Census 2011: Sikhs, Jains have the worst sex ratio

Sikhs and Jains have the worst sex ratio in the country while Christians have the best with 958 girls against 1,000 boys, as per additional census data.

According to the 2011 census, there were 828 girls in the age of 0 to 6 years in the Sikh community in comparison to 1,000 boys. Among the Jains, there were 889 girls against 1,000 boys in the age group of 0 to 6 years. The child sex ratio of total population in the country was 918 girls against 1,000 boys.

Among other communities, there were 958 Christian girls against 1,000 boys, 913 Hindu girls against 1,000 boys, 943 Muslim girls against 1,000 boys and 933 Buddhist girls against 1,000 boys.

As per 2001 census, the child sex ratio among Hindu was 925 girls against 1,000 boys, Muslims 950 girls, Christians 964 girls, Sikhs 786 girls, Buddhists 942 girls and Jains 870 girls against 1,000 boys.

Sex Ratio for total population in 2011 census stands at 943 females against 1,000 males. Among the Hindus, 939 females against 1,000 males, Muslims 951 females, Christians 1,023 females, Sikhs 903 females, Buddhists 965 females and Jains 954 females against 1,000 males.

In absolute terms, according to 2011 census, Sikh community has a population of 2,08,33,116, of which 47.4 per cent are females while 52.55 per cent are males as compared to Christians where women constitute 49.4 per cent per cent and males are 50.5 per cent of the total 2,78,19,588 persons belonging to the community. Hindus, which have a population of 96,62,57,353, have 48.4 per cent women and 51.5 per cent men.

The percentage is similar in Muslims which are second largest religious group in the country with 48.7 per cent women and 51.2 per cent men of the population of 17,22,45,156. Buddhists, which have a population of 84,42,972, have 50.8 per cent males and 49.11 per cent females, while Jains have a population of 44,51,753 with 51.1 per cent males and 48.8 per cent females. Jains have become the most literate community followed by Christians and Buddhists as per the 2011 census.

The effective literacy rate (7+ years) for major religious groups were recorded to be 73.3 per cent (Hindus), 68.5 per cent (Muslims), 84.5 per cent (Christians), 75.4 per cent (Sikhs), 81.3 per cent (Buddhists) and 94.9 per cent (Jains) while for total population it was 73.0 per cent.

Work participation rate for total population stands at 39.8 per cent and, by religious communities it is 41.0 per cent (Hindus), 32.6 per cent (Muslims), 41.9 per cent (Christians), 36.3 per cent (Sikhs), 43.1 per cent (Buddhists) and 35.5 per cent (Jains).