Sociologist Mukul Joshi told dna that the data for the caste-wise break-up would be a better indication of which way the political winds will blow.
Like the national figures, in Maharashtra too Muslims constitute the second largest group. Counting 12,971,152, Muslims constitute 11.54% of the state's population. However, while it is Christians who enjoy third largest community status at the national-level (2.78 crore – 2.3% of the population), in Maharashtra it is Buddhists who constitute the third largest with a population of 6,531,200 (5.81%).
At 1.24%, Jains with 14,00,309 come next followed by Christians who at 1,080,073 are at 0.96%. All other groups are lesser than those who did not want to divulge their religion. Such people number 2,86,290 and constitute 0.25% of the population of the state. This is followed by Sikhs who number 2,23,247 (0.19%) and others who number 1,78,965 (0.15%).
Thane is the biggest district with a population of 1,10,54,131 and constitutes about 9.84% of total population of the state. Growth rate in Thane is 35.94%. Next to Thane, Pune and Mumbai (sub-urban) are the bigger districts with population 94,26,959 (8.4 %) and 93,32,481 (8.3 %) respectively. In 2001, Mumbai (sub-urban) was on the top with 8.9 % share in the total state's population.
Sindhudurg is the smallest district with population 8,48,868 which is only 0.8 % of state's population. Next to Sindhudurg, Gadchiroli is the small district with a share of only 1%. Hingoli, Washim and Bhandara with a share of population 1.1 % each are the other small districts.
Sociologist Mukul Joshi told dna that the data for the caste-wise break-up would be a better indication of which way the political winds will blow. "In light of the reservation-for-Patels' agitation, it is interesting to see if the government releases data which shows the percentage- wise break-up of castes because this will be useful to counter/support the claims of numbers being made."
MAHA
total
11,23,74,333
Hindus
89,703,057
Muslims
12971,152
Christians
1080073
Sikhs
223247
Buddhists
6531200
Jains
1400349
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}