The Census 2011 data on religious population released on Tuesday showed the Hindu population registering a decline in percentage terms and the Muslim population on the rise. While the Hindu population dipped by 0.7 per cent, the Muslim population increased by 0.8 per cent. As per the data, Hindus constitute 79.8 per cent of the population, while Muslims constitute 14.2 per cent. In the 2001 Census, the population of Hindus stood at 80.45 per cent and Muslims at 13.4 per cent.

“Out of the total Indian population of 121.09 crore people, the Hindu population is 96.63 crores (79.8 per cent); Muslim 17.22 crores (14.2 per cent); the Christian population is 2.78 crores (2.3 per cent); Sikhs 2.08 crores (1.7 per cent); Buddhists 0.84 crores (0.7 per cent); Jain 0.45 crores (0.4 per cent), Other religions and persuasions (ORP) 0.79 crores (0.7 per cent) and religion not stated 0.29 crores (0.2 per cent),” said a statement issued by the Census Department under Union Home Ministry.

As per the 2001 Census, India’s total population was 102 crores, of which the Hindu population comprised of 82.75 crores (80.45 per cent) and Muslims were 13.8 crores (13.4 per cent).

“The proportion of Hindu population to total population in 2011 has declined by 0.7 percentage point (PP); the proportion of Sikh population has declined by 0.2 percentage point and the Buddhist population has declined by 0.1 percentage point during the decade 2001-2011. The proportion of Muslim population to total population has increased by 0.8 percentage point. There has been no significant change in the proportion of Christians and Jains,” the statement said.

The Census data also showed a decrease in the female population in Hindu and Muslim communities. Out of the total 121 crore population, 62.32 crore are males and females are only 58.75 crores. Among Hindus, males constitute 49.8 crore and females are only 46.7 crore. Among Muslims, there are 8.82 crore males and the female population is only 8.39 crore.

The data also shows that the growth rate of population has increased in most of the communities. “The growth rate of population in the decade 2001-2011 was 17.7 per cent. The growth rate of population of different religious communities in the same period was as follows: Hindus 16.8 per cent; Muslims 24.6 per cent; Christians 15.5 per cent; Sikhs 8.4 per cent; Buddhists 6.1 per cent and Jains 5.4 per cent,” said the statement.

While the Census figure on religion was released more than four years after compilation of the data, the caste data is yet to be made public. RJD, JD(U), SP, DMK and some other parties have been asking the Government to release the caste census figures. The data on socio-economic status of the population was released on July 3.