Meghalaya is the third most populous northeast state of India and has a diverse population of many religions & communities. At the census 2011, out of 30 Lakhs population, around 22 lakhs (74.59%) have returned themselves as followers of Christianity religion, 3.42 Lakhs (11.53%) as Hindus, 2.58 Lakhs (8.71%) as Tribal Religion and 1.30 lakhs (4.40%) as Muslims. In addition, 0.32% stated No religion & 0.77% are other religions.
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Religion-wise Population in Meghalaya
| # | Religion | Population 2011 |
| 1 | Christian | 2,213,027 |
| 2 | Hindu | 342,078 |
| 3 | Tribal & Other Religions | 258,271 |
| 4 | Muslim | 130,399 |
| 5 | Buddhist | 9,864 |
| 6 | Sikh | 3,045 |
| 7 | Jain | 6,27 |
| 8 | Religion not stated | 9,578 |
| Total | 2,966,889 |
Source: Census 2011
Religion-wise Population Percentage in Meghalaya
| # | Religion | Percentage% |
| 1 | Christian | 74.59% |
| 2 | Hindu | 11.53% |
| 3 | Tribal & Other religions | 8.71% |
| 4 | Muslim | 4.40% |
| 5 | Buddhist | 0.33% |
| 6 | Sikh | 0.10% |
| 7 | Jain | 0.02% |
| 8 | Religion not stated | 0.32% |
Source: Census 2011
Religion in Meghalaya - Rural Population
| # | Religion | Rural Pop. 2011 | Percentage % |
| 1 | Christian | 1,817,419 | 76.64% |
| 2 | Tribal religions | 232,659 | 9.81% |
| 3 | Hindu | 190,258 | 8.02% |
| 4 | Muslim | 115,041 | 4.85% |
| 5 | Buddhist | 6,547 | 0.28% |
| 6 | Sikh | 613 | 0.03% |
| 7 | Jain | 273 | 0.01% |
| 8 | Religion not stated | 8,629 | 0.36% |
| Total | 2,371,439 |
Source: Census 2011
Religion in Meghalaya - Urban Population
| # | Religion | Urban Pop. 2011 | Percentage % |
| 1 | Christian | 395,608 | 66.44% |
| 2 | Hindu | 151,820 | 25.50% |
| 3 | Tribal religions | 25,612 | 4.30% |
| 4 | Muslim | 15,358 | 2.58% |
| 5 | Buddhist | 3,317 | 0.56% |
| 6 | Sikh | 2,432 | 0.41% |
| 7 | Jain | 354 | 0.06% |
| 8 | Religion not stated | 949 | 0.16% |
| Total | 595,450 |
Source: Census 2011
Meghalaya Caste-wise Population
| Caste | Population (%) |
| OBC* | – |
| Dalits (SCs) | 0.58% |
| Tribals (STs) | 86.15% |
| General caste* | 13% |
*Govt has not enumerated caste-wise population other than SCs and STs in the Census 2011.
Caste-wise percentage in Meghalaya
The tribal population of Meghalaya is mainly composed of three major groups — Garos, Khasis, and Pnars (Jaintias). The Garos, largely found in the Garo Hills, are believed to belong to the Tibeto-Burman ethnic group, while the Khasis and Pnars of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills are associated with the Proto-Austroloid Mon-Khmer lineage. Several sub-groups, such as Bhoi, Khynriam, and War, are considered branches of the Khasi community and live in different parts of the state. Most tribes today follow Christianity, and agriculture remains the primary occupation due to the state’s fertile land and high rainfall.
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