Demographics

Population

The population of Nagaland consists of almost 1.9 million people, of which 1.04 million are males
and 0.95 million females.Among its districts, Dimapur has the largest population (379,769), followed
by Kohima (270,063). The least populated district is Longleng (50,593). 75% of the population lives
in the rural areas. As of 2013, about 10% of rural population is below the poverty line; among the
people living in urban areas 4.3% of them are below the poverty line.

Population change The state showed a population drop between 2001 census to 2011 census, the only state to show a population drop in the census. This has been attributed, by scholars,to incorrect counting in past censuses; the 2011 census in Nagaland is considered most reliable so far.

The largest urban agglomerations are centred upon Dimapur 122,834 and Kohima 115,283. Other major towns and 2011 census populations are Tuensang 36,774, Mokokchung 35,913, Wokha 35,004, Mon 26,328, Chumukedima 25,885, Zunheboto 22,633, Kiphire 16,487, Kuda 16,108, Kohima Village 15,734, Phek 14,204, Pfutsero 10,371 and Diphupar 'A' 10,246

Religion

The state's population is 1.978 million, out of which 88% are Christians.The census of 2011 recorded the state's Christian population at 1,739,651, making it one of the  three Christian-majority states in India along with Meghalaya and Mizoram. The state has a veryhigh church attendance rate in both urban and rural areas. Huge churches dominate the skylines of Wokha, Kohima, Dimapur, and Mokokchung.

Nagaland is known as "the only predominantly Baptist state in the world" and "the most Baptist state in the world" Among Christians, Baptists have constituted more than 75% of the state's population, thus making it more Baptist han Mississippi in the southern United States, where 55% of the population is Baptist, and Texas which is 51% Baptist. Roman Catholics, Revivalists, and Pentecostals are the other Christian denominations. Catholics are found in significant
 numbers in parts of Phek district, Wokha district and Kohima district as well as in the urban areas of Kohima and Dimapur.

Christianity arrived in Nagaland in the early 19th century. The American Baptist Naga mission grew out of the Assam mission in 1836. Miles Bronson, Nathan Brown and other Christian missionaries working out of Jaipur to bring Christianity to the Indian subcontinent,saw the opportunity for gaining converts since India's northeast was principally animist and folk religion-driven. Along with other tribal regions of the northeast, the people of Nagaland accepted Christianity. However, the conversions have been marked by high rates of re-denomination ever since.

 After having converted to Christianity, people do not feel bound to any one sect and tend to switch affiliation between denominations.According to a 2007 report, breakaway churches are constantly being established alongside older sects. These new Christian churches differ from older ones in terms of their liturgical traditions and methods of worship. The younger churches exhibit a more vocally explicit form of worship.The Constitution of India grants all citizens freedom to leave, change or adopt any religion and its new sects.

Hinduism, Islam and Jainism are also found in Nagaland. They are minority religions in the state, at 8.75%, 2.47% and 0.13% of the population respectively.

No comments:

Post a Comment