EAC-PM working paper reveals 43% increase in India's Muslim population from 1950-2015
- In Reports
- 07:21 PM, May 08, 2024
- Myind Staff
According to a working paper published by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), India has experienced a decrease in the proportion of its majority religious population by 7.81 percent between 1950 and 2015.
Conversely, the Muslim population witnessed a significant increase of 43.15 percent during the same period. The analysis, which covered 167 countries, revealed that India's decline in majority population is second only to Myanmar.
The paper, authored by EAC-PM members Shamika Ravi, Apurv Kumar Mishra, and Abraham Jose, highlights that India's minority communities are not only protected but also flourishing. It contrasts India's trend with that of neighbouring South Asian countries, where the majority population has grown while minority populations have declined substantially.
The working paper relies on demographic data from the Religious Characteristics of States Dataset Project - Demographics by the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA) in 2019.
It indicates a significant increase in the share of minority populations in India, including Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, and Sikhs, while the shares of Jain and Parsi populations have declined. Specifically, between 1950 and 2015, the share of Christians increased by 5.38 percent, Sikhs by 6.58 percent, and Buddhists also saw a noticeable rise.
The paper highlights a decline in the share of Jains and Parsis in India's population from 1950 to 2015. Specifically, the share of Jains decreased from 0.45 percent to 0.36 percent, while the Parsi population witnessed a stark 85 percent decline, reducing from 0.03 percent to 0.004 percent during the same period.
According to the paper, India's performance suggests a conducive environment for fostering diversity in society. It emphasises the importance of providing a nurturing environment and societal support through a bottom-up approach to promote better life outcomes for disadvantaged sections of society.
India stands out as one of the few countries with a legal definition of minorities and constitutionally protected rights for them. The paper attributes the growing number of minority populations within India to the outcomes of these progressive policies and inclusive institutions.
The paper contrasts trends in South Asia, where majority religious groups grew while minorities shrank in countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Afghanistan. India emerges as a refuge for minorities from the region during tough times.
In the Indian subcontinent, Muslim-majority nations, except Maldives, saw an increase in their majority group. Bangladesh recorded the largest rise at 18%, while Pakistan saw a 3.75% increase. Sri Lanka and Bhutan are the only non-Muslim majority countries where the majority group's share rose between 1950 and 2015.
India has provided sanctuary to various persecuted communities, including Tibetan Buddhists fleeing China, Matuas from Bangladesh, and refugees from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Afghanistan, reflecting its pluralistic and democratic ethos.
Meanwhile, Myanmar, India, and Nepal saw declines in their majority religious denominations. Myanmar had the sharpest decline in Theravada Buddhist population. In Nepal, Hindu population decreased by 4%, Buddhist by 3%, while Muslim increased by 2%.
The authors highlight the demographic changes in these countries due to their proximity to India, suggesting that such fluctuations impact India's politics and policies.
Image source: India TV
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