Which state has the most Muslims?

Uttar Pradesh has the largest Muslim population among Indian states in absolute numbers, with over 38 million Muslims according to recent census data, representing roughly 19% of the state's total population. Despite not having the highest Muslim percentage, UP's massive overall population of over 200 million people means it houses more Muslims than any other Indian state. West Bengal comes second with approximately 27 million Muslims, followed by Bihar, Maharashtra, and Assam in terms of absolute numbers.

However, when considering Muslim population as a percentage of a state's total population, Jammu and Kashmir has historically had the highest proportion at around 68%, though this reflects data before the reorganization into Union Territories in 2019. Lakshadweep, a Union Territory, has over 96% Muslim population. Among major states by percentage, Assam has approximately 34% Muslim population, West Bengal around 27%, and Kerala approximately 27%. These demographic patterns reflect historical migration, cultural developments, and regional history spanning centuries. Understanding these distributions matters for governance, cultural policy, and electoral demographics, though India's constitutional framework ensures secular governance regardless of state-level religious compositions. The diversity of religious populations across different states illustrates India's pluralistic character where various communities have deep-rooted presence in different regions.