Muslims have highest percentage of illiterates : Census

Among India’s religious communities, Muslims have the highest number of illiterates at nearly 43%, while Jains have the highest number of literates at over 86%, as per the latest census figures on ‘education level by religious community’ for age 7 years and above.

The illiteracy figures of other communities stood at 36.4% for Hindus, 32.49% for Sikhs, 28.17% for Buddhists and 25.66% for Christians.

Jains also topped the list when it came to percentage of people who have graduated.

Around 25.65% Jains have graduation as educational qualification, surpassing other communities whose figures under this head are 8.85% for Christians, 6.4% for Sikhs, 6.18% for Buddhists, 5.98% for Hindus and 2.76% for Muslims.

The overall literacy rates among all communities have gone up since 2001. The following table shows the rise in literacy levels of various religious communities in 2011 when compared to 2001.