- Demographics of Punjab, India
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Population Growth Census Pop. %± 1951 9,161,000 — 1961 11,135,000 21.5% 1971 13,551,000 21.7% 1981 16,788,915 23.9% 1991 20,281,969 20.8% 2001 24,289,296 19.8% source:Census of India [1][2] Sikhism is the most practiced faith in Punjab, and roughly 62.3% of the population belongs to the Sikh faith. 34% of the population practices Hinduism. Other faiths include Islam, Buddhism, Christianity and Jainism.[3]
The holiest of Sikh Shrines, the Shri Harmandir Sahib Ji (or Golden Temple), is in The Holy city of Amritsar. The Sri Akal Takht Sahib Ji which resides within the Golden temple complex is the temporal seat of Sikhs. Of the five Takhts[Temporal Seat] of Sikhism, three are in Punjab. Anandpur Sahib is where Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji created the Khalsa on Vaisakhi. During major holidays on the Sikh calendar (such as Vaisakhi, Hola Mohalla, Gurpurb or Diwali), many Sikhs gather and march through virtually every city, town and village in Punjab. Sikhism is so common in fact, that at least one Sikh Gurdwara can be found in every village, town and city (in various styles and sizes).
The Punjabi language, written in the Gurmukhi script is the official and most commonly used language in the state. Other languages which are spoken in Punjab are Hindi and also English, a colonial legacy and also spoken among the diaspora in the U.K., Canada, and Australia among others. The Muslim population in Punjab has increased to 1.57% due to labourer workers from other Indian states, mainly Bihar.
Religion No. of people[3] % of total Total population 24,272,486[4] 100% Sikhs 14,592,387 62.3% Hindus 8,997,942 34% Muslims 300,000 1.57 % Christians 292,800 1.20 % Buddhists 41,487 0.17 % Jains 39,276 0.16 % Others 8,594 0.04 % Religion Population by District
As of the 2001 census[5]
District Sikhs Hindus Christians Muslims Gurdaspur 44% 47% 7% Amritsar 77% 21% 2% Kapurthala 59% 38% Tarn Taran 90% 10% Jalandhar 37.7% 59% 1% Hoshiarpur 40% 59% 1% Nawanshahar 40% 60% Ludhiana 49.5% 47% 2% 1% Moga 86% 13% Bathinda 74% 25% 1% Faridkot 78% 22% Firozpur 51% 47% 1% Mansa 78% 20% 1% Sangrur 70% 22% 8% Muktsar 74% 25% Fatehgarh Sahib 75% 23% 1% Patiala 56% 42% 1% Chandigarh 16% 79% 1% 4% Rupnagar 57% 41% Christians make up about 1.1% of the population mainly concentrated in Gurdaspur. Muslims make up close to 1.57% residing mainly in Malerkotla, Sangrur, Chandigarh and Qadian.
References
- ^ "Demographic Trends" (in English). Census of India. www.punenvis.nic.in. http://www.punenvis.nic.in/demo_trends.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
- ^ "Census Population" (PDF). Census of India. Ministry of Finance India. http://indiabudget.nic.in/es2006-07/chapt2007/tab97.pdf. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
- ^ a b Census of India, 2001: population of Punjab by religion
- ^ Census of India, 2001
- ^ Basic 2001 census data by state and district
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