A Nimportant study undertaken by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) an analysis of the evolving status of religious minorities around the worldprovides significant and renewed evidence of the demographic decline of the majority and the growing population of minorities in most nations including India.
The working paper, which examined demographic change between 1950 and 2015 across 167 nations, found that the share of the majority in India-Hindus declined by 7.8 percent to 78.06 percent of the population. During the same period, the Muslim population in India rose from 9.84 percent to 14.09 percent. The Christian population rose marginally from 2.24 to 2.36 percent during this period and that of Sikhs from 1.24 to 1.85 percent. India's population is estimated to be 1.45 billion today.
Now let's look at what's happening in India's neighbourhood. All the Muslimmajority countries have witnessed an increase in the share of the largest denomination, except in Maldives, where there has been a small decline of 1.47 percent.
In Bangladesh, where the Hindu minority has crashed from 23 percent to 8 percent (a 66 percent decrease), the Muslim majority has risen 18 percent. The researchers describe this as a "demographic shock" that the Hindu population has been subjected to in that nation. Similarly, Pakistan has seen a rise of 10 percent in the total Muslim population.
The situation has been just the opposite in the subcontinent's non-Muslim nations.
The population of the majority declined in India, Myanmar and Nepal. In Myanmar, the Theravada Buddhist population shrunk by 10 percent, while in Nepal the Hindu and Buddhist populations registered 4 percent and 3 percent declines, and the Muslim population rose 2 percent. The Hindu population has also declined 5 percent in Sri Lanka and dropped 12 percentage points to 11 percent in Bhutan.
This story is from the May 23, 2024 edition of The Morning Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 23, 2024 edition of The Morning Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Sub Weghorst snatches winner for Netherlands
SUBSTITUTE Wout Weghorst snatched a late winner for the Netherlands in a 2-1 victory over Poland on Sunday in their opening Euro 2024 clash.
ENGLAND LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY
After a roller-coaster group stage, Buttler & Co qualify for Super 8s, but will have their task cut out from here
Why opening Family Investment Funds in GIFT City makes sense
FIFs in GIFT City have a wide range of permissible investments and enjoy tax benefits, including a tax holiday on business income for up to 10 years
Swiss conference agrees territorial integrity of Kyiv must be respected
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the first steps toward peace at the meeting
Biden challenged to cognitive test
DONALD Trump on Saturday night suggested President Joe Biden \"should have to take a cognitive test,\" only to confuse who administered the test to him in the next sentence.
Plan to relocate tigresses to Palamu reserve
TO retain the four tigers which have migrated to Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR), efforts are underway to relocate at least two tigresses and one tiger from another reserve.
Houses razed as Yadav govt targets beef mafia'
AHEAD of the Eid-Ul-Adha (festival of sacrifice), the Mohan Yadav-led BJP government is cracking down against the \"beef\" mafia in Madhya Pradesh.
Jammu forests new terror hubs
65 people, including 36 security personnel, killed in Jammu region in over 30 months.
Railways forms panel to look into speed limit violations by train drivers
CONCERNED over loco pilots (train drivers) violating speed limits, the Railway Board has constituted a committee to look into such instances.
It's for parties to decide new Speaker, I have no role in it, says Om Birla
WHILE all eyes are on the crucial election to select the new Lok Sabha Speaker on June 26, outgoing Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday said he has no role in the decision and it was for the political parties to decide on the new Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.