Religious census: Muslim population rose by 24% between 2001-11

New Delhi, Jan 22: According to latest census data on population of religious groups, Muslim population in India has grown by 24% between 2001 and 2011 against national average of 18% with the community's representation rising to 14.2% from 13.4% of total population.

While the growth rate of the Muslim population has slowed from around 29% between 1991 and 2001, it is still higher than the national average of 18% for the decade (2001-11), says reports.

Among all states in the country, Jammu and Kashmir has the highest Muslim population (68.3%), followed by Assam (34.2%) and West Bengal (27%), according to the census data on the population of religious groups.

The most rapid rise in the share of Muslims in the total population was witnessed in Assam. Muslims constituted 30.9% of the state's population in 2001 and it has risen to 34.2% a decade later. Assam has been facing the problem of illegal immigration from Bangladeshi for last three decades.

A Home Ministry spokesperson said the data is still being compiled by the Registrar General of Census and will be released officially shortly. Manipur is the only state where the percentage of their population has decreased -- from 8.8% to 8.4%.

West Bengal, another state where illegal immigration from Bangladesh has been an issue, has also seen a rise in Muslim population from 25.2% in 2001 to 27% in 2011. It is a growth of 1.8 percentage points, more that double the national average for Muslim population (0.8%).

Uttarakhand has also seen rise in the share of Muslim population from 11.9% to 13.9%, a growth of 2 percentage points, between 2001 and 2011.

Other states with a significant rise in the share of Muslims in the total population as per the 2011 census were Kerala (from 24.7% to 26.6%), Goa (6.8% to 8.4%), Jammu and Kashmir (67% to 68.3%), Haryana (5.8% to 7%) and Delhi (11.7% to 12.9%).

OneIndia News