10 Indian Cities With the Largest Muslim Populations (2026 Data)

Last Updated: March 2026

India is home to roughly 215 million Muslims — the third-largest Muslim population on Earth, behind Indonesia and Pakistan. That number is projected to reach 311 million by 2050, according to Pew Research Center estimates.

But national averages hide the real story. India’s Muslim communities are concentrated in specific cities where they have shaped architecture, cuisine, commerce, and civic life for centuries. Some of these cities were seats of Mughal power. Others grew around trade routes or Sufi shrines.

This guide ranks ten Indian cities with the most significant Muslim populations, using 2011 Census data (the most recent religion-wise census available) alongside 2025-2026 population projections.

How Is Muslim Population Data Measured in India?

India has not conducted a religion-wise census since 2011. The next census has been delayed multiple times. All post-2011 figures are projections based on growth rates from earlier census periods.

The 2011 Census recorded 172.2 million Muslims nationwide, or 14.23% of the total population. Current 2026 estimates place the figure near 215-234 million, or roughly 15% of India’s 1.44 billion people.

The numbers below use 2011 Census city-level data for percentages and absolute counts. Where available, projected 2025-2026 metro population estimates are included for context.

1. Which Indian City Has the Highest Muslim Percentage? Srinagar

Srinagar stands apart. Nearly 96% of its 1.23 million residents are Muslim, making it the only major Indian city with an overwhelmingly Muslim majority. The city has been the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir for centuries.

The old quarter around the Jama Masjid (built in 1394 by Sultan Sikandar) anchors daily life. Friday prayers draw tens of thousands. The shrine of Hazratbal, which houses a relic believed to be a hair of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), is the city’s most revered site.

Srinagar’s Muslim identity runs through its houseboats on Dal Lake, its Kashmiri wazwan feasts, and its centuries-old tradition of Sufi poetry. The city also hosts some of India’s oldest mosques, including the Khanqah-e-Moula, dating to 1395.

2. How Large Is Hyderabad’s Muslim Community?

Hyderabad’s Muslim population of 2.11 million (30.13% of the city) makes it one of the largest urban Muslim communities in South Asia. The city was founded in 1591 by the Qutb Shahi dynasty and later ruled by the Nizams, one of the wealthiest Muslim royal families in history.

The Old City, centered around Charminar, remains a hub of Muslim life. Neighborhoods like Tolichowki, Mehdipatnam, and Barkas are densely Muslim. Hyderabadi biryani, Irani chai, and Osmania biscuits all trace their origins to the city’s Muslim culinary traditions.

Hyderabad is also home to major Islamic educational institutions, including Jamia Nizamia (founded 1876) and Maulana Azad National Urdu University. The city’s IT boom has brought new wealth, but the Old City’s haleem stalls, pearl markets, and Islamic bookshops remain unchanged.

3. What Is the Muslim Population of Mumbai?

Mumbai has 2.57 million Muslims, or 20.65% of its population. That makes it the Indian city with the largest absolute Muslim population outside of Delhi. The metro area (including suburbs) likely pushes that number past 4 million.

Muslim neighborhoods cluster in South Mumbai (Mohammed Ali Road, Bhendi Bazaar, Dongri) and the western suburbs (Jogeshwari, Andheri, Malad). Mohammed Ali Road transforms during Ramadan into one of India’s most famous iftar food streets, drawing visitors from across the country.

Mumbai’s Muslims span every economic class — from Bollywood stars and business magnates to dock workers and taxi drivers. The Haji Ali Dargah, a 15th-century mosque built on an islet in the Arabian Sea, is one of Mumbai’s most recognizable landmarks.

4. Why Does Lucknow Have Such a Large Muslim Population?

Lucknow’s 742,529 Muslims (26.36% of the city) reflect its history as the capital of Awadh, ruled by Shia Muslim Nawabs from 1722 to 1856. Unlike most Indian Muslim communities, which are predominantly Sunni, Lucknow has a significant Shia population.

The city’s Muslim heritage is inescapable. The Bara Imambara (1784), one of the largest buildings in India without external support beams, was built by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula. Nearby stands the Chhota Imambara, known for its ornate calligraphy and chandeliers.

Lucknow is considered the birthplace of Awadhi cuisine. Galouti kebabs, biryani, and nihari originated here. The tradition of “tehzeeb” (refined etiquette) and Urdu poetry still runs deep in the city’s Muslim quarters, particularly in Chowk and Aminabad.

5. What Is Kolkata’s Muslim Population?

Roughly 20.60% of Kolkata’s 4.5 million residents are Muslim — around 920,000 people. The Muslim community is concentrated in areas like Park Circus, Rajabazar, Metiabruz, and Kidderpore.

Kolkata’s Muslim history predates British rule. Metiabruz became home to the exiled last Nawab of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah, in 1856, and his descendants still live in the area. The city’s Tipu Sultan Mosque (1832) and Nakhoda Mosque (1926, modeled after Akbar’s tomb in Agra) are major landmarks.

Park Circus is the commercial and cultural heart of Muslim Kolkata. During Eid, the area’s restaurants serve Kolkata-style biryani (with potatoes and boiled eggs), a dish that originated from Wajid Ali Shah’s royal kitchens. Kolkata’s Muslim community is also known for its leather goods industry, centered around Tangra and Garden Reach.

6. How Significant Is Bhopal’s Muslim Population?

Bhopal stands out for a rare historical distinction: it was ruled by Muslim women. The Begums of Bhopal governed the city-state for over a century, from 1819 to 1926. That legacy gives Bhopal a unique character among Indian Muslim cities.

Today, 472,578 Muslims make up 26.28% of Bhopal’s population. The city’s Taj-ul-Masajid, one of the largest mosques in Asia, was started by Begum Shah Jahan in the 19th century and completed only in 1985. The Gohar Mahal, built by the first Begum, overlooks the Upper Lake.

Bhopal’s Muslim neighborhoods in the old city (Chowk Bazaar, Itwara, Budhwara) are known for their food — especially poha-jalebi for breakfast and seekh kebabs in the evening. The Sadar Manzil area is home to several Islamic schools and Urdu literary circles.

7. What Percentage of Delhi Is Muslim?

Delhi’s 2.16 million Muslims make up 12.86% of the capital’s population. That percentage is lower than many cities on this list, but in absolute terms, Delhi has one of the largest Muslim populations of any Indian city.

The Mughal Empire made Delhi its capital for over 300 years. That heritage is visible in the Jama Masjid (India’s largest mosque, built 1656), the Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, and the Nizamuddin Dargah. The neighborhood of Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) remains densely Muslim.

Chandni Chowk, Ballimaran, and Matia Mahal are the commercial arteries of Muslim Delhi. Matia Mahal’s lanes serve some of the best nihari and butter chicken in the country. The Nizamuddin area, surrounding the shrine of Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, hosts weekly qawwali sessions that draw hundreds.

8. How Many Muslims Live in Jaipur?

Jaipur’s Muslim population sits at 18.60%, or roughly 590,000 people. The city was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, a Hindu ruler, but Muslim communities have been integral to its economy and culture since its earliest days.

The walled city’s Ramganj and Surajpol areas are predominantly Muslim. Jaipur’s Muslim artisans are famous for lac bangles, block printing, and gem cutting — crafts that have been passed down for generations. The city’s brasswork industry is largely run by Muslim families.

Jaipur also has important Sufi connections. The Ajmer Sharif Dargah, one of the most visited Muslim shrines in India, is just 135 kilometers away, and many of Jaipur’s Muslims trace their roots to the Ajmer-Merwara region.

9. Why Is Kozhikode (Calicut) on This List?

Kozhikode in Kerala has a Muslim population of 37.60% — one of the highest percentages among major Indian cities. Islam arrived here through Arab traders as early as the 7th century, centuries before Mughal rule reached North India.

The Mappila Muslim community of Malabar is culturally distinct from North Indian Muslims. They speak Mappila Malayalam, have their own literary tradition (including Mappila songs, or “Mappilapattu”), and follow the Shafi’i school of Sunni Islam. Their cuisine features unique dishes like pathiri (rice pancakes) and kallummakkaya (mussel curry).

Kozhikode’s Mishkal Mosque, built by a Yemeni trader in the 14th century, is a masterpiece of Kerala’s wooden mosque architecture. The nearby district of Malappuram, at 70% Muslim, is the most Muslim-majority district in India outside of Jammu & Kashmir and Lakshadweep.

10. What Is Ahmedabad’s Muslim History?

Ahmedabad was founded in 1411 by Sultan Ahmed Shah, making it one of the few major Indian cities actually established by a Muslim ruler. Today, Muslims make up 13.51% of the city’s population, or about 770,000 people.

The city’s Islamic architecture is among India’s finest. The Jama Masjid (1424) blends Hindu and Islamic styles. The Sidi Saiyyed Mosque’s intricately carved stone lattice window (jali) is so iconic that it appears on the logo of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.

The 2002 communal riots deeply scarred Ahmedabad’s Muslim community, leading to increased residential segregation. Muslim neighborhoods like Juhapura, on the city’s western edge, have grown rapidly as families relocated. Despite these challenges, Muslim-owned businesses remain central to Ahmedabad’s textile and diamond industries.

Honorable Mentions: Other Cities With Significant Muslim Populations

• Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh) — Home to Aligarh Muslim University, founded in 1875. About 22% Muslim.
• Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) — Roughly 25% Muslim. The weaving community here produces some of India’s finest silk saris.
• Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) — Known as “Brass City,” with a 47% Muslim population. The brassware industry is almost entirely Muslim-run.
• Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh) — About 35% Muslim. The birthplace of the Barelvi movement, a major Sunni sub-tradition.
• Malappuram (Kerala) — India’s most Muslim-majority district at 70%, outside of Lakshadweep and J&K.
• Murshidabad (West Bengal) — The former capital of Bengal’s Nawabs, with 66% Muslim population at the district level.

What Is India’s Overall Muslim Population in 2026?

India’s Muslim population is estimated at 215-234 million in 2026, or roughly 15% of the total population. This makes India the country with the third-largest Muslim population globally.

Nearly 47% of India’s Muslims live in just three states: Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Bihar. Lakshadweep (96.6% Muslim) and Jammu & Kashmir (68.3% Muslim) are India’s only Muslim-majority administrative regions.

Demographic projections from Pew Research Center suggest India’s Muslim population could reach 311 million by 2050, potentially making India the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. However, the Muslim fertility rate has been declining steadily, and the gap with the Hindu fertility rate has narrowed significantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Indian city has the highest percentage of Muslims?

Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir has the highest Muslim percentage among major Indian cities at 95.97%. Among districts, Lakshadweep leads nationally at 96.6%.

Which Indian city has the most Muslims by total number?

Mumbai has the largest Muslim population in absolute numbers among Indian cities, with 2.57 million Muslims within city limits (2011 Census). Delhi follows closely with 2.16 million. In the broader metro area, Mumbai’s Muslim population likely exceeds 4 million.

When was India’s last religion-wise census?

India’s most recent census that counted population by religion was conducted in 2011. The next census has been delayed multiple times. All post-2011 religious demographic figures are estimates or projections.

Is India’s Muslim population growing faster than the Hindu population?

Between 2001 and 2011, the Muslim growth rate (24.6%) was higher than the Hindu growth rate (16.8%). However, the gap is narrowing. Muslim fertility rates have dropped from 4.4 children per woman in 1992 to around 2.3 in recent National Family Health Survey data, approaching the Hindu rate of 2.0.

What is the difference between Shia and Sunni Muslims in India?

Most Indian Muslims are Sunni, following the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence. India’s Shia population is concentrated in Lucknow, parts of Kashmir, and Hyderabad. Lucknow’s Bara Imambara and annual Muharram processions reflect the city’s strong Shia heritage.

Are there Muslim-majority cities in India besides Srinagar?

At the city level, Srinagar is the only major Indian city with a Muslim majority. However, several smaller towns and districts have Muslim majorities, including Malappuram (Kerala, 70%), Murshidabad (West Bengal, 66%), and Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh, 47%).

How did Islam spread to India?

Islam arrived in India through multiple routes. Arab traders brought Islam to Kerala’s Malabar coast as early as the 7th century. Military conquests brought Islam to the north starting in the 12th century. Sufi missionaries played a major role in conversions across the subcontinent from the 13th century onward. Each region’s Muslim community reflects its unique path to Islam.

What are the best halal food cities in India?

Hyderabad, Lucknow, Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata are considered India’s top cities for halal cuisine. Hyderabad is famous for biryani and haleem, Lucknow for kebabs and nihari, Delhi for Mughlai food, Mumbai for its Ramadan food streets, and Kolkata for its distinctive potato biryani.