Reproductive Behaviour of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Muslims form the largest minority group in India. According to the 1991 census, they constitute about 12 per cent of the country's population. In absolute terms, Muslims in India total 101.6 millions which gives India the distinction of having the second largest Muslim population in the world. The spread of Muslims in different states varies from one per cent in Punjab to 22 per cent in the States of Kerala and West Bengal, except for 64 per cent in Jammu and Kashmir. In Uttar Pradesh, according to the 1981 census, Muslims comprised 15.2 per cent of the total population. Within the State also their concentration varies from 3.2 per cent in tile Hill region to 21 per cent in the Western region. Some districts of the Western region such as Muradabad, Rampur, Shahranpur, Bijnor and Shahjahanpur have a Muslim concentration of as much as 40 per cent.