Christians Overtake Muslims, Second Highest in Tamil Nadu

Posted September 14, 2004
New Delhi, Sep 10
Sun Network

Despite the controversy that the now defunct anti-conversion law of the Jayalalithaa regime was aimed at preventing the Christian conversions, the data on Christian population shows that they are the second highest in Tamil Nadu.

Of course the Hindus dominate with their population of 5,49,85,079 (88.1%) out of the total population of 6,24,05,679 in the State. There are 37,85,060 (6.1%) Christians followed by 34,70,647 (5.6%) Muslims. The population of Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains are neglegibleas they are only 5,393, 9,545 and 83,359 (0.1%) respectively.

According to the data on religion collected based on the 2001 census, which was released by the Census Commissioner of India recently, the literacy rate of Christians is the highest among the three main religions. This shows that the Christian missionaries really played a big role in educating Tamil Nadu. As high as 85.8% of Christians are literate in the State followed by Muslims - 82.9% and Hindus - 72% But it should be not be noted that the literacy rate among Hindu population is also much higher compared to their percentage of population.

Even in the female literacy rate Christians top the list with 81.6% followed by Muslims 76.2% and Hindus 62.4% In sex ratio, ie. number of females for 1000 males, it is 1031 for Christians, 1020 for Muslims and 983 for Hindus.

Another interesting feature is that though the Jains are only 0.1%, their literacy rate however is 92.2% Female literacy rate among them is 88.4% A look at the children sex ratio (0-6 years of age) would show that the Christians dominate with 968, followed by 957 among Muslims and 939 in Hindus.

But if you take the child population (0-6 years) proportionate to the total population it is Muslims who top the list with 12.9% followed by Hindus 11.5% and Christians 11.2%Interestingly in the work participation rate, ie. proportion of workers or job goers, Hindus dominate the list with 45.9%, followed by Christians 39% and Muslims 31.8%

Tamil Nadu's population at a glance

Total population : 6,24,05,679

No. of Hindus : 5,49,85,079

No. of Christians : 37,85,060

No. of Muslims : 34,70,647

No. of Jains : 83,359

No. Buddhists : 5,393

No. Sikhs : 9,545

Sex ratio (number of females for 1000 males)

Hindus : 983

Christians : 1031

Muslims : 1020.