union territory of India has the highest percentage of Muslims in India, with 97% of its population professing Islam. In 2023, it is estimated that the Muslim population of Lakshadweep will be 62,268 out of a total population of 64,473.
- Jammu and Kashmir, a union territory of India has the second-highest percentage of Muslims in India, with 68.31% of its population following Islam. The total population of Jammu and Kashmir is estimated to be 12,541,302 in 2023, out of which 8,567,485 are Muslims.
- Assam has the third-highest percentage of Muslims in India, with 34.22% of its population following Islam. It is estimated that the total population of Assam will be 31,205,576, out of which 10,679,345 are Muslims.
- West Bengal has the fourth-highest percentage of Muslims in India, with 27.01% of its population professing Islam. It is estimated that the Muslim population will be 24,654,825 out of the total population of 91,276,115.
- Kerala has the fifth-highest percentage of Muslims in India, with 26.56% of its population following Islam. The estimated total population of Kerala to be in 2023 is 33,406,061 out of which 8,873,472 are Muslims.
Muslim Population in India 1951-2011
The Muslim population in India experienced a decline from 42 million in the 1941 census to 35 million in the 1951 census, primarily attributable to the partition of India. The table provides a historical overview of the Muslim population in India based on census data.
Year | Muslim Population | % of Total Population |
1951 | 35 million (3.5 crore) | 9.8% |
1961 | 47 million (4.7 crore) | 10.7% |
1971 | 62 million (6.2 crore) | 11.2% |
1981 | 83 million (8.3 crore) | 11.7% |
1991 | 101 million (10.1 crore) | 12.6% |
2001 | 138 million (13.8 crore) | 13.4% |
2011 | 172 million (17.2 crore) | 14.2% |
Muslim Population in India Acc. to Census 2011
As per the 2011 census, Sikhs emerged as the most populous among the minority religions practiced in the country.
In the island union territory of Lakshadweep, Islam holds the predominant share, with 97% of the population identified as followers of the Islamic faith. Jammu & Kashmir is ranked second, with a Muslim population constituting 68.31% of the total population in India.
Fastest Growing Religion and Population in India
Muslim Population in India: Islam is the fastest-growing religion in India. The growth rate of Muslims has been steadily increasing than that of Hindus indicating the rise in the population of Muslims in India. In the 1991-2001 decade, the growth rate of Muslims was 29.5% compared to 19.9% for Hindus.
Check out the linked article on the India Population Here!
Muslim Population Countries in the World
India has the third-largest number of Muslims in the world contributing to its population. These Muslims profess Islam in India making it the second-largest religion with 14.2% of the country’s population (approximately 172.2 million people). The majority of India’s Muslims almost 13% are Sunni and Shia in the population.
As estimated in 2019, around 204 million Muslims resided in India making India’s Muslim population the world’s third largest and the world’s largest Muslim-minority population.
The table lists the top 5 countries in the world with the highest number of Muslim population:
Country | Muslim Population | % of Total Population |
Indonesia | 248,876,444 | 87.2% |
Pakistan | 228,295,339 | 96.5% |
India | 204,400,670 | 14.2% |
Bangladesh | 153,917,571 | 89.2% |
Nigeria | 109,693,365 | 48.8% |
India is home to 10.9% of the world’s Muslim population. Indian Muslims have a fertility rate of 2.36, the highest in the nation as per as according to year 2019-21 estimation. The Government of India estimated the Muslim population at 19.75 to 20 crore for the 2023 year, out of 138.8 to 140.0 crore total population, thus constituting around (14.22%–14.28%) of the nation’s population respectively.
Stats and Facts about Muslim Population in India
- Muslims Population in India represent the mass population in Lakshadweep about 96.2% and in Jammu and Kashmir about 68.3%.
- The largest proportion of about 47% of the Muslim Population in India lives in the three states, namely, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Bihar.
- Other states that also have high proportions of Muslim Population are namely, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujrat, Assam, Kerala, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Manipur, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan.
- According to the estimations, in almost 110 minority-concentrated districts, at least a fifth of the population is Muslim.