Editing Sikkim (section)

== Demographics ==
{{Further|Sikkimese people}}
[[File:Flickr - Sukanto Debnath - A little girl from Kaluk Bazaar.jpg|thumb|left|A little girl from Kaluk Bazaar]]
{{historical populations|11=1901|12=59,014|13=1911|14=87,920|15=1921|16=81,721|17=1931|18=1,09,808|19=1941|20=1,21,520|21=1951|22=1,37,725|23=1961|24=1,62,189|25=1971|26=2,09,843|27=1981|28=3,16,385|29=1991|30=4,06,457|31=2001|32=5,40,851|33=2011|34=6,10,577|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html|title=Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=6 January 2020}}</ref>|align=right}}

Sikkim is India's least populous state, with 610,577 inhabitants according to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]].<ref name="Cens2011Up">{{Cite web | title = 2011 Census reference tables&nbsp;– total population | url = http://www.census2011.co.in/census/state/sikkim.html | year = 2011 | access-date = 16 July 2013 | publisher = Government of India | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130708174135/http://www.census2011.co.in/census/state/sikkim.html | archive-date = 8 July 2013 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref> Sikkim is also one of the least densely populated Indian states, with only 86 persons per square kilometre. However, it has a high population growth rate, averaging 12.36% per cent between 2001 and 2011. The [[human sex ratio|sex ratio]] is 889 females per 1,000 males, with a total of 321,661 males and 286,027 females recorded in 2011. With around 98,000 inhabitants as of 2011, the capital [[Gangtok]] is the most significant urban area in the mostly rural state; in 2005, the urban population in Sikkim constituted around 11.06 per cent of the total.<ref name="Stats" /> In 2011, the average [[per capita income]] in Sikkim stood at {{Indian Rupee}} 81,159 (US$1,305).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pbplanning.gov.in/pdf/Statewise%20GSDP%20PCI%20and%20G.R.pdf|title=State-wise: Population, GSDP, Per Capita Income and Growth Rate|publisher=Punjab State Planning Board|year=2012|access-date=4 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111062118/http://pbplanning.gov.in/pdf/Statewise%20GSDP%20PCI%20and%20G.R.pdf|archive-date=11 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Languages ===
{{pie chart
|label1=[[Nepali language|Nepali]]|value1=62.6|color1=maroon
|label2=[[Sikkimese language|Sikkimese]]|value2=6.86|color2=deepskyblue
|label3=[[Limbu language|Limbu]]|value3=6.34|color3=lavender
|label4=[[Lepcha language|Lepcha]]|value4=6.27|color4=darkblue
|label5=[[Hindi]]|value5=5.58|color5=orange
|label6=[[Sherpa language|Sherpa]]|value6=2.24|color6=purple
|label7=[[Tamang language|Tamang]]|value7=1.92|color7=skyblue
|label8=[[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]]|value8=1.63|color8=red
|label9=[[Rai languages|Rai]]|value9=1.22|color9=limegreen
|label10=[[Bengali language|Bengali]]|value10=1.14|color10=orchid
|caption=Languages of Sikkim (2011 census)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/Language_MTs.html|title=Statement 1: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues – 2011|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=7 July 2018}}</ref>|value11=4.2|label11=Other|color11=grey}}

The official languages of the state are [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[Sikkimese language|Sikkimese]], [[Lepcha language|Lepcha]] and [[English language|English]]. Additional official languages include [[Gurung language|Gurung]], [[Limbu language|Limbu]], [[Magar language|Magar]], [[Sunwar language|Mukhia]], [[Newar language|Newar]], [[Kiranti languages|Rai]], [[Sherpa language|Sherpa]] and [[Tamang language|Tamang]] for the purpose of preservation of culture and tradition in the state.

Nepali is the lingua franca of Sikkim, while Sikkimese (Bhutia) and Lepcha are spoken in certain areas.<ref>indiatoday.in/amp/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/mini-sikkim-in-making-308081-2016-02-10</ref> English is also spoken and understood in most of Sikkim. Other languages include [[Dzongkha]], [[Groma language|Groma]], [[Hindi]], [[Majhi language|Majhi]], [[Majhwar language|Majhwar]], [[Thulung language|Thulung]], [[Standard Tibetan|Tibetan]], and [[Yakha language|Yakha]].{{sfn|Bareh|2001|p=10}}

=== Ethnicity ===
The majority of Sikkim's residents are [[Nepali Indians]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2003/fdec2003/f051220031.html|title=The Ethnic People of Sikkim|publisher=PIB.NIC.in|date=5 December 2003|access-date=15 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205161717/http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2003/fdec2003/f051220031.html|archive-date=5 December 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[indigenous peoples of Sikkim|native Sikkimese]] include the [[Bhutia]]s, who migrated from the Kham district of Tibet in the 14th century, and the [[Lepcha people|Lepchas]], who are believed to pre-date the Bhutias and are the oldest known inhabitants. [[Tibet]]ans reside mostly in the northern and eastern reaches of the state. Migrant resident communities known as '''Plainsmen Sikkimese''' include [[Bengali people|Bengalis]], [[Bihari people|Biharis]] and [[Marwaris]], who are prominent in commerce in [[South Sikkim]] and [[Gangtok]], only those who are the native residents since 1946.<ref>{{Cite book | title = Peoples of South Asia | last = Clarence | first = Maloney | year = 1974 | publisher = Holt, Rinehart and Winston | isbn = 978-0-03-084969-5 | page = 409 }}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{See also|Hinduism in Sikkim}}
[[File:Buddha in Sikkim.jpg|thumb|Buddha in Sikkim Culture]]
{{Pie chart
|caption=Religion in Sikkim (2011)<ref name="census2001">{{cite web|title=Census of India – Religious Composition|publisher=Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html|access-date=27 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913045700/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html|archive-date=13 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
|label1=[[Hinduism]]|color1=darkorange|value1=57.76
|label2=[[Buddhism]]|color2=gold|value2=27.39
|label3=[[Christianity]]|color3=blue|value3=9.91
|label4=[[Islam]]|color4=green|value4=1.62
|label5=[[Sikhism]]|color5=darkkhaki|value5=0.31
|label6=[[Jainism]]|color6=brown|value6=0.05
|label7=Other faith like [[Kirat Mundhum]], [[Bon]], [[Mun (religion)|Mun]]|color7=chartreuse|value7=2.67
|label8=No religion|color8=black|value8=0.3
}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto;"
|- style="text-align: center;"
! Religious<br/>group
! Population <br/>% '''1991'''<ref name=census1991b>{{cite web|url=http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/5542/1/35768_1981_SDP.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiSt6DEw4T2AhUQHLkGHTLgDZQQFnoECAYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw38TK18XpRaSlx-OaUPKQjY|title=Cesus of India -Religion Composition – 1981|accessdate=10 February 2022}}</ref>
! Population <br/>% '''2001'''<ref name="census2001tru">{{cite web |title=Census of India – Religious Composition – 2001 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/census_data_2001/census_data_finder/c_series/population_by_religious_communities.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=27 August 2015 |publisher=Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs}}</ref>
! Population <br/>% '''2011'''<ref name="census2001"/>
|-
! style="background:DarkOrange;"| Hinduism
| 68.36% || 60.93% || 57.76%
|-
! style="background:Gold;"| Buddhism
| 27.15% || 28.11% || 27.39%
|-
! style="background:DodgerBlue;"| Christianity
| 3.29% || 6.67% || 9.91%
|-
! style="background:Green; color:white;"| Islam
| 0.94% || 1.42% || 1.62%
|-
! style="background:darkKhaki; color:white;"| Sikhism
| 0.09% || 0.21% || 0.31%
|-
! style="background:brown; color:white;"| Jainism
| 0.001% || 0.03% || 0.05%
|-
! style="background:Chartreuse;"| Other religions
| 0.04% || 2.38% || 2.67%
|-
! style="background:Black; color:white;"| No religion
| – || – || 0.3%
|}

According to the 2011 census, 57.8% follow [[Hinduism]], making it the state's majority religion. [[Buddhism]] is followed by 27.4% of the population, while [[Christianity]] is followed by 9.9%.<ref name="census2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW11C-01%20MDDS.XLS |title=C-1 Population By Religious Community – Sikkim| website=Census India |access-date=16 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927174518/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW11C-01%20MDDS.XLS|archive-date=27 September 2015}}</ref> Between 2001 and 2011, Christianity was the fastest growing religion in the state, going from 6.67% to 9.91% of the population.<ref name="census2011" /> It was thus the fourth state with the highest Christian growth in the period, behind only [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Manipur]] and [[Meghalaya]].<ref name="census2001tru" /><ref name="PEWRC">{{cite web |title=Sikkim |date=21 September 2021 |url=https://www.pewforum.org/2021/09/21/religious-demography-of-indian-states-and-territories/ |publisher=Pew Research Center|accessdate=15 February 2022}}</ref> As of 2014, the [[Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sikkim]] is the largest Christian denomination in Sikkim.<ref>[http://www.irfa.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49:points-of-ministry&Itemid=41 "Points of Ministry"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729220837/http://www.irfa.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49:points-of-ministry&Itemid=41|date=29 July 2014}}. IRFA.org.au. 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.</ref> Hinduism, on the other hand, declined from 60.93% to 57.76% of the population in the same period.<ref name="census2001tru" /><ref name="census2011" /> Sikkim was the fourth state with the biggest decline in the percentage of Hindus, behind only [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Manipur]] and [[Assam]].<ref name="PEWRC" /> [[Vajrayana|Vajrayana Buddhism]], which accounts for 27.3% of the population, is Sikkim's second-largest, yet most prominent religion. Prior to Sikkim's becoming a part of the Indian Union, Vajrayana Buddhism was the state religion under the Chogyal. Sikkim has 75 [[Buddhist monasteries]], the oldest dating back to the 1700s.{{sfn|Bareh|2001|p=9}} The public and visual aesthetics of Sikkim are executed in shades of Vajrayana Buddhism and Buddhism plays a significant role in public life, even among Sikkim's majority Nepali Hindu population. Other religious minorities include [[Muslim]]s of Tibet,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Atwill |first=David G. |date=1 August 2016 |title=Boundaries of Belonging: Sino-Indian Relations and the 1960 Tibetan Muslim Incident |url=https://read.dukeupress.edu/journal-of-asian-studies/article-abstract/75/3/595/327118/Boundaries-of-Belonging-Sino-Indian-Relations-and?redirectedFrom=fulltext |journal=Journal of Asian Studies |volume=75 |issue=3 |pages=595–620 |doi=10.1017/S0021911816000553 |issn=0021-9118}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 February 1998 |title=World Pumps February 1998 issue advertiser's index and information request form |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0262176299802983 |journal=World Pumps |volume=1998 |issue=377 |pages=I |doi=10.1016/S0262-1762(99)80298-3 |issn=0262-1762}}</ref> Bihari ethnicity and [[Jain]]s, who each account for roughly 1% of the population.<ref>{{Cite book | title =People of India: Sikkim | last = Singh | first = Kumar Suresh | year = 1992 | publisher = Anthropological Survey of India | isbn = 978-81-7046-120-3 | page = 39 }}</ref> The traditional religions of the [[Indigenous peoples of Sikkim|native Sikkimese]] account for much of the remainder of the population.

Although tensions between the Lepchas and the Nepalese escalated during the merger of Sikkim with India in the 1970s, there has never been any major degree of communal religious violence, unlike in other Indian states.<ref>{{Cite book | title = State government and politics: Sikkim | last = Nirmalananda Sengupta | year = 1985 | publisher = Stosius/Advent Books | isbn = 978-0-86590-694-5 | page = 140 }}</ref><ref>[http://censusindia.gov.in/Census_And_You/religion.aspx "Census and You – Religion"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315004939/http://censusindia.gov.in/Census_And_You/religion.aspx |date=15 March 2018 }}. Census India. Retrieved 20 October 2012.</ref> The traditional religion of the Lepcha people is [[Mun (religion)|Mun]], an animist practice which coexists with Buddhism and Christianity.<ref name="Plaisier">{{Cite book |title=Languages of the Greater Himalayan Region. A Grammar of Lepcha |volume=5 |first=Heleen |last=Plaisier |publisher=Brill |year=2007 |isbn=978-90-04-15525-1 |pages=4, 15 (photo) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DpCXEc_9RWcC&pg=PA15 |access-date=15 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516011005/https://books.google.com/books?id=DpCXEc_9RWcC&pg=PA15 |archive-date=16 May 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" style="font-size:88%; line-height:130%;" heights="130">
Legship_shiva_temple.jpg|[[Kirateshwar Mahadev Temple]] in [[Legship]] is dedicated to the [[Hindu]] god [[Shiva]].
Rumtek Monastery - Inside Close View.jpg|Rumtek Monastery
Enchey_Monastery_Prayer_Hall_(Dukhang).jpg|Enchey Monastery
Viswavinayak.jpg|Vishwa Vinayak Temple at [[Rhenock]]
</gallery>