With an estimated population of over 1.42 billion, India recently surpassed China to become the world's most populous country. It boasts a significant "demographic dividend," with a very young population—the median age is around 28 years. The society is uniquely diverse, comprising thousands of distinct ethnic groups and communities.
Religiously, India is the birthplace of Hinduism, which is practiced by roughly 80% of the population. It also holds the world's third-largest Muslim population (about 14%), alongside millions of Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and followers of other faiths. Linguistically, India is a tapestry of over 19,500 languages and dialects; Hindi and English are used for official federal government purposes, while the constitution recognizes 22 scheduled languages. Education and income levels are rising, though stark contrasts remain between affluent urban centers and developing rural communities.