THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: If numbers are any indication, capital Thiruvananthapuram has the largest number of people in Kerala who refuse to identify themselves with any religion. Data on ‘Population by Religious Community’ of Census 2011 reveal that Thiruvananthapuram has the largest number of people in the state who have chosen not to state their religion. In fact, the district accounts for 24.98 per cent of this section of people, reveal data released by the Registrar-General and Census Commissioner in New Delhi on Tuesday. Of the 88,155 people across Kerala listed in the ‘Religion not stated’ category, 22,019 are in Thiruvananthapuram.
Atheists, however, are listed under ‘Other religions and persuasions’ and not under the ‘Religion not stated’ category, Census officials said. ‘’The ‘religion not stated’ category contains people who simple prefer not to announce their religion or leave that column blank,’’ A N Rajeev, Deputy Director, Census Operations, Kerala, said.
That said, this group does not pose any threat to organised religions at the moment. They comprise just 0.67 per cent of the district’s total population, which stands at 33,01,427. Hindus constitute a lion’s share of Thiruvananthapuram’s population, accounting for 66 per cent. Christians constitute 19.1 per cent and Muslims, 13 per cent. There are 21.94 lakh Hindus, 4.52 lakh Muslims and 6.30 lakh Christians in the district. There are also 301 Buddhists, 76 Jains and 404 Sikhs in the district.