<P> India is the homeland of major belief systems such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism, while also being home to several indigenous faiths and tribal religions which have survived the influence of major religions for centuries . </P> <P> 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 . </P> <Table> Population distribution in India by states <Tr> <Th> (hide) Rank </Th> <Th> State / Union Territory (UT) </Th> <Th> Type </Th> <Th> Population </Th> <Th>% of total population </Th> <Th> Males </Th> <Th> Females </Th> <Th> Sex Ratio </Th> <Th> Literacy rate (%) </Th> <Th> Rural Population </Th> <Th> Urban Population </Th> <Th> Area (km2) </Th> <Th> Density (/ km2) </Th> <Th> Decadal Growth% (2001 - 2011) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Uttar Pradesh </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 199,812,341 </Td> <Td> 16.5 </Td> <Td> 104,480,510 </Td> <Td> 95,331,831 </Td> <Td> 930 </Td> <Td> 67.68 </Td> <Td> 155,111,022 </Td> <Td> 44,470,455 </Td> <Td> 240,928 </Td> <Td> 828 </Td> <Td> 20.1% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Maharashtra </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 112,374,333 </Td> <Td> 9.28 </Td> <Td> 58,243,056 </Td> <Td> 54,131,277 </Td> <Td> 929 </Td> <Td> 82.34 </Td> <Td> 61,545,441 </Td> <Td> 50,827,531 </Td> <Td> 307,713 </Td> <Td> 365 </Td> <Td> 16.0% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Bihar </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 104,099,452 </Td> <Td> 8.6 </Td> <Td> 54,278,157 </Td> <Td> 49,821,295 </Td> <Td> 918 </Td> <Td> 61.80 </Td> <Td> 92,075,028 </Td> <Td> 11,729,609 </Td> <Td> 94,163 </Td> <Td> 1,102 </Td> <Td> 25.1% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> West Bengal </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 91,276,115 </Td> <Td> 7.54 </Td> <Td> 46,809,027 </Td> <Td> 44,467,088 </Td> <Td> 950 </Td> <Td> 76.26 </Td> <Td> 62,213,676 </Td> <Td> 29,134,060 </Td> <Td> 88,752 </Td> <Td> 1,030 </Td> <Td> 13.9% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> Andhra Pradesh </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 84,580,777 </Td> <Td> 6.99 </Td> <Td> 42,442,146 </Td> <Td> 42,138,631 </Td> <Td> 993 </Td> <Td> 67.02 </Td> <Td> 56,361,702 </Td> <Td> 28,219,075 </Td> <Td> 275,045 </Td> <Td> 308 </Td> <Td> 11.1% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> Madhya Pradesh </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 72,626,809 </Td> <Td> 6.00 </Td> <Td> 37,612,306 </Td> <Td> 35,014,503 </Td> <Td> 931 </Td> <Td> 69.32 </Td> <Td> 52,537,899 </Td> <Td> 20,059,666 </Td> <Td> 308,245 </Td> <Td> 236 </Td> <Td> 20.3% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> Tamil Nadu </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 72,147,030 </Td> <Td> 5.96 </Td> <Td> 36,137,975 </Td> <Td> 36,009,055 </Td> <Td> 996 </Td> <Td> 80.09 </Td> <Td> 37,189,229 </Td> <Td> 34,949,729 </Td> <Td> 130,058 </Td> <Td> 555 </Td> <Td> 15.6% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> Rajasthan </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 68,548,437 </Td> <Td> 5.66 </Td> <Td> 35,550,997 </Td> <Td> 32,997,440 </Td> <Td> 928 </Td> <Td> 66.11 </Td> <Td> 51,540,236 </Td> <Td> 17,080,776 </Td> <Td> 342,239 </Td> <Td> 201 </Td> <Td> 21.4% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> Karnataka </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 61,095,297 </Td> <Td> 5.05 </Td> <Td> 30,966,657 </Td> <Td> 30,128,640 </Td> <Td> 973 </Td> <Td> 75.36 </Td> <Td> 37,552,529 </Td> <Td> 23,578,175 </Td> <Td> 191,791 </Td> <Td> 319 </Td> <Td> 15.7% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> Gujarat </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 60,439,692 </Td> <Td> 4.99 </Td> <Td> 31,491,260 </Td> <Td> 28,948,432 </Td> <Td> 919 </Td> <Td> 78.03 </Td> <Td> 34,670,817 </Td> <Td> 25,712,811 </Td> <Td> 196,024 </Td> <Td> 308 </Td> <Td> 19.2% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> Odisha </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 41,974,218 </Td> <Td> 3.47 </Td> <Td> 21,212,136 </Td> <Td> 20,762,082 </Td> <Td> 979 </Td> <Td> 72.87 </Td> <Td> 34,951,234 </Td> <Td> 6,996,124 </Td> <Td> 155,707 </Td> <Td> 269 </Td> <Td> 14.0% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> Kerala </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 33,406,061 </Td> <Td> 2.76 </Td> <Td> 16,027,412 </Td> <Td> 17,378,649 </Td> <Td> 1,084 </Td> <Td> 94.00 </Td> <Td> 17,445,506 </Td> <Td> 15,932,171 </Td> <Td> 38,863 </Td> <Td> 859 </Td> <Td> 4.9% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> Jharkhand </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 32,988,134 </Td> <Td> 2.72 </Td> <Td> 16,930,315 </Td> <Td> 16,057,819 </Td> <Td> 948 </Td> <Td> 66.41 </Td> <Td> 25,036,946 </Td> <Td> 7,929,292 </Td> <Td> 79,714 </Td> <Td> 414 </Td> <Td> 22.3% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 14 </Td> <Td> Assam </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 31,205,576 </Td> <Td> 2.58 </Td> <Td> 15,939,443 </Td> <Td> 15,266,133 </Td> <Td> 958 </Td> <Td> 72.19 </Td> <Td> 26,780,526 </Td> <Td> 4,388,756 </Td> <Td> 78,438 </Td> <Td> 397 </Td> <Td> 16.9% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> Punjab </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 27,743,338 </Td> <Td> 2.29 </Td> <Td> 14,639,465 </Td> <Td> 13,103,873 </Td> <Td> 895 </Td> <Td> 75.84 </Td> <Td> 17,316,800 </Td> <Td> 10,387,436 </Td> <Td> 50,362 </Td> <Td> 550 </Td> <Td> 13.7% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> Chhattisgarh </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 25,545,198 </Td> <Td> 2.11 </Td> <Td> 12,832,895 </Td> <Td> 12,712,303 </Td> <Td> 991 </Td> <Td> 70.28 </Td> <Td> 19,603,658 </Td> <Td> 5,936,538 </Td> <Td> 135,191 </Td> <Td> 189 </Td> <Td> 22.6% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> Haryana </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 25,351,462 </Td> <Td> 2.09 </Td> <Td> 13,494,734 </Td> <Td> 11,856,728 </Td> <Td> 879 </Td> <Td> 75.55 </Td> <Td> 16,531,493 </Td> <Td> 8,821,588 </Td> <Td> 44,212 </Td> <Td> 573 </Td> <Td> 19.9% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Delhi </Td> <Td> UT </Td> <Td> 16,787,941 </Td> <Td> 1.39 </Td> <Td> 8,887,326 </Td> <Td> 7,800,615 </Td> <Td> 868 </Td> <Td> 86.21 </Td> <Td> 944,727 </Td> <Td> 12,905,780 </Td> <Td> 1,484 </Td> <Td> 11,297 </Td> <Td> 21% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> Jammu and Kashmir </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 12,541,302 </Td> <Td> 1.04 </Td> <Td> 6,640,662 </Td> <Td> 5,900,640 </Td> <Td> 889 </Td> <Td> 67.16 </Td> <Td> 9,134,820 </Td> <Td> 3,414,106 </Td> <Td> 222,236 </Td> <Td> 56 </Td> <Td> 23.7% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 20 </Td> <Td> Uttarakhand </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 10,086,292 </Td> <Td> 0.83 </Td> <Td> 5,137,773 </Td> <Td> 4,948,519 </Td> <Td> 963 </Td> <Td> 79.63 </Td> <Td> 7,025,583 </Td> <Td> 3,091,169 </Td> <Td> 53,483 </Td> <Td> 189 </Td> <Td> 19.2% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Himachal Pradesh </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 6,864,602 </Td> <Td> 0.57 </Td> <Td> 3,481,873 </Td> <Td> 3,382,729 </Td> <Td> 972 </Td> <Td> 82.80 </Td> <Td> 6,167,805 </Td> <Td> 688,704 </Td> <Td> 55,673 </Td> <Td> 123 </Td> <Td> 12.8% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td> Tripura </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 3,673,917 </Td> <Td> 0.30 </Td> <Td> 1,874,376 </Td> <Td> 1,799,541 </Td> <Td> 960 </Td> <Td> 87.22 </Td> <Td> 2,710,051 </Td> <Td> 960,981 </Td> <Td> 10,486 </Td> <Td> 350 </Td> <Td> 14.7% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 23 </Td> <Td> Meghalaya </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 2,966,889 </Td> <Td> 0.25 </Td> <Td> 1,491,832 </Td> <Td> 1,475,057 </Td> <Td> 989 </Td> <Td> 74.43 </Td> <Td> 2,368,971 </Td> <Td> 595,036 </Td> <Td> 22,429 </Td> <Td> 132 </Td> <Td> 27.8% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 24 </Td> <Td> Manipur </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 2,721,756 </Td> <Td> 0.21 </Td> <Td> 1,290,171 </Td> <Td> 1,280,219 </Td> <Td> 992 </Td> <Td> 79.21 </Td> <Td> 1,899,624 </Td> <Td> 822,132 </Td> <Td> 22,327 </Td> <Td> 122 </Td> <Td> 18.7% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 25 </Td> <Td> Nagaland </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 1,978,502 </Td> <Td> 0.16 </Td> <Td> 1,024,649 </Td> <Td> 953,853 </Td> <Td> 931 </Td> <Td> 79.55 </Td> <Td> 1,406,861 </Td> <Td> 573,741 </Td> <Td> 16,579 </Td> <Td> 119 </Td> <Td> - 0.5% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 26 </Td> <Td> Goa </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 1,458,545 </Td> <Td> 0.12 </Td> <Td> 739,140 </Td> <Td> 719,405 </Td> <Td> 973 </Td> <Td> 88.70 </Td> <Td> 551,414 </Td> <Td> 906,309 </Td> <Td> 3,702 </Td> <Td> 394 </Td> <Td> 8.2% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 27 </Td> <Td> Arunachal Pradesh </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 1,383,727 </Td> <Td> 0.11 </Td> <Td> 713,912 </Td> <Td> 669,815 </Td> <Td> 938 </Td> <Td> 65.38 </Td> <Td> 1,069,165 </Td> <Td> 313,446 </Td> <Td> 83,743 </Td> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> 25.9% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 28 </Td> <Td> Puducherry </Td> <Td> UT </Td> <Td> 1,247,953 </Td> <Td> 0.10 </Td> <Td> 612,511 </Td> <Td> 635,442 </Td> <Td> 1,037 </Td> <Td> 85.85 </Td> <Td> 394,341 </Td> <Td> 850,123 </Td> <Td> 479 </Td> <Td> 2,598 </Td> <Td> 27.7% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 29 </Td> <Td> Mizoram </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 1,097,206 </Td> <Td> 0.09 </Td> <Td> 555,339 </Td> <Td> 541,867 </Td> <Td> 976 </Td> <Td> 91.33 </Td> <Td> 529,037 </Td> <Td> 561,997 </Td> <Td> 21,081 </Td> <Td> 52 </Td> <Td> 22.8% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 30 </Td> <Td> Chandigarh </Td> <Td> UT </Td> <Td> 1,055,450 </Td> <Td> 0.09 </Td> <Td> 580,663 </Td> <Td> 474,787 </Td> <Td> 818 </Td> <Td> 86.05 </Td> <Td> 29,004 </Td> <Td> 1,025,682 </Td> <Td> 114 </Td> <Td> 9,252 </Td> <Td> 17.1% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 31 </Td> <Td> Sikkim </Td> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 610,577 </Td> <Td> 0.05 </Td> <Td> 323,070 </Td> <Td> 287,507 </Td> <Td> 890 </Td> <Td> 81.42 </Td> <Td> 455,962 </Td> <Td> 151,726 </Td> <Td> 7,096 </Td> <Td> 86 </Td> <Td> 12.4% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 32 </Td> <Td> Andaman and Nicobar Islands </Td> <Td> UT </Td> <Td> 380,581 </Td> <Td> 0.03 </Td> <Td> 202,871 </Td> <Td> 177,710 </Td> <Td> 876 </Td> <Td> 86.63 </Td> <Td> 244,411 </Td> <Td> 135,533 </Td> <Td> 8,249 </Td> <Td> 46 </Td> <Td> 6.7% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 33 </Td> <Td> Dadra and Nagar Haveli </Td> <Td> UT </Td> <Td> 343,709 </Td> <Td> 0.03 </Td> <Td> 193,760 </Td> <Td> 149,949 </Td> <Td> 774 </Td> <Td> 76.24 </Td> <Td> 183,024 </Td> <Td> 159,829 </Td> <Td> 491 </Td> <Td> 698 </Td> <Td> 55.5% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 34 </Td> <Td> Daman and Diu </Td> <Td> UT </Td> <Td> 243,247 </Td> <Td> 0.02 </Td> <Td> 150,301 </Td> <Td> 92,946 </Td> <Td> 618 </Td> <Td> 87.10 </Td> <Td> 60,331 </Td> <Td> 182,580 </Td> <Td> 112 </Td> <Td> 2,169 </Td> <Td> 53.5% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 35 </Td> <Td> Lakshadweep </Td> <Td> UT </Td> <Td> 64,473 </Td> <Td> 0.01 </Td> <Td> 33,123 </Td> <Td> 31,350 </Td> <Td> 946 </Td> <Td> 91.85 </Td> <Td> 14,121 </Td> <Td> 50,308 </Td> <Td> 32 </Td> <Td> 2,013 </Td> <Td> 6.2% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> TOTAL </Th> <Th> India </Th> <Th> 35 </Th> <Th> 1,210,854,977 </Th> <Th> 100 </Th> <Th> 623,724,248 </Th> <Td> 586,469,174 </Td> <Td> 943 </Td> <Td> 73.00 </Td> <Td> 833,087,662 </Td> <Td> 377,105,760 </Td> <Td> 3,287,240 </Td> <Td> 382 </Td> <Td> 17.64% </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> (hide) Rank </Th> <Th> State / Union Territory (UT) </Th> <Th> Type </Th> <Th> Population </Th> <Th>% of total population </Th> <Th> Males </Th> <Th> Females </Th> <Th> Sex Ratio </Th> <Th> Literacy rate (%) </Th> <Th> Rural Population </Th> <Th> Urban Population </Th> <Th> Area (km2) </Th> <Th> Density (/ km2) </Th> <Th> Decadal Growth% (2001 - 2011) </Th> </Tr>

As per 2011 census which state of india has lowest population