World

Will take 220 years for India's Muslim population to equal Hindu numbers

Figures show the growth rate of Muslims in India is higher than that of Hindus during 2001-2011

Reuters/web Desk August 26, 2015

The figures show that growth rate of Muslims in India is higher than that of Hindus during 2001-2011 PHOTO: AFP

Results of censuses in India coupled with basic arithmetic show it will be nearly 220 years before the Muslim population in the country equals the Hindu population, according to Scroll.

Further, the latest census showed India's Hindus have dropped below 80 per cent of the population for the first time since independence and media had speculated the previous government deliberately delayed the release of the data because it showed a rise in the Muslim population, according to Reuters.

Members of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Hindu nationalist party, which swept to power last year, have expressed growing concern about the rising numbers of Muslims.

Read: India set to become world's most populous country by 2022: UN

The census data shows that Hindus declined to 79.8 per cent of the country's 1.2 billion people in 2011, from 80.5 per cent a decade earlier.

The share of Muslims rose to 14.2 percent from 13.4 percent in 2001 - the only major religious group to record a rise. Christians stayed at 2.3 percent and Sikhs fell to 1.7 per cent from 1.9 per cent.

Sakshi Maharaj, a Hindu priest-turned-politician, caused an uproar earlier this year when he said Hindu women should give birth to four children to ensure that their religion survives.

In the first census, conducted after Britain carved India and Pakistan out of colonial India in 1947, Hindus accounted for 84.1 per cent of the Indian population.

Read: India's Muslim population grows 24%, slower than previous decade

Although population growth is slowing in all religious groups, India is still set to overtake China to become the world's most populous country by 2022, according to a United Nations forecast.

India's population grew by almost a fifth during the period between the last two censuses, straining supplies of land, food and water and bloating its underemployed, poorly skilled workforce.

COMMENTS (18)

Yasin | 9 years ago | Reply Actually it is good for India. When it becomes a Muslim majority nation it will naturally be entitled to Allah's blessings and bounties. The nation will prosper like never before and who knows even oil may be found in Thar deserts.

Anil Gupta | 9 years ago | Reply India is likely to overtake China in population by 2022 as per UN Population report.During 2001 and 2011 India's population grew @ more than 17%. or 1.7% annually.Let us hope that during 2011-21 population growth will decline to some extent.Let us assume that during this period average population growth will be 1.6% annually.And during next decade that is 2021-2031 it will come down to 1.5% annually.By this rate India will be 1500 million by 2026.We should prepare all our plans for that eventuality.

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reader | 9 years ago | Reply excellent... in 220 yrs, india will be taken over by us.. it is only a matter of time.. the future is ours..

Malik | 9 years ago | Reply Arab and Pakistani Islamic nationalism are going to be a big hurdle for the world's progress in the next 50 years. Pakistan needs to amend its constitution to make it godless, else no one can envision it in one piece in 20 years, despite of all the rhetoric. It already broke once in 1971. Bangladesh has more muslims than Pakistan. They made their constitution godless, and look what wonders it has done to their country. They are way ahead of Pakistani in every angle.

Babloo | 9 years ago | Reply Hindus driven to extinction in Pakistan while Hindu majority India gives equal rights to Muslims, whose numbers conversely increase and who are not compelled to flee to Pakistan.

Sameer | 9 years ago | Reply @ShamelessPakistanis....well your comment justify your name,,, just check the population of Hindu Sikhs in pak in 1947 & now.... and check the population of Muslims in India in 1947 & now...i need not say more...

Atheist_Pakisani | 9 years ago | Reply Thanks to the internet, atheism on the rise. Then finally, people will be able to live in harmony and peace. I''m 100 percent sure the issue of Kashmir will be solved after it

ShamelessPakistanis | 9 years ago | Reply Wrong data. Anyone can google and see the Muslim population in India is not that much but declining. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islambycountry http://www.pewforum.org/2011/01/27/the-future-of-the-global-muslim-population/ They did propaganda all this time that the population of Muslims in India was double than Pakistan but that turned out to be wrong. ET plz confirm the stats and then post. Don't let neighboring country do propaganda against us. There is a reason they need to show the world that there are more Muslims in India than Pakistan so they can do more propaganda on the existence of Pakistan. Hiding the decline of population of Muslims in India. Propaganda at its best. In 1947 majority decided not to leave as it was generally considered not worth it. So if a tiny population moved then over the years how come its population(Pakistan) is more than the people who didn't move? This is what they need to hide.

Iqbal | 9 years ago | Reply @Valid point: I think editors at Huffington post are on pot or something. Even in a couple of centuries, atheists will still be a minority because many of them are found in western countries who are producing kids at an ever slower rate so they will all just cease to exist. On the other hand, you are right, there will be many new atheists from these communities but still nowhere near to taking over religion anytime soon if ever.

Aadhar | 9 years ago | Reply Why should Indian Muslims try to be equal to Hindu's in number of persons? Better will be to improve literacy rate, living condition and so on. Number game is not good for world.

James | 9 years ago | Reply @JSM: Any subject related to Muslims of India is of interest in Pakistan......this is the way how they can justify their existence.....as lyricist Javed Akhthar said...if Muslims of India are prosper, it is a bad news for Pakistan....if Muslims of India are in bad condition, it is a good news for Pakistan....

Afghan Jalebi | 9 years ago | Reply There is a difference between procreation and breeding !!

vicktor d'souza | 9 years ago | Reply If India was not partitioned, interesting to see the current breakdown %ages of Muslims and Hindus...?

Talha | 9 years ago | Reply Muslims must focus on empowering themselves and become powerful community, look at 8 million Jews who r so powerful and influential, and look at 2 billion Muslims who are often dictated and dominated by others :(

raw is war | 9 years ago | Reply @JSM: can you explain why it should not be?

Anoni | 9 years ago | Reply With india's population growing at rapid pace. the following is bound to happen I expect very poor relation between Pakistan and India simply as a result of diversion from problem.... arising from straining supplies of land, food and water and bloating its underemployed.

Valid point | 9 years ago | Reply Well religion is declining and in next 50 years atheism will replace religion ....today atheism is growing very fast in all communities and Huffington post report says by 2035 atheism will overtake religion ..

JSM | 9 years ago | Reply Why is this a subject of interest in Pakistan?

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