India’s Scheduled Tribe (ST) population in 2025 is projected to reach 128.6 million, constituting approximately 8.9% of the nation’s total population of 1.45 billion.

This demographic includes groups such as the Bhil and Gond, who have inhabited forests and hilly regions for centuries.

Through the use of two tables—one detailing the ST population in millions and the other presenting percentages—we will examine the distribution of STs, the reasons for variations across states, and the implications of these figures.

State-wise ST Population in India

Rank	State/Union Territory	ST Population (Millions)
1	Madhya Pradesh	26.86
2	Maharashtra	13.54
3	Odisha	12.29
4	Rajasthan	11.79
5	Gujarat	10.81
6	Jharkhand	10.67
7	Chhattisgarh	9.93
8	Andhra Pradesh	7.20
9	West Bengal	6.77
10	Karnataka	5.41
11	Assam	4.92
12	Telangana	4.05
13	Meghalaya	3.31
14	Nagaland	2.49
15	Tripura	1.47
16	Arunachal Pradesh	1.45
17	Mizoram	1.28
18	Manipur	1.23
19	Tamil Nadu	0.96
20	Kerala	0.58
21	Uttar Pradesh	0.58
22	Bihar	0.58
23	Lakshadweep	0.07
24	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	0.03
25	Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu	0.02
26	Jammu and Kashmir	0.02
27	Himachal Pradesh	0.02
28	Uttarakhand	0.01
29	Sikkim	0.01
30	Goa	0.01
31	Punjab	0.00
32	Haryana	0.00
33	Delhi	0.00
34	Chandigarh	0.00
35	Puducherry	0.00
36	Ladakh	0.00

National Total: 128.6 million

The table illustrates the ST population in millions, with Madhya Pradesh at the forefront, housing 26.86 million STs, followed by Maharashtra with 13.54 million, and Odisha with 12.29 million.

Collectively, these leading states account for over 70 million STs, which is more than half of the national total.

What accounts for Madhya Pradesh’s prominence? It serves as the habitat for tribes such as the Bhil, who represent 38% of India’s ST population, thriving in the state’s extensive forests.

In 2011, Madhya Pradesh contained 21% of India’s STs, a figure that has increased alongside its population of 85 million.

Maharashtra and Odisha follow suit due to their substantial tribal regions—Maharashtra is home to the Gond and Bhil tribes, while Odisha hosts the Santhal and Oraon tribes.

These states encompass hilly terrains where STs engage in agriculture or gather resources from the forest.

In contrast, smaller regions like Sikkim (0.01 million) and Goa (0.01 million) report minimal ST populations.

Certain states and Union Territories—such as Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, Puducherry, and Ladakh—exhibit no ST population at all.

The reason for this absence lies in their predominantly urban or flat landscapes, which lack tribal communities.

The Constitution identifies STs based on tribal affiliation rather than caste, resulting in their non-existence in these areas.

What explains this distribution? STs are predominantly found in central and eastern states characterized by forested areas.

Data from the 2011 census indicates a total of 104.28 million STs (8.6% of 1.21 billion), with projections estimating this number to rise to 128.6 million by 2025, reflecting a 2% annual growth rate—outpacing the national growth rate of 1%—due to the tendency of STs to have larger families.

Percentage share of every Indian State in ST Population

Rank	State/Union Territory	% Share of ST Population
1	Lakshadweep	94.8
2	Mizoram	94.4
3	Nagaland	86.5
4	Meghalaya	86.1
5	Arunachal Pradesh	68.8
6	Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu	52.0
7	Chhattisgarh	30.6
8	Jharkhand	26.2
9	Odisha	22.8
10	Gujarat	14.8
11	Rajasthan	13.5
12	Madhya Pradesh	12.6
13	Tripura	12.3
14	Manipur	10.4
15	Assam	10.0
16	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	7.5
17	Maharashtra	5.7
18	Telangana	4.8
19	Andhra Pradesh	4.0
20	West Bengal	3.0
21	Karnataka	2.9
22	Sikkim	1.5
23	Tamil Nadu	1.1
24	Kerala	1.0
25	Uttar Pradesh	0.6
26	Bihar	0.6
27	Jammu and Kashmir	0.5
28	Himachal Pradesh	0.3
29	Uttarakhand	0.2
30	Goa	0.1
31	Punjab	0.0
32	Haryana	0.0
33	Delhi	0.0
34	Chandigarh	0.0
35	Puducherry	0.0
36	Ladakh	0.0

National Average: 8.9%

The table examines the percentages, revealing Lakshadweep at 94.8%, Mizoram at 94.4%, and Nagaland at 86.5%.

The substantial percentage for Lakshadweep is attributed to its small population of 0.07 million, predominantly consisting of ST groups such as Aminidivi.

Mizoram and Nagaland, located in the Northeast, are home to tribes like Naga and Mizo, who form the majority, with their traditions closely linked to the hills and clans.

Following these are Meghalaya (86.1%) and Arunachal Pradesh (68.8%), which are also Northeast regions known for tribes like Khasi and Adi.

In contrast, larger states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar show a low percentage of 0.6% due to a higher concentration of non-tribal populations.

The absence of official tribes in Punjab and Haryana is indicated by a zero percent.

What accounts for these percentages?

The high ST shares in remote, hilly regions stem from the long-standing presence of tribes, distanced from urban areas.

Conversely, the low percentages in plains like Uttar Pradesh are influenced by a predominance of agricultural castes.

The state-wise ST population data from 2011 indicates that Lakshadweep remains at 94.8%, with little change, while the national average has increased to 8.9% from 8.6%, reflecting a quicker growth rate among STs.

Reasons for Variation in ST Populations

The tables illustrate that STs are primarily concentrated in select states. Madhya Pradesh accounts for 21% of India’s ST population, largely due to its forests and tribes such as Bhil.

The high percentages in Northeast states can be attributed to their designation as tribal territories, with Naga tribes constituting 86.5% of Nagaland’s population.

Central states like Chhattisgarh (9.93 million) and Jharkhand (10.67 million) report significant numbers from groups like Gond.

In contrast, Southern states such as Tamil Nadu (0.96 million) and Kerala (0.58 million) exhibit lower percentages due to their more urbanized nature.

What explains this trend? STs typically inhabit forests and hilly areas for hunting and agriculture, safeguarded by regulations such as the Fifth Schedule.

Notably, there was a 23.7% growth in ST populations from 2001 to 2011, surpassing the national growth rate of 17.64%, attributed to improved census methods and higher birth rates.

Madhya Pradesh has the largest ST population in India, while Lakshadweep holds the highest percentage.

This demographic distribution influences policies such as reservations, with STs receiving a 7.5% quota in employment.

However, the uneven distribution necessitates additional support for tribal regions.

Source

• Census of India. (2011). Population enumeration data: Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.