According to the 2011 Indian Census, Karnataka had a population of approximately 61.1 million, making it the eighth most populous state in India. The state has experienced steady population growth, driven in large part by migration to its urban centers, especially Bengaluru, which is one of the fastest-growing megacities in the world.
Kannada is the official and most widely spoken language. However, due to historical borders and modern migration, Karnataka is linguistically diverse; other significant languages include Urdu, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Tulu, Konkani, and Kodava.
Hinduism is the dominant religion, practiced by about 84% of the population. Islam is the largest minority religion (approx. 13%), followed by Christianity, Jainism, and Buddhism. The state has a literacy rate of roughly 75.3% (2011 data), though urban districts boast much higher rates compared to rural areas. Education and income levels are generally higher in southern Karnataka and the coastal belt, while efforts continue to boost development in the northern regions.