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{{short description|15th Indian Census}}
#REDIRECT [[2011 census of India]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
 
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Redirect category shell|
{{Infobox census
{{R from move}}
| name = 15th Census<br />of India
| logo =
| logo_caption = Our Census, Our Future
| image = The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India, Dr. C. Chandramouli and Additional Registrar General, India, Shri RC Sethi presenting the Report of Census-2011 to the President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil.jpg
| image_caption = President of India [[Pratibha Patil]] receiving the 2011 Census report from the Census Commissioner C. Chandramouli
| country = India
| date = 9 to 28 February 2011
| population = 1,210,193,422
| percent_change = {{increase}} 17.70%<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 May 2011 |title=Decadal Growth censusindia.gov.in |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/43333 |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=Census India}}</ref>
| region_type = state
| most_populous = {{nowrap|[[Uttar Pradesh]] (199,812,341)}}
| least_populous = {{nowrap|[[Sikkim]] (610,577)}}
| previous_census = 2001 Census of India
| previous_year = 2001
| next_census = 2021 Census of India
| next_year = Next
}}
}}
[[File:Stamp of India - 2011 - Colnect 259244 - Census Of India.jpeg|thumb|Postage stamp dedicated to the 2011 Census of India]]
The '''2011 Census of India''' or the '''15th [[Census of India|Indian Census]]''' was conducted in two phases, house listing and population enumeration. The House listing phase began on 1 April 2010 and involved the collection of information about all buildings. Information for National Population Register (NPR) was also collected in the first phase, which will be used to issue a 12-digit unique identification number to all registered Indian residents by [[Aadhaar|Unique Identification Authority of India]]. The second population enumeration phase was conducted between 9 and 28 February 2011. Census has been conducted in India since 1872 and 2011 marks the first time biometric information was collected. According to the provisional reports released on 31 March 2011, the Indian population increased to 1.21 billion with a decadal growth of 17.70%.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indias-population-at-5pm-today-1274239769/articleshow/48033866.cms |title=India's population at 5pm today – 127,42,39,769 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=11 July 2015 |agency=[[Press Trust of India]]}}</ref> Adult literacy rate increased to 74.04% with a decadal growth of 9.21%. The motto of the census was 'Our Census, Our future'.
Spread across 28 [[States of India|states]]{{efn|name=preTG|Prior to the creation of Telangana.}} and 8 [[union territories]], the census covered 640 districts, 5,924 sub-districts, 7,935 towns and more than 600,000 villages. A total of 2.7 million officials visited households in 7,935 towns and 600,000 villages, classifying the population according to gender, religion, education and occupation.<ref name="pr_census_2011">{{cite web | url = http://pib.nic.in/newsite/efeatures.aspx?relid=74556 | title = Census of India 2011 – A Story of Innovations | author = C Chandramouli | publisher = Press Information Bureau, Government of India | date = 23 August 2011 }}</ref> The cost of the exercise was approximately {{INR convert|2200|c}}<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-commentary/do-we-really-need-the-census/ |title=Do we really need the census? |date=26 August 2017 |work=[[The Economic Times]] }}</ref> – this comes to less than $0.50 per person, well below the estimated world average of $4.60 per person.<ref name="pr_census_2011"/> Conducted every 10 years, this census faced big challenges considering India's vast area and diversity of cultures and opposition from the manpower involved.
Information on [[Caste system in India|castes]] was included in the census following demands from several ruling coalition leaders including [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]], and [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]] supported by opposition parties [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], [[Akali Dal]], [[Shiv Sena]] and [[Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Demand-for-caste-census-rocks-Lok-Sabha/articleshow/5887995.cms |title=Demand for caste census rocks Lok Sabha |date=4 May 2010 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> Information on caste was last collected during the [[British Raj]] in 1931. During the early census, people often exaggerated their caste status to garner social status and it is expected that people downgrade it now in the expectation of gaining government benefits.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7122236.ece |title=India to conduct first record of nation's caste system since days of the Raj |work=[[The Times]] |first1=Rhys |last1=Blakely |date=10 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528201456/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7122236.ece |archive-date=28 May 2010}}</ref> Earlier, There was speculation that there would be a caste-based census conducted in 2011, the first time for 80 years (last was in 1931), to find the exact population of the "[[Other Backward Class]]es" (OBCs) in India.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/obc-data-not-in-2011-census-says-moily/555760/ |title=OBC data not in 2011 Census, says Moily |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=18 December 2009 |first1=Suman K |last1=Jha |access-date=24 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-03-11/india/28125455_1_caste-wise-census-caste-wise-obc-census | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202233810/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-03-11/india/28125455_1_caste-wise-census-caste-wise-obc-census | url-status=dead | archive-date=2 December 2013 | work=[[The Times of India]] |agency=TNN | title=No data since 1931, will 2011 Census be all-caste inclusive? | date=11 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-05-28/news/27587821_1_caste-census-caste-system-affirmative-action | work=[[The Economic Times]] | title=Caste in Census 2011: Is it necessary? | date=28 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202232549/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-05-28/news/27587821_1_caste-census-caste-system-affirmative-action |archive-date=2 December 2013 |first1=Rajindar |last1=Sachar}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-09-01/india/27954417_1_obc-population-nsso-survey-scs-and-sts | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823152201/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-09-01/india/27954417_1_obc-population-nsso-survey-scs-and-sts | url-status=dead | archive-date=23 August 2013 | work=[[The Times of India]] | title=OBCs form 41% of population: Survey | date=1 September 2007}}</ref> This was later accepted and the [[Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011]] was conducted whose first findings were revealed on 3 July 2015 by Union Finance Minister [[Arun Jaitley]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/govt-releases-socio-economic-and-caste-census-for-better-policy-making/story-Ajf4fLjhq9ghHZDDVxYOMP.html |title=Govt releases socio-economic and caste census for better policy-making |date=3 July 2015 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref> Mandal Commission report of 1980 quoted OBC population at 52%, though National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) survey of 2006 quoted OBC population at 41%.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-11-01/india/27792478_1_obc-count-obc-numbers-nsso | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203020047/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-11-01/india/27792478_1_obc-count-obc-numbers-nsso | url-status=dead | archive-date=3 December 2013 | work=[[The Times of India]] | title=OBc count: 52 or 41%? | date=1 November 2006}}</ref>
There is only one instance of a caste count in post-independence India. It was conducted in Kerala in 1968 by the [[Government of Kerala]] under [[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]] to assess the social and economic backwardness of various lower castes. The census was termed [[Ethnic groups in Kerala#1968 Socio-Economic Survey of Kerala|Socio-Economic Survey of 1968]] and the results were published in the Gazetteer of Kerala, 1971.<ref>G.O.K dew1971: Appendix XVIII</ref>
==History==
C. M. Chandramauli was the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India for the 2011 Indian Census. Census data was collected in 16 languages and the training manual was prepared in 18 languages. In 2011, India and Bangladesh also conducted their first-ever joint census of areas along their border.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-14149042 |title=Joint Bangladesh and India census |first=Ethirajan|last=Anbarasan |date=14 July 2011 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/census-in-indian-and-bangladesh-enclaves-ends/article2260223.ece |title=Census in Indian and Bangladesh enclaves ends |first=Raktima |last=Bose |date=19 July 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> The census was conducted in two phases. The first, the house-listing phase, began on 1 April 2010 and involved collection of data about all the buildings and census houses.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/article387955.ece| title=House listing operations for Census 2011 progressing well |work=[[The Hindu]] | date=4 April 2010| access-date=16 April 2011| location=Chennai, India| first=Vinay| last=Kumar}}</ref> Information for the National Population Register was also collected in the first phase. The second, the population enumeration phase, was conducted from 9 – 28 February 2011 all over the country. The eradication of epidemics, the availability of more effective medicines for the treatment of various types of diseases and the improvement in the [[standard of living]] were the main reasons for the high decadal growth of population in India.
==Information==
===House-listings===
The House-listing schedule contained 35 questions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-Schedule/Shedules/Houselist%20English.pdf |title=Census of India 2011; Houselisting and Housing Census Schedule |access-date=22 January 2011|publisher= Government of India}}</ref>
{| cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="width:90%; border-collapse:collapse; border:2px #000 solid; font-size:x-big;"
|-
|
# Building number <br /> ''Census house number''
# Predominant material of floor, wall and roof of the census house
# Ascertain use of actual house
# Condition of the census house
# Household number
# Total number of persons in the household
# Name of the head of the household
# Sex of the head
# Caste status (SC or ST or others)
# Ownership status of the house
# Number of dwelling rooms
# Number of married couple the household
# Main source of drinking water
# Availability of drinking water source
# Main source of lighting
# Latrine within the premises
# Type of latrine facility
# Waste water outlet connection
# Bathing facility within the premises
# Availability of kitchen
# Fuel used for cooking
# Radio/Transistor
# Television
# Computer/Laptop
# Telephone/Mobile phone
# Bicycle
# Scooter/Motor cycle/Moped
# Car/Jeep/Van
# Availing Banking services.
|}
===Population enumeration===
The Population enumeration schedule contained 30 questions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-Schedule/Shedules/English_HH_Side_A_NT.pdf |title=Census of India 2011; Household Schedule-Side A |access-date=22 January 2011|publisher= Government of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-Schedule/Shedules/English_HH_Side_B_NT.pdf |title=Census of India 201a1; Household Schedule-Side B |access-date=22 January 2011|publisher= Government of India}}</ref>
{| cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="width:90%; border-collapse:collapse; border:2px #000 solid; font-size:x-big;"
|-
|
# Name of the person
# Relationship to head
# Sex
# Date of birth and age
# Current marital status
# Age at marriage
# Religion
# Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe
# Disability
# Mother tongue
# Other languages known
# '''Literacy status'''
# Status of attendance (Education)
# Highest educational level attained
# Working any time during last year
# Category of economic activity
# Occupation Nature of industry
# Trade or service
# Class of worker
# Non economic activity
# Seeking or available for work
# Travel to place of work
# Birthplace
# Place of last residence
# Reason for migration
# Duration of stay in the place of migration
# Children surviving
# Children ever born
# Number of children born alive during last one year
|}
===National Population Register===
The National Population Register household schedule contained 9 questions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-Schedule/Shedules/NPR%20English.pdf |title=National population register; Household Schedule |access-date=22 January 2011|publisher= Government of India}}</ref>
{| cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="width:40%; border-collapse:collapse; border:2px #000 solid; font-size:x-big;"
|-
|
# Name of the person and resident status
# Name of the person as should appear in the population register
# Relationship to head
# Gender
# Date of birth
# Marital status
# Educational qualification
# Occupation/Activity
# Names of father, mother and spouse
|}
Once the information was collected and digitised, fingerprints were taken and photos collected. [[Unique Identification Authority of India]] was to issue a 12-digit identification number to all individuals and the first ID have been issued in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article362605.ece |title=Census operation in history kicks off |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=1 April 2010 |access-date=1 April 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8598159.stm |title=India launches biometric census |work=[[BBC News]] |date=1 April 2010 |access-date=1 April 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100401053517/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8598159.stm |archive-date=1 April 2010 |url-status= live}}</ref>
==Census report==
[[File:India population increase.GIF|450px|thumb|right|Decadal growth of Indian population (1901–2011).]]
Provisional data from the census was released on 31 March 2011 (and was updated on 20 May 2013).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/rmZay6rxYDggHLlKCaHPfN/Indias-total-population-is-now-121-crore.html |title=India's total population is now 121 crore |work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]] |date=30 April 2013 |agency=[[Press Trust of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-population-2011-census-at-1.2-billion/1/268576.html |title=It's official. We are the second most populous nation in the world at 1.2 billion |work=[[India Today]] |date=30 April 2013 |agency=[[Press Trust of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-04-30/news/38929876_1_urban-population-population-growth-highest-decadal-growth |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503045326/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-04-30/news/38929876_1_urban-population-population-growth-highest-decadal-growth |archive-date=3 May 2013 |date=30 April 2013 |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |title=India's total population is now 1.21 billion |work=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indias-total-population-is-1-21-billion-final-census-reveals-520736 |date=30 April 2013 |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |title=India's total population is 1.21 billion, final census reveals |work=[[NDTV]] }}</ref> [[Transgender]] population was counted in population census in India for the first time in 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistan-counts-transgender-people-in-national-census-for-first-time/articleshow/56428364.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109213448/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistan-counts-transgender-people-in-national-census-for-first-time/articleshow/56428364.cms |archive-date=9 January 2017 |date=9 January 2017 |agency=[[Reuters]] |title=Pakistan counts transgender people in national census for first time |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/over-70000-transgenders-in-rural-india-up-tops-list-socio-economic-and-caste-census-2011-280664-2015 |title=Over 70,000 transgenders in rural India, UP tops list: Census 2011 |date=4 July 2015 |work=[[India Today]]}}</ref> The overall sex ratio of the population is 940 females for every 1,000 males in 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sex-ratio-worsens-in-small-families-improves-with-3-or-more-children/articleshow/50989227.cms |title=Sex ratio worsens in small families, improves with 3 or more children |date=15 February 2016 |first1=Subodh |last1=Varma |work=[[The Times of India]] }}</ref> The official count of the [[third gender]] in India is 490,000<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/First-count-of-third-gender-in-census-4-9-lakh/articleshow/35741613.cms |title=First count of third gender in census: 4.9 lakh |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=30 May 2014 |first1=Rema |last1=Nagarajan }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|'''Population'''
| align=left| Total
| align=right| 1,210,854,977
|-
| align=left| Males
| align=right| 623,724,568
|-
| align=left| Females
| align=right| 586,469,294
|-
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|'''Literacy'''
| align=left| Total
| align=right| 74%
|-
| align=left| Males
| align=right| 82.10%
|-
| align=left| Females
| align=right| 65.46%
|-
|  style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|'''Density of population'''
| align=left|per km<sup>2</sup>
| align=right| 382
|-
|  style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|'''Sex ratio'''
| align=left|per 1000 males
| style="text-align:right;"| 943 females
|-
|  style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|'''Child sex ratio (0–6 age group)'''
| align=left|per 1000 males
| align=right| 914 females
|}
==Population==
The population of [[India]] as per 2011 census was {{formatnum:1210854977}}.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/why-activists-are-upset-with-census-disability-numbers/ |title=Why activists are upset with Census disability numbers |date=15 June 2015 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |first1=Zeeshan |last1=Shaikh }}</ref> India added 181.5 million to its population since 2001, slightly lower than the population of [[Brazil]]. India, with 2.4% of the world's surface area, accounts for 17.5% of its population. Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state with roughly 200 million people. Over half the population resided in the six most populous states of [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Bihar]], [[West Bengal]], [[Andhra Pradesh (1956–2014)|Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Madhya Pradesh]].{{citation needed|date=June 2019}} Of the 1.21 billion Indians, 833 million (68.84%) live in rural areas while 377 million stay in urban areas.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/About-70-per-cent-Indians-live-in-rural-areas-Census-report/article13744351.ece |title=About 70 per cent Indians live in rural areas: Census report |date=15 July 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] |agency=Press Trust of India |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161205073130/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/About-70-per-cent-Indians-live-in-rural-areas-Census-report/article13744351.ece |archive-date=5 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS|title=Rural population (% of total population) &#124; Data|website=data.worldbank.org}}</ref> 453.6 million people in [[India]] are migrants, which is 37.8% of total population.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/tamil-nadu-kerala-daily-wages-migrant-population-4410694/ |title=Every 3rd Indian migrant, most headed south |date=5 December 2016 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |first1=Zeeshan |last1=Shaikh }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/minorityview/migration-in-india-is-still-largely-remains-a-social-rather-than-an-economic-phenomenon/ |title=Migration in India still largely remains a social rather than an economic phenomenon |date=5 December 2016 |work=[[The Times of India]] |first1=Pyaralal |last1=Raghavan }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/minorityview/migration-in-india-is-slowly-becoming-more-urban-and-driven-by-economic-factors/ |title=Migration in India is slowly becoming more urban and driven by economic factors |date=10 December 2016 |work=[[The Times of India]] |first1=Pyaralal |last1=Raghavan }}</ref>
India is home to many religions such as [[Hinduism in India|Hinduism]], [[Islam in India|Islam]], [[Buddhism in India|Buddhism]], [[Sikhism]] and [[Jainism]], while also being home to several indigenous faiths and tribal religions which have been practiced alongside major religions for centuries. According to the 2011 census, the total number of households in India is 248.8 million. Of which 202.4 million are Hindu, 31.2 million are Muslim, 6.3 million are Christian, 4.1 million are Sikh, and 1.9 million are Jain<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/248-8-million-households-across-india-202-mn-hindus-31-mn-muslims-1245845.html |title=248.8 Million Households Across India; 202 mn Hindus, 31 mn Muslims |work=[[News18 India]] |date=20 May 2016 |agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/indian-muslim-family-size-shrinking-rapidly-census-report |title=Indian Muslim Family Size Shrinking Rapidly: Census Report |work=[[The Quint]] |date=21 May 2016}}</ref> According to 2011 census, there are around 3.01 million places of worship in India.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/ZXd6OysrQLMe5s2gERVhOO/India-has-more-places-of-worship-than-schools-or-colleges.html |title=India has more places of worship than schools or colleges |work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]] |date=5 July 2016 |first1=Roshan |last1=Kishore}}</ref>
Ever since its inception, the Census of India has been collecting and publishing information about the religious affiliations as expressed by the people of India. In fact, population census has the rare distinction of being the only instrument that collects this diverse and important characteristic of the Indian population.
{{mw-datatable}}
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible mw-datatable" style="text-align: right;"
|+ Population distribution in India by states
|-
! Rank
! [[States and union territories of India|State / <br/> Union Territory]] (UT)
! Capital
! Type
! Population
! % of total<br/>popula-<br/>tion<!-- Percent(%) of <br/>Total Population --><ref name="States and UT %">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Data_Products/Library/Provisional_Population_Total_link/PDF_Links/chapter3.pdf|title=Ranking of States and Union territories by population size: 1991 and 2001|work=Government of India (2001)|publisher=Census of India|pages=5–6|access-date=12 December 2008}}</ref>
! Males
! Females
! [[human sex ratio|Sex<br/>Ratio]] <br/><ref name="2011 Provisional population tables">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/data_files/india/Final%20PPT%202011_progresstables.pdf |title=Population |work=Government of India (2011) |publisher=Census of India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112151910/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/data_files/india/Final%20PPT%202011_progresstables.pdf |archive-date=12 January 2012 }}</ref>
! Literacy<br/>rate (%)<!-- (%) -->
! Rural<ref name="Rural Urban distribution">{{cite web|url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/prov_results_paper2_india.html|title=Provisional Population Totals|work=Government of India (2011)|publisher=Census of India|access-date=23 July 2011}}</ref> <br/> Population
! Urban<ref name="Rural Urban distribution"/> <br/> Population
! Area<ref name="Area of India/state/district">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Administrative_Divisions/Area_of_India.aspx|title=Area ofIndia/state/district| work=Government of India (2001)|publisher=Census of India|access-date=27 October 2008}}</ref> <br/> (km<sup>2</sup>)
! Density <br/> (1/km<sup>2</sup>)
! Decadal<br/>Growth%<br/>(2001–11)
|-
| 1 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Uttar Pradesh]]
|[[Lucknow]]|| State || 199,812,341 || 16.50 || 104,480,510 || 95,331,831 || 912 || 67.68 || 155,111,022 || 44,470,455 || 240,928 || 828 || 20.1%
|-
| 2 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Maharashtra]]
|[[Mumbai]]|| State || 112,374,333 || 9.28 || 58,243,056 || 54,131,277 || 929 || 82.34 || 61,545,441 || 50,827,531 || 307,713 || 365 || 16.0%
|-
| 3 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Bihar]]
|[[Patna]]|| State || 104,099,452 || 8.60 || 54,278,157 || 49,821,295 || 918 || 61.80 || 92,075,028 || 11,729,609 || 94,163 || 1,102 || 25.1%
|-
| 4 || style="text-align:left;"|[[West Bengal]]
|[[Kolkata]]|| State || 91,276,115 || 7.54 || 46,809,027 || 44,467,088 || 950 || 76.26 || 62,213,676 || 29,134,060 || 88,752 || 1,030 || 13.9%
|-
| 5 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Andhra Pradesh (1956–2014)|Andhra Pradesh]]{{efn|name=preTG}}
|[[Hyderabad]]|| State || 84,580,777 || 6.99 || 42,442,146 || 42,138,631 || 993 || 67.02 || 56,361,702 || 28,219,075 || 275,045 || 308 || 10.98%
|-
| 6 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Madhya Pradesh]]
|[[Bhopal]]|| State || 72,626,809 || 6.00 || 37,612,306 || 35,014,503 || 931 || 69.32 || 52,537,899 || 20,059,666 || 308,245 || 236 || 20.3%
|-
| 7 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Tamil Nadu]]
|[[Chennai]]|| State || 72,147,030 || 5.96 || 36,137,975 || 36,009,055 || 996 || 80.09 || 37,189,229 || 34,949,729 || 130,058 || 555 || 15.6%
|-
| 8 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Rajasthan]]
|[[Jaipur]]|| State || 68,548,437 || 5.66 || 35,550,997 || 32,997,440 || 928 || 66.11 || 51,540,236 || 17,080,776 || 342,239 || 201 || 21.4%
|-
| 9 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Karnataka]]
|[[Bangalore|Bengaluru]]|| State || 61,095,297 || 5.05 || 30,966,657 || 30,128,640 || 973 || 75.36 || 37,552,529 || 23,578,175 || 191,791 || 319 || 15.7%
|-
| 10 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Gujarat]]
|[[Gandhinagar]]|| State || 60,439,692 || 4.99 || 31,491,260 || 28,948,432 || 919 || 78.03 || 34,670,817 || 25,712,811 || 196,024 || 308 || 19.2%
|-
| 11 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Odisha]]
|[[Bhubaneswar|Bhubaneshwar]]|| State || 41,974,218 || 3.47 || 21,212,136 || 20,762,082 || 979 || 72.87 || 34,951,234 || 6,996,124 || 155,707 || 269 || 14.0%
|-
| 12 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Kerala]]
|[[Thiruvananthapuram]]|| State || 33,406,061 || 2.76 || 16,027,412 || 17,378,649 || 1,084 || 94.00 || 17,445,506 || 15,932,171 || 38,863 || 859 || 4.9%
|-
| 13 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Jharkhand]]
|[[Ranchi]]|| State || 32,988,134 || 2.72 || 16,930,315 || 16,057,819 || 948 || 66.41 || 25,036,946 || 7,929,292 || 79,714 || 414 || 22.3%
|-
| 14 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Assam]]
|[[Dispur]]|| State || 31,205,576 || 2.58 || 15,939,443 || 15,266,133 || 958 || 72.19 || 26,780,526 || 4,388,756 || 78,438 || 397 || 16.9%
|-
| 15 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
|[[Chandigarh]]|| State || 27,743,338 || 2.29 || 14,639,465 || 13,103,873 || 895 || 75.84 || 17,316,800 || 10,387,436 || 50,362 || 550 || 13.7%
|-
| 16 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Chhattisgarh]]
|[[Raipur]]|| State || 25,545,198 || 2.11 || 12,832,895 || 12,712,303 || 991 || 70.28 || 19,603,658 || 5,936,538 || 135,191 || 189 || 22.6%
|-
| 17|| style="text-align:left;"|[[Haryana]]
|[[Chandigarh]]|| State || 25,351,462 || 2.09 || 13,494,734 || 11,856,728 || 879 || 75.55 || 16,531,493 || 8,821,588 || 44,212 || 573 || 19.9%
|-
| 18 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Delhi]]
|[[Delhi]]|| UT || 16,787,941 || 1.39 || 8,887,326 || 7,800,615 || 868 || 86.21 || 944,727 || 12,905,780 || 1,484 || 11,297 || 21%
|-
| 19 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
|[[Jammu]](winter)
[[Srinagar]](summer)
| State || 12,541,302 || 1.04 || 6,640,662 || 5,900,640 || 889 || 67.16 || 9,134,820 || 3,414,106 || 222,236 || 56 || 23.7%
|-
| 20 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Uttarakhand]]
|[[Dehradun]]|| State || 10,086,292 || 0.83 || 5,137,773 || 4,948,519 || 963 || 79.63 || 7,025,583 || 3,091,169 || 53,483 || 189 || 19.2%
|-
| 21 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Himachal Pradesh]]
|[[Shimla]]|| State || 6,864,602 || 0.57 || 3,481,873 || 3,382,729 || 972 || 82.80 || 6,167,805 || 688,704 || 55,673 || 123 || 12.8%
|-
| 22 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Tripura]]
|[[Agartala]]|| State || 3,673,917 || 0.30 || 1,874,376 || 1,799,541 || 960 || 87.22 || 2,710,051 || 960,981 || 10,486 || 350 || 14.7%
|-
| 23 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Meghalaya]]
|[[Shillong]]|| State || 2,966,889 || 0.25 || 1,491,832 || 1,475,057 || 989 || 74.43 || 2,368,971 || 595,036 || 22,429 || 132 || 27.8%
|-
| 24 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Manipur]]
|[[Imphal]]|| State || 2,721,756 || 0.21 || 1,290,171 || 1,280,219 || 992 || 79.21 || 1,899,624 || 822,132 || 22,327 || 122 || 18.7%
|-
| 25 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Nagaland]]
|[[Kohima]]|| State || 1,978,502 || 0.16 || 1,024,649 || 953,853 || 931 || 79.55 || 1,406,861 || 573,741 || 16,579 || 119 || −0.5%
|-
| 26 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Goa]]
|[[Panaji]]|| State || 1,458,545 || 0.12 || 739,140 || 719,405 || 973 || 88.70 || 551,414 || 906,309 || 3,702 || 394 || 8.2%
|-
| 27 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Arunachal Pradesh]]
|[[Itanagar]]|| State || 1,383,727 || 0.11 || 713,912 || 669,815 || 938 || 65.38 || 1,069,165 || 313,446 || 83,743 || 17 || 25.9%
|-
| 28 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
|[[Pondicherry]]|| UT || 1,247,953 || 0.10 || 612,511 || 635,442 || 1,037 || 85.85 || 394,341 || 850,123 || 479 || 2,598 || 27.7%
|-
| 29 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Mizoram]]
|[[Aizawl]]|| State || 1,097,206 || 0.09 || 555,339 || 541,867 || 976 || 91.33 || 529,037 || 561,997 || 21,081 || 52 || 22.8%
|-
| 30 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Chandigarh]]
|[[Chandigarh]]|| UT || 1,055,450 || 0.09 || 580,663 || 474,787 || 818 || 86.05 || 29,004 || 1,025,682 || 114 || 9,252 || 17.1%
|-
| 31 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Sikkim]]
|[[Gangtok]]|| State || 610,577 || 0.05 || 323,070 || 287,507 || 890 || 81.42 || 455,962 || 151,726 || 7,096 || 86 || 12.4%
|-
| 32 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
|[[Port Blair]]|| UT || 380,581 || 0.03 || 202,871 || 177,710 || 876 || 86.63 || 244,411 || 135,533 || 8,249 || 46 || 6.7%
|-
| 33 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Dadra and Nagar Haveli]]
|[[Silvassa]]|| UT || 343,709 || 0.03 || 193,760 || 149,949 || 774 || 76.24 || 183,024 || 159,829 || 491 || 698 || 55.5%
|-
| 34 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Daman and Diu]]
|[[Daman, India|Daman]]|| UT || 243,247 || 0.02 || 150,301 || 92,946 || 618 || 87.10 || 60,331 || 182,580 || 112 || 2,169 || 53.5%
|-
| 35 || style="text-align:left;"|[[Lakshadweep]]
|[[Kavaratti]]|| UT || 64,473 || 0.01 || 33,123 || 31,350 || 946 || 91.85 || 14,121 || 50,308 || 32 || 2,013 || 6.2%
|- class=sortbottom
! colspan="2"| [[India]]
! ||35|| 1,210,854,977  || 100 || 623,724,248|| 586,469,174 || 943 || 74.04 || 833,087,662 || 377,105,760 || 3,287,240 || 382 || 17.64%
|}
==Religious demographics ==
The religious data on India Census 2011 was released by the Government of India on 25 August 2015.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/indias-population-121-09-crores-hindus-79-8-pc-muslims-14-2-pc-census/| title=Census 2011: Hindus dip to below 80 per cent of population; Muslim share up, slows down |first1=Sagnik |last1=Chowdhury |first2=Abantika |last2=Ghosh |first3=Ruhi |last3=Tewari |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=26 August 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826001032/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/indias-population-121-09-crores-hindus-79-8-pc-muslims-14-2-pc-census/ |archive-date=26 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="Muslim population growth slows">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Muslim-population-growth-slows/article10336665.ece |title=Muslim population growth slows|first1=Rukmini|last1=S|first2=Vijaita|last2=Singh|date=25 August 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/c-01.html |title=India Census 2011 |publisher=Censusindia.gov.in |access-date=25 August 2015}}</ref> Hindus are 79.8% (966.3 million) while Sikhs are 20.8 million comprising 1.72% of the population,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/religious-communities-census-2011-what-the-numbers-say/article7582284.ece |title=India's religions by numbers |date=26 August 2015 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Muslims are 14.23% (172.2 million) in India.<ref name="Muslim population growth slows"/><ref name="auto1">{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Muslim-representation-on-decline/articleshow/48737293.cms |title=Muslim representation on decline |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=31 August 2015 |access-date=31 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Hindu-population-declined-Muslims-increased-Census-2011/articleshow/48671407.cms |title=Muslim share of population up 0.8%, Hindus' down 0.7% between 2001 and 2011 |work=[[The Times of India]]  |date=26 August 2015 |access-date=24 July 2016}}</ref> and Christians are 2.30% (28.7 million). According to the 2011 Census of India, there are 57,264 Parsis in India.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/where-we-belong-the-fight-of-parsi-women-in-interfaith-marriages-4900480/ |title=Where we belong: The fight of Parsi women in interfaith marriages |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=24 October 2017 |first1=Ruhi |last1=Bhasin |first2=Ankita Dwivedi |last2=Johri |first3=Preeti |last3=Das }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/Parsi-population-dips-by-22-per-cent-between-2001-2011-study/article14508859.ece |title=Parsi population dips by 22 per cent between 2001–2011: study |date=26 July 2016 |work=[[The Hindu]] |agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref> For the first time, a "No religion" category was added in the 2011 census.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.dailyo.in/lifestyle/lokayata-hinduism-atheist-india-religion-narendra-dabholkar/story/1/5954.html |title=Why a Tinder date is better than 72 virgins in paradise |work=[[DailyO]] |date=29 August 2015 |first1=Palash Krishna |last1=Mehrotra}}</ref> 2.87 million were classified as people belonging to "No Religion" in India in the 2011 census<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/against-all-gods-meet-the-league-of-atheists-from-rural-uttar-pradesh/ |title=Against All Gods: Meet the league of atheists from rural Uttar Pradesh |work=[[The Indian Express]] |first1=Hamza |last1=Khan |date=6 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://scroll.in/article/753475/people-without-religion-have-risen-in-census-2011-but-atheists-have-nothing-to-cheer-about |title=People without religion have risen in Census 2011, but atheists have nothing to cheer about |date=7 September 2015 |first=Shoaib|last=Daniyal |work=[[Scroll.in]]}}</ref> 0.24% of India's population of 1.21 billion.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/2-87-million-Indians-have-no-faith-census-reveals-for-first-time/articleshow/48689278.cms |date=27 August 2015 |first1=Sivakumar |last1=B |title=2.87 million Indians have no faith, census reveals for first time |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-188-lakh-people-in-tamil-nadu-state-no-religion-in-2011-census-2118958 |title=1.88 lakh people in Tamil Nadu state 'no religion' in 2011 census |date=27 August 2015 |work=[[DNA India]]}}</ref> Given below is the decade-by-decade religious composition of India until the 2011 census.<ref name="censusindia2011">{{cite news |url=http://www.livemint.com/Home-Page/hxXBcoatDPlDVgcjecQDfJ/Muslim-politics-At-a-crossroads.html |work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]] | title=Muslim politics:At a crossroads |date=30 May 2014 |first1=Devendra |last1=Kumar |access-date=28 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="census1">{{cite web| url=http://www.milligazette.com/news/6953-demographic-dividend-and-indian-muslims-i | title= Demographic Dividend and Indian Muslims – i| author= Aariz Mohammed | date= 1–15 May 2013 | work= Milli Gazette| access-date= 15 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="census2">{{cite web | url= http://www.milligazette.com/print/issue/1-15-may-2013/11 | title= Demographic Dividend and Indian Muslims – i | author= Aariz Mohammed | date= 1–15 May 2013 | work= Milli Gazette | access-date= 15 May 2013 | archive-date= 12 August 2018 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180812115038/http://www.milligazette.com/print/issue/1-15-may-2013/11 | url-status= dead }}</ref> There are six religions in India that have been awarded "National Minority" status – Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and Parsis.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140121/jsp/nation/story_17847192.jsp |title=National minority status for Jains |work=[[The Telegraph (India)]] |date=20 January 2014 |agency=Press Trust of India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124170154/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1140121/jsp/nation/story_17847192.jsp#.UuKchS3fXWc |archive-date=24 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-jains-become-sixth-minority-community-1954568 |title=Jains become sixth minority community |date=21 January 2014 |work=[[DNA India]]}}</ref> Sunnis, Shias, Bohras, Agakhanis and [[Ahmadiyya]]s were identified as sects of Islam in India.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/ahmadiyyas-islam-sects-islam-ahmadiyyas-sect-ahmadiyyas-islam-islamic-sects-islam-india-ahmadiyya-legal-status-2011-census-india-population-india-news-2952701/ |first1=Zeeshan |last1=Shaikh |title=Ahmadiyyas find place as Islam sect in census |date=4 August 2016 |work=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Protest-against-inclusion-of-Ahmediyyas-in-Muslim-census/articleshow/53645457.cms |date=11 January 2016 |agency=TNN |title=Protest against inclusion of Ahmediyyas in Muslim census |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/ahmadiyya-community-census-india-muslims-2954285/ |title=Minority in a minority. The census acknowledges Ahmadis as Muslims. It is a recognition long overdue. |date=5 August 2016 |work=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> As per 2011 census, six major faiths- Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains make up over 99.4% of India's 1.21 billion population, while "other religions, persuasions" (ORP) count is 8.2 million. Among the ORP faiths, six faiths- 4.957 million-strong [[Sarnaism]], 1.026 million-strong [[Gondi people|Gond]], 506,000-strong [[Sari]], [[Donyi-Polo]] (302,000) in Arunachal Pradesh, [[Sanamahism]] (222,000) in Manipur, [[Khasi people|Khasi]] (138,000) in Meghalaya dominate.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/india-religion-census-fewer-minor-faiths-in-india-now-finds-census-number-of-their-adherents-up-2946824/ |title=Fewer minor faiths in India now, finds Census; number of their adherents up |date=1 August 2016 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |first1=Zeeshan |last1=Shaikh }}</ref> Maharashtra is having the highest number of non-religious in the country with 9,652 such people, followed by Kerala.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/o9Soxay5xhcsCiVJl7pTCM/God-versus-Atheism-Bengal-vouches-for-believers.html |title=God versus Atheism, Bengal vouches for believers |first=Soumonty |last=Kanungo |date=10 August 2016 |work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]}}</ref>
;Population trends for major religious groups in India (1951–2011)
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto;"
|- style="text-align: center;"
! Religious<br/>group
! Population <br/>% '''1951'''
! Population <br/>% '''1961'''
! Population <br/>% '''1971'''
! Population <br/>% '''1981'''
! Population <br/>% '''1991'''
! Population <br/>% '''2001'''
! Population <br/>% '''2011'''
|-
! style="background:orange;"| Hinduism
| 84.1% || 83.45% || 82.73% || 82.30% || 81.53% || 80.46% || 79.80%
|-
! style="background:Green;"| Islam
| 9.8% || 10.69% || 11.21% || 11.75% || 12.61% || 13.43% ||14.23%
|-
! style="background:DodgerBlue;"| Christianity
| 2.3% || 2.44% || 2.60% || 2.44% || 2.32% || 2.34% || 2.30%
|-
! style="background:greenyellow;"| Sikhism
| 1.79% || 1.79% || 1.89% || 1.92% || 1.94% || 1.87% || 1.72%
|-
! style="background:Gold;"| Buddhism
| 0.74% || 0.74% || 0.70% || 0.70% || 0.77% || 0.77% || 0.70%
|-
! style="background:Brown;"| Jainism
| 0.46% || 0.46% || 0.48% || 0.47% || 0.40% || 0.41% || 0.37%
|-
! style="background:Wheat;"| Zoroastrianism
| 0.13% || 0.09% || 0.09% || 0.09% || 0.08% || 0.06% || n/a
|-
! style="background:Yellow;"| Other religions / No religion
| 0.8% || 0.8% || 0.41% || 0.42% || 0.44% || 0.8% || 0.9%
|}
{{Clear}}
==Language demographics==
{{Main|Languages of India}}
[[Hindi]] is the most widely spoken language in northern parts of India.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hindi-the-first-choice-of-people-in-only-12-states/article27459774.ece |title=Hindi the first choice of people in only 12 States |first=Sumant |last=Sen |date=4 June 2019 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> The Indian census takes the widest possible definition of "Hindi" as a broad variety of "[[Hindi languages]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf|title=Abstract speakers languages India 2011}}</ref> According to 2011 Census, 57.1% of Indian population know Hindi,<ref name="fulllangdatacensus 2011"/> in which 43.63% of Indian people have declared Hindi as their native language or mother tongue.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/what-india-speaks-south-indian-languages-are-growing-not-fast-hindi-83823 |title=What India speaks: South Indian languages are growing, but not as fast as Hindi |date=28 June 2018 |work=[[The News Minute]] |first1=Haripriya |last1=Suresh }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://scroll.in/article/884754/surging-hindi-shrinking-south-indian-languages-nine-charts-that-explain-the-2011-language-census |title=Surging Hindi, shrinking South Indian languages: Nine charts that explain the 2011 language census |first=Shoaib|last=Daniyal |work=[[Scroll.in]] |date=4 July 2018}}</ref> The language data was released on 26 June 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/hindi-mother-tongue-of-44-in-india-bangla-second-most-spoken/articleshow/64755458.cms |title=Hindi mother tongue of 44% in India, Bangla second most spoken |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=28 June 2018 |first1=Bharti |last1=Jain }}</ref> Bhili/Bhilodi was the most spoken unscheduled language with 10.4 million speakers, followed by Gondi with 2.9 million speakers. 96.71% of India's population speaks one of the 22 scheduled languages as their mother tongue in the 2011 census.
The 2011 census report on [[bilingualism]] and [[trilingualism]], which provides data on the two languages in order of preference in which a person is proficient other than the mother tongue, was released in September 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-17/DDW-C17-0000.XLSX|title=C-17 Population by Bilingualism and Trilingualism}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/after-mother-tongue-city-more-proficient-in-english/662470.html |date=2 October 2018 |first1=Bhartesh Singh |last1=Thakur |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)]] |title=After mother tongue, city more proficient in English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/C-Series/C-Series_link/DDWC-000018.pdf|title=C-18 Population by Bilingualism, Trilingualism, Age and Sex}}</ref> The number of bilingual speakers in India is 314.9 million, which is 26% of the population in 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/hindi-migrants-speaking-marathi-rise-to-60-lakh/articleshow/66061624.cms |date=4 October 2018 |first1=Sivakumar |last1=B |title=Hindi migrants speaking Marathi rise to 60 lakh |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> 7% of Indian population is trilingual.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/52-of-indias-urban-youth-are-now-bilingual-18-speak-three-languages/articleshow/66530958.cms |title=52% of India's urban youth are now bilingual, 18% speak three languages |date=7 November 2018 |first1=Rema |last1=Nagarajan |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> Hindi, Bengali speakers are India's least multilingual groups.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/hindi-bengali-speakers-indias-least-multilingual-groups/articleshow/66612384.cms |title=Hindi, Bengali speakers India's least multilingual groups |date=14 November 2018 |first1=Rema |last1=Nagarajan |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
Numbers regarding languages spoken available in the 2011 Indian Census data may not reflect actual data in India due to how the data was collected, with participants being allowed to give any response they wished for what languages they spoke.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+First, Second, and Third languages by number of speakers in India (2011 Census)
!Language
!First language<br/>speakers<ref name="1971-2001">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf|title=Census of India: Comparative speaker's strength of Scheduled Languages-1951, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011}}</ref>
!First language<br/>speakers as a percentage of total population
!Second language<br/>speakers
!Third language<br/>speakers
!Total speakers <ref name="fulllangdatacensus 2011">{{cite news |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/how-languagesintersect-in-india/story-g3nzNwFppYV7XvCumRzlYL.html |title=How languages intersect in India |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=22 November 2018 |first1=Vijdan Mohammad |last1=Kawoosa }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/static/iframes/language_probability_interactive/index.html |title=How many Indians can you talk to? |work=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref>
!Total speakers as a percentage of total population
|-
|[[Hindi]]
|528,347,193
|43.63
|139,207,180
|24,000,000
|692,000,000
|57.1
|-
|[[English language|English]]
|259,678
|0.02
|83,125,221
|46,000,000
|129,000,000
|10.6
|-
|[[Bengali language|Bengali]]
|97,237,669
|8.3
|9,037,222
|1,000,000
|107,000,000
|8.9
|-
|[[Marathi language|Marathi]]
|83,026,680
|7.09
|13,000,000
|3,000,000
|99,000,000
|8.2
|-
|[[Telugu language|Telugu]]
|81,127,740
|6.93
|12,000,000
|1,000,000
|95,000,000
|7.8
|-
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]
|69,026,881
|5.89
|7,000,000
|1,000,000
|77,000,000
|6.3
|-
|[[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]
|55,492,554
|4.74
|4,000,000
|1,000,000
|60,000,000
|5
|-
|[[Urdu]]
|50,772,631
|4.34
|11,000,000
|1,000,000
|63,000,000
|5.2
|-
|[[Kannada]]
|43,706,512
|3.73
|14,000,000
|1,000,000
|59,000,000
|4.94
|-
|[[Odia language|Odia]]
|37,521,324
|3.2
|5,000,000
|390,000
|43,000,000
|3.56
|-
|[[Malayalam]]
|34,838,819
|2.97
|500,000
|210,000
|36,000,000
|2.9
|-
|[[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]
|33,124,726
|2.83
|2,230,000
|720,000
|36,600,000
|3
|-
|[[Sanskrit]]
|24,821
|<0.01
|1,230,000
|1,960,000
|3,190,000
|0.19
|}
==Literacy==
Any individual above age 7 who can read and write in any language with an ability to understand was considered literate. In censuses before 1991, children below the age 5 were treated as illiterates. The literacy rate taking the entire population into account is termed as "crude literacy rate", and taking the population from age 7 and above into account is termed as "effective literacy rate". Effective literacy rate increased to a total of 74.04% with 82.14% of the males and 65.46% of the females being literate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/censusinfodashboard/index.html |title= Census Provional Population Totals |access-date=14 February 2013 |publisher= [[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India|The Registrar General & Census Commissioner]], India}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
! colspan="5" |Effective literacy rate (1901-2011){{Citation needed|date=February 2013}}
|-
!  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"|S.No.
!  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"|Census year
!  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"|Total (%)
!  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"|Male (%)
!  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"|Female (%)
|- valign="top"
| style="text-align:center;"|1 || style="text-align:center;"|1901 || style="text-align:right;"|5.35 || style="text-align:right;"|9.83 || style="text-align:right;"|0.60
|- valign="top"
| style="text-align:center;"|2 || style="text-align:center;"|1911 || style="text-align:right;"|5.92 || style="text-align:right;"|10.56 || style="text-align:right;"|1.05
|- valign="top"
| style="text-align:center;"|3 || style="text-align:center;"|1921 || style="text-align:right;"|7.16 || style="text-align:right;"|12.21 || style="text-align:right;"|1.81
|- valign="top"
| style="text-align:center;"|4 || style="text-align:center;"|1931 || style="text-align:right;"|9.50 || style="text-align:right;"|15.59 || style="text-align:right;"|2.93
|- valign="top"
| style="text-align:center;"|5 || style="text-align:center;"|1941 || style="text-align:right;"|16.10 || style="text-align:right;"|24.90 || style="text-align:right;"|7.30
|- valign="top"
| style="text-align:center;"|6 || style="text-align:center;"|1951 || style="text-align:right;"|16.67 || style="text-align:right;"|24.95 || style="text-align:right;"|9.45
|- valign="top"
| style="text-align:center;"|7 || style="text-align:center;"|1961 || style="text-align:right;"|24.02 || style="text-align:right;"|34.44 || style="text-align:right;"|12.95
|- valign="top"
| style="text-align:center;"|8 || style="text-align:center;"|1971 || style="text-align:right;"|29.45 || style="text-align:right;"|39.45 || style="text-align:right;"|18.69
|- valign="top"
| style="text-align:center;"|9 || style="text-align:center;"|1981 || style="text-align:right;"|36.23 || style="text-align:right;"|46.89 || style="text-align:right;"|24.82
|- valign="top"
| style="text-align:center;"|10 || style="text-align:center;"|1991 || style="text-align:right;"|42.84 || style="text-align:right;"|52.74 || style="text-align:right;"|32.17
|- valign="top"
| style="text-align:center;"|11 || style="text-align:center;"|2001 || style="text-align:right;"|64.83 || style="text-align:right;"|75.26 || style="text-align:right;"|53.67
|- valign="top"
| style="text-align:center;"|12 || style="text-align:center;"|2011 || style="text-align:right;"|74.04 || style="text-align:right;"|82.14 || style="text-align:right;"|65.46
|}
==See also==
* [[Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011]]
* [[Demography of India]]
* [[Irreligion in India]]
* [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]]
* [[Other Backward Class]]
{{Clear}}
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/ Census of India Official Website]
* [https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog Data catalogues on Official Website]
* [https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/census-tables Census tables on Official Website]
* [https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/42876 Cities having population 1 lakh and above, Census 2011]
* {{Cite news|date=11 April 2010 |title=Bhujbal, Munde pitch for OBC census |language=en-IN |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Bhujbal-Munde-pitch-for-OBC-census/article16365507.ece |access-date=24 July 2020 |issn=0971-751X}}
{{Census of India}}
[[Category:2011 in India|Census of India, 2011]]
[[Category:Censuses in India]]
[[Category:Political history of India]]
[[Category:Manmohan Singh administration]]
[[Category:2011 censuses|India]]

Latest revision as of 20:59, 31 October 2023