| Group | Where | Number of Adherents |
% of total pop. |
Number of congreg./ churches/ units |
Number of countries |
Year | Source | Quote/ Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentinelese | India: Andaman | 117 | - | - | - | 1901 | Venkateswar, Sita. "The Andaman Islanders " in Scientific American (May 1999), pg. 84. | Table: "Indigenous Population [of Andaman Islands] "; estimate |
| Sentinelese | India: Andaman | 117 | - | - | - | 1901 | Venkateswar, Sita. "The Andaman Islanders " in Scientific American (May 1999), pg. 87. | "In 1901, when the British undertook the first census in the Indian subcontinent, officials counted 624 Great Andamanese and estimated numbers for the other three tribes: 672 Onge, 468 Jarawa and 117 Sentinelese. " |
| Sentinelese | India: Andaman | 50 | - | - | - | 1951 | Venkateswar, Sita. "The Andaman Islanders " in Scientific American (May 1999), pg. 84. | Table: "Indigenous Population [of Andaman Islands] "; estimate |
| Sentinelese | India: Andaman | 50 | - | - | - | 1951 | Venkateswar, Sita. "The Andaman Islanders " in Scientific American (May 1999), pg. 87. | "By 1951, when independent India conducted its first census, the number of Great Andamanese had fallen to a mere 23. Estimates of the other tribes were also low--150 Onge, Jarawa and 50 Sentinelese. " |
| Sentinelese | India: Andaman | 100 | - | - | - | 1998 | Venkateswar, Sita. "The Andaman Islanders " in Scientific American (May 1999), pg. 84. | Table: "Indigenous Population [of Andaman Islands] "; estimate |
| Sentinelese | India: Andaman | 100 | - | - | - | 1998 | Venkateswar, Sita. "The Andaman Islanders " in Scientific American (May 1999), pg. 87. | "Only an estimated 100 Onge, 250 Jarawa and 100 Sentinelese are now alive. " |
| Christianity | India: Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 40,564 | 16.80% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | "Religiously, 72.80% are Hindus. The Christians are the second largest religious group having 16.80% in this District. "; "Population: 241,453 " |
| Hinduism | India: Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 175,778 | 72.80% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | "Religiously, 72.80% are Hindus. The Christians are the second largest religious group having 16.80% in this District. "; "Population: 241,453 " |
| Buddhism | India: Andhra Pradesh | 22,153 | 0.03% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Christianity | India: Andhra Pradesh | 1,216,384 | 1.83% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Hill Reddis | India: Andhra Pradesh | - | - | - | - | 1981 | Crim, Keith (ed.). The Perennial Dictionary of World Religions. San Francisco: Harper Collins (1989). Reprint; originally pub. as Abingdon Dictionary of Living Religions, 1981; pg. 708. | "The Hill Reddis of Andhra Pradesh and some other tribes have no concept of a soul as an entity different from the body. Deceased relatives to whom food is given at the time of certain ceremonies are referred to as 'the elders' or simply 'the departed,' but never as the 'souls of the departed' or the 'ancestral spirits.' " |
| Hinduism | India: Andhra Pradesh | 59,281,952 | 89.14% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Islam | India: Andhra Pradesh | 5,923,954 | 8.91% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Jainism | India: Andhra Pradesh | - | - | - | - | 1984 | Folkert, Kendall W. "Jainism " in Hinnells, John R. (ed). A Handbook of Living Religions, Penguin Books: New York (1991) [reprint; 1st published in 1984], pg. 261. | Figure 7.1: Distributions of the Jain population (in India) by number and as percentage of state population. [Andhra Pradesh: pop. figure: "10,000 to 100,000 " percentage: "below 1/4% "] |
| Jainism | India: Andhra Pradesh | 26,564 | 0.04% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| other | India: Andhra Pradesh | 2,564 | 0.00% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census]; [ "other " is religions NOT Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain or Sikh] |
| Sikhism | India: Andhra Pradesh | 21,910 | 0.03% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Vipassana Meditation Centers | India: Andhra Pradesh | - | - | 1 unit |
- | 1999 | *LINK* web site: "Vipassana Meditation "; web page: "Vipassana Meditation Centers in India " (viewed 13 Feb. 1999) | counted meditation centers listed in directory; Andhra Pradesh location: Hyderabad |
| Buddhism | India: Arunachal Pradesh | 111,372 | 12.88% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Christianity | India: Arunachal Pradesh | 89,013 | 10.30% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Hinduism | India: Arunachal Pradesh | 320,212 | 37.04% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Islam | India: Arunachal Pradesh | 11,922 | 1.38% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Jainism | India: Arunachal Pradesh | - | - | - | - | 1984 | Folkert, Kendall W. "Jainism " in Hinnells, John R. (ed). A Handbook of Living Religions, Penguin Books: New York (1991) [reprint; 1st published in 1984], pg. 261. | Figure 7.1: Distributions of the Jain population (in India) by number and as percentage of state population. [Pop. figure for this province: "Below 10,000 " percentage: "less than 1/4% "] |
| Jainism | India: Arunachal Pradesh | 64 | 0.01% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| other | India: Arunachal Pradesh | 313,118 | 36.22% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census]; [ "other " is religions NOT Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain or Sikh] |
| Sikhism | India: Arunachal Pradesh | 1,205 | 0.14% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Brahmans | India: Assam | - | 2.00% | - | - | 1998 | Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 3 - Asia & Oceania. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998), pg. 126. | "Around 12% of Hindus in the upper Ganges plains are Brahmans. However, the numbers of Brahmans drop dramatically in areas distant from the Aryan heartland. In Assam, Orissa, and Tamil Nadu, for example, they make up less than 3% of the Hindu population. " [Other sources indicate Assam is 67% Hindu. 67% * .03% = 2%] |
| Buddhism | India: Assam | 64,008 | 0.29% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Christianity | India: Assam | 744,367 | 3.32% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Hinduism | India: Assam | 15,047,293 | 67.13% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Islam | India: Assam | 6,373,204 | 28.43% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Jainism | India: Assam | - | - | - | - | 1984 | Folkert, Kendall W. "Jainism " in Hinnells, John R. (ed). A Handbook of Living Religions, Penguin Books: New York (1991) [reprint; 1st published in 1984], pg. 261. | Figure 7.1: Distributions of the Jain population (in India) by number and as percentage of state population. [Assam: pop. figure: "10,000 to 100,000 " percentage: "less than 1/4% "] |
| Jainism | India: Assam | 20,645 | 0.09% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| other | India: Assam | 138,230 | 0.62% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census]; [ "other " is religions NOT Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain or Sikh] |
| Shaktism | India: Assam | - | - | - | - | 1996 | Occhiogrosso, Peter. The Joy of Sects: A Spirited Guide to the World's Religious Traditions. New York: Doubleday (1996), pg. 54. | "The center of Shaktism today is Kamarupa in the province of Assam. " |
| Sikhism | India: Assam | 16,492 | 0.07% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Ananda Marga | India: Bihar | - | - | - | - | 1955 | *LINK* Ireland, Rowan. Web site: La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia; web page: "New Religious Associations in Australia ", written January 1998. (Viewed 4 July 1999). | "Ananda Marga is an international spiritual and social service organisation active in more than 120 countries around the world. The movement traces its origins back more than 7000 years to a highly esoteric school of Indian philosophy. The movement originated in Jamalpur, Bihar State in India in 1955, when it was founded by Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar, also known by the spiritual name Shrii Shrii Anandamurti. Shrii Shrii Anandamurti is referred to by members of Ananda Marga as 'Baba' which means 'Most Beloved'. Ananda Marga, the organisation's name given by Sarkar, is Sanskrit for 'Path of Bliss'... Initially, Ananda Marga was active solely in the teaching of yoga, meditation and spiritual philosophy. " |
| Buddhism | India: Bihar | 3,518 | 0.00% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Christianity | India: Bihar | 235,620 | 27.72% | - | - | 1981 | Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 3 - Asia & Oceania. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998), pg. 544-545. | "The 1981 census reported 850,000 Mundas in Bihar State, where most of the Munda population is found... "; Pg. 545: "Some Mundas have accepted Hinduism and Christianity, although they preserve many of their earlier religious practices. The 1981 census recorded 45.56% of Mundas as Hindus, 27.72% as Christian, and 26.54% as following the traditional religion. " |
| Christianity | India: Bihar | 200 | - | - | - | 1987 | *LINK* Nance Profiles web site (orig. source: Global Prayer Digest 2/9/87); (viewed Aug. 1998; now restricted.) | Bihar is also known as "the graveyard of Christian missions. " Patna, the capital city, has over 800,000 people but less than 100 of these are Christians. In the north and central parts of the state there are perhaps another 50 to 100 known Christians. |
| Christianity | India: Bihar | 843,717 | 0.98% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Hinduism | India: Bihar | 387,260 | 45.56% | - | - | 1981 | Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 3 - Asia & Oceania. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998), pg. 544-545. | "The 1981 census reported 850,000 Mundas in Bihar State, where most of the Munda population is found... "; Pg. 545: "Some Mundas have accepted Hinduism and Christianity, although they preserve many of their earlier religious practices. The 1981 census recorded 45.56% of Mundas as Hindus, 27.72% as Christian, and 26.54% as following the traditional religion. " |
| Hinduism | India: Bihar | 63,000,000 | - | - | - | 1987 | *LINK* Nance Profiles web site (orig. source: Global Prayer Digest 2/9/87); (viewed Aug. 1998; now restricted.) | Meanwhile, there are 11 million Muslims without any reported evangelistic work and another 63 million unreached Hindus. |
| Hinduism | India: Bihar | 71,193,416 | 82.42% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Islam | India: Bihar | 11,000,000 | - | - | - | 1987 | *LINK* Nance Profiles web site (orig. source: Global Prayer Digest 2/9/87); (viewed Aug. 1998; now restricted.) | Meanwhile, there are 11 million Muslims without any reported evangelistic work and another 63 million unreached Hindus. |
| Islam | India: Bihar | 12,787,985 | 14.81% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Jainism | India: Bihar | - | - | - | - | 1984 | Folkert, Kendall W. "Jainism " in Hinnells, John R. (ed). A Handbook of Living Religions, Penguin Books: New York (1991) [reprint; 1st published in 1984], pg. 261. | Figure 7.1: Distributions of the Jain population (in India) by number and as percentage of state population. [Bihar: pop. figure: "10,000 to 100,000 " percentage: "less than 1/4% "] |
| Jainism | India: Bihar | 23,049 | 0.03% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Munda religion | India: Bihar | 225,590 | 26.54% | - | - | 1981 | Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 3 - Asia & Oceania. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998), pg. 544-545. | "The 1981 census reported 850,000 Mundas in Bihar State, where most of the Munda population is found... "; Pg. 545: "Some Mundas have accepted Hinduism and Christianity, although they preserve many of their earlier religious practices. The 1981 census recorded 45.56% of Mundas as Hindus, 27.72% as Christian, and 26.54% as following the traditional religion. " |
| Mundas | India: Bihar | 850,000 | - | - | - | 1981 | Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 3 - Asia & Oceania. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998), pg. 544-545. | "Mundas: Location: India (Bihar state); Population: 1.25 million (estimate); Language: Mundari; Religion: Traditional animism; Hinduism; Christianity "; "The 1981 census reported 850,000 Mundas in Bihar State, where most of the Munda population is found. Allowing for natural increase, and the numbers of Mundas living in West Bengal, Assam, and in other northeastern states, the Munda population is estimated to be around 1.25 million today. " [NOTE: These statistics are of tribal/ethnic affiliation, NOT counts of how many practice traditional Munda religion.] |
| other | India: Bihar | 1,443,258 | 1.67% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census]; [ "other " is religions NOT Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain or Sikh] |
| Sikhism | India: Bihar | 78,212 | 0.09% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Vipassana Meditation Centers | India: Bihar | - | - | 3 units |
- | 1999 | *LINK* web site: "Vipassana Meditation "; web page: "Vipassana Meditation Centers in India " (viewed 13 Feb. 1999) | counted meditation centers listed in directory; Bihar locations: Muzaffarpur, Bodh Gaya, Baracakia |
| Baghdadi Jews | India: Bombay | - | - | 2 units |
- | 1982 | Ross, Dan. Acts of Faith: A Journey to the Fringes of Jewish Identity. New York: St. Martin's Press (1982), pg. 205. | "Nine synagogues still function in Bombay, although the two Baghdadi ones have to pay Bene Israel to help form a daily minyan. |
| Bene Israel | India: Bombay | 2,000 | - | - | - | 1925 | Ross, Dan. Acts of Faith: A Journey to the Fringes of Jewish Identity. New York: St. Martin's Press (1982), pg. 197. | "...by the 1920s, some 2,000 Bene Israel were concentrated in Bombay. " |
| Judaism | India: Bombay | 16,000 | 0.53% | - | - | 1951 | Ross, Dan. Acts of Faith: A Journey to the Fringes of Jewish Identity. New York: St. Martin's Press (1982), pg. 205. | "Of Bombay's nearly three million residents (by the 1951 census), only sixteen thousand were Jewish. " |
| Judaism | India: Bombay | - | - | 9 units |
- | 1982 | Ross, Dan. Acts of Faith: A Journey to the Fringes of Jewish Identity. New York: St. Martin's Press (1982), pg. 205. | "Nine synagogues still function in Bombay, although the two Baghdadi ones have to pay Bene Israel to help form a daily minyan. |
| Parsis | India: Bombay | 46,100 | - | - | - | 1901 | Boyce, Mary. "Zoroastrianism " in Hinnells, John R. (ed). A Handbook of Living Religions, Penguin Books: New York (1991) [reprint; 1st published in 1984], pg. 174. | "Figure 4.2: Some Parsi statistics " |
| Parsis | India: Bombay | 50,100 | - | - | - | 1911 | Boyce, Mary. "Zoroastrianism " in Hinnells, John R. (ed). A Handbook of Living Religions, Penguin Books: New York (1991) [reprint; 1st published in 1984], pg. 174. | "Figure 4.2: Some Parsi statistics " |
| Parsis | India: Bombay | 52,100 | - | - | - | 1921 | Boyce, Mary. "Zoroastrianism " in Hinnells, John R. (ed). A Handbook of Living Religions, Penguin Books: New York (1991) [reprint; 1st published in 1984], pg. 174. | "Figure 4.2: Some Parsi statistics " |
| Parsis | India: Bombay | 57,700 | - | - | - | 1931 | Boyce, Mary. "Zoroastrianism " in Hinnells, John R. (ed). A Handbook of Living Religions, Penguin Books: New York (1991) [reprint; 1st published in 1984], pg. 174. | "Figure 4.2: Some Parsi statistics " |
| Parsis | India: Bombay | 59,900 | - | - | - | 1941 | Boyce, Mary. "Zoroastrianism " in Hinnells, John R. (ed). A Handbook of Living Religions, Penguin Books: New York (1991) [reprint; 1st published in 1984], pg. 174. | "Figure 4.2: Some Parsi statistics " |
| Parsis | India: Bombay | 68,600 | - | - | - | 1951 | Boyce, Mary. "Zoroastrianism " in Hinnells, John R. (ed). A Handbook of Living Religions, Penguin Books: New York (1991) [reprint; 1st published in 1984], pg. 174. | "Figure 4.2: Some Parsi statistics " |
| Parsis | India: Bombay | 50,000 | - | - | - | 1957 | Welles, Sam. The World's Great Religions, New York: Time Incorporated (1957), pg. 7. | "...the Parsees, who form a tiny community, not much over a hundred thousand in size, with half their number concentrated in Bombay. " |
| Parsis | India: Bombay | 71,800 | - | - | - | 1961 | Boyce, Mary. "Zoroastrianism " in Hinnells, John R. (ed). A Handbook of Living Religions, Penguin Books: New York (1991) [reprint; 1st published in 1984], pg. 174. | "Figure 4.2: Some Parsi statistics " |
| Parsis | India: Bombay | 70,100 | - | - | - | 1971 | Boyce, Mary. "Zoroastrianism " in Hinnells, John R. (ed). A Handbook of Living Religions, Penguin Books: New York (1991) [reprint; 1st published in 1984], pg. 174. | "Figure 4.2: Some Parsi statistics " |
| Zoroastrianism | India: Bombay | - | - | 35 units |
- | 1998 | Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 3 - Asia & Oceania. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998), pg. 629. | "Today, there are some 35 fire temples (called agiyari) around Bombay, but only 4 have the Atash Behram... Non-Parsis are not allowed to enter the fire temples. " |
| Jainism | India: Delhi | - | 1.00% | - | - | 1984 | Folkert, Kendall W. "Jainism " in Hinnells, John R. (ed). A Handbook of Living Religions, Penguin Books: New York (1991) [reprint; 1st published in 1984], pg. 261. | Figure 7.1: Distributions of the Jain population (in India) by number and as percentage of state population. [Delhi: pop. figure: "10,000 to 100,000 " percentage: "<1% "] |
| Sikhism | India: Delhi | 300,000 | - | - | - | 1993 | O'Brien, J. & M. Palmer. The State of Religion Atlas. Simon & Schuster: New York (1993). Pg 30-31. | 275,000 to 300,000 Sikhs (Map of "Largest Sikh Populations in India in 1993 ") |
| Buddhism | India: Goa | 240 | 0.02% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Christianity | India: Goa | 408,000 | 34.00% | - | - | 1991 | Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 3 - Asia & Oceania. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998), pg. 216-217. | "Goans: Location: India (Goa state) "; "Goa's population is estimated to be just over 1.3 million persons (the 1991 census reported a population of 1.2 million). "; "Goans are mostly Hindu (about 62% of the population) and Christian (34%) and there are a small number of Muslims. Whatever their religion, Goans tend to be orthodox in their beliefs. Goan Christians are Roman Catholics, like their Portuguese conquerors... The many churches and cathredrals of Goa, som active today but many now abandones, bear witness to the piety of the Portuguese and their subjects in the past. " |
| Christianity | India: Goa | 349,225 | 29.85% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |
| Christianity | India: Goa | 442,000 | 34.00% | - | - | 1998 | Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 3 - Asia & Oceania. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998), pg. 216-217. | "Goans: Location: India (Goa state) "; "Goa's population is estimated to be just over 1.3 million persons (the 1991 census reported a population of 1.2 million). "; "Goans are mostly Hindu (about 62% of the population) and Christian (34%)... " |
| Hinduism | India: Goa | 744,000 | 62.00% | - | - | 1991 | Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 3 - Asia & Oceania. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998), pg. 216-217. | "Goans: Location: India (Goa state) "; "Goa's population is estimated to be just over 1.3 million persons (the 1991 census reported a population of 1.2 million). "; "Goans are mostly Hindu (about 62% of the population) and Christian (34%)... Whatever their religion, Goans tend to be orthodox in their beliefs... The Hindus are largely followers of Shiva, although they show the characteristic diversity of beliefs and practices identified with Hindu peoples. " |
| Hinduism | India: Goa | 756,621 | 64.68% | - | - | 1991 | *LINK* web site: "Mission India " | Table: "Religion 1991 " [based on census] |