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As per the census report published in September 2004, the total population of India is 1028 million which makes it the second largest populated area in the world after China. The Hindus are the largest religious community of the country with a population of 827 million (80.45 %) followed by Muslims with 138 million (13.42 %). About 24 million in India are Christians, ie; 2.34 % of the total population.

Of the total Christians in India, 1/4th  are from the small state of Kerala situated in the Southern tip of the country where it is believed that Apostle St.Thomas established Christianity in AD 52.

The Christian population in this state of Kerala is 6.057 million which is around 19 % of the State population. Among them the vast majority belongs to the Syrian Christian community spread across different Christian sects; the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church & the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church,  the Marthoma Syrian Church, the  Assyrian Church of Thrissur (Chaldeans) and the Independent Syrian Church of Thoziyoor. The rest are Latins who were converted to Christianity by the Portuguese in the 16th century and the Dalits who were converted in the last two centuries by the British missionaries (Church of South India) and the various Pentecostal churches.

The largest Christian populated district in the Country is Ernakulam (Cochin), a Syrian Christian stronghold. Kottayam district has the second largest Christian population, while Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram districts are placed at fourth and fifth place. Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu is the district with the third largest Christian population in India.

(Required information gathered from Mathrubhumi, Malayala Manorama & Indian Express dailies, 7th September 2004)

For an approximate classification of the different Christian sects of Kerala, visit:-

http://www.syriacchristianity.info/MalankaraChurch/DEFAULT.HTM

(by 'Malankara Syriac Christian Resources' in 2002)

This website on the Apostolic Visit of H.H. to India is maintained by "‘Malankara Syriac Christian Resources” - http://SyriacChristianity.info