A snapshot of religious populations and state policies across South Asia and its religious freedom milestones
Islam (95%), Christianity (1.6%), Hinduism (1.5%)
Islam is the state religion and influences laws and governance. For example, many Islam holidays are considered national holidays in Pakistan. Minority religions are legally permitted, but face discrimination and are not under equal protection from the government. Religious minorities often report vulnerability to violence and limited protection.
Although religious liberty is formally guaranteed in Pakistan’s constitution, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCRIF) reports that impediments to the citizens’ freedom of religion and belief still exist. The systematic enforcement of blasphemy laws, in particular, stands as a significant restriction that has been raising up a storm of fear, causing mob violence and discriminating against religious minorities, the USCRIF explains.
1974
Second Constitutional Amendment: Ahmadis declared non-Muslim.
Under Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Parliament passes the Second Amendment, officially classifying the Ahmadiyya community as non-Muslim. At independence, non-Muslims were 15-20% of the population; today they are under 4%.
1980-1986
Zia-era Islamization: Blasphemy laws expanded, death penalty introduced.
General Ziaul-Haq adds Sections 295-B (death for desecrating the Quran), 295-C (death for blasphemy against the Prophet), 298-B and 298-C (criminalizing Ahmadi religious expression, including use of the word “mosque.”)
2014
Supreme Court order: Task force on minority rights created, largely unenforced.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court orders a federal task force on religious tolerance, new hate speech restrictions, and employment protections for minorities. Human Rights Watch reports the order remains largely unenforced.
2023
Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill: Penalty for blasphemy raised to 10 years.
The National Assembly unanimously raises the penalty for disrespecting the Prophet’s companions from 3 to 10 years imprisonment. Rights groups warn the bill will intensify persecution of minorities. At least 85 people have been killed by mobs in blasphemy-related violence since 1990.
Hinduism (79.8 %), Islam (14.2%), Christianity (2.3%), Sikhism (1.9%), Buddhism (0.7%), Jainism (0.4%)
India is constitutionally secular and guarantees freedom of religion, with laws prohibiting religious discrimination in 13 out of 28 states. Some states have anti-conversion laws and regulations affecting interfaith marriages and religious practice. The government must stay impartial in affairs regarding religion. 94% of Hindus reside in India.
India, as the world’s most populous country and the birthplace of major world religions, holds a highly significant and influential position in the world’s religious landscape. According to the Library of Congress, religious freedom in the region is explicitly protected in its constitution. Home to thousands of ethnic groups, 22 official languages and what the Library of Congress describes as “a long tradition of religious tolerance,” India boasts a long and complex history of religious freedom, marked by deep traditions of pluralism alongside periods of conflict and restriction.
1950
Constitution adopted: Articles 25-28 guarantee religious freedom.
Every citizen receives the right to freely profess, practice and propagate religion. Articles 25-28 form the constitutional basis for religious rights and are enforceable as fundamental rights.
1967
Orissa Freedom of Religion Act: First anti-conversion law.
Orissa becomes the first state to restrict religious conversion. The Orissa High Court later strikes down the Act as beyond state legislative authority, but the precedent spreads to other states.
1976
42nd Amendment: “Secular” added to the Preamble.
Parliament amends the Preamble to explicitly declare India a “secular” state. The Supreme Court later held that India was already secular from 1950. The amendment made explicit what was always implicit in Articles 25-28.
1977
Rev. Stainislaus v. Madhya Pradesh: Right to propagate is not equal to right to convert.
The Supreme Court holds that Article 25’s right to “propagate” religion does not include the right to convert others. This ruling provides the legal basis for state anti-conversion laws that followed.
2018
Sabarimala verdict: Women’s temple ban struck down 4-1.
The Supreme Court rules that barring women aged 10-50 from the Sabarimala temple violates Articles 14, 15 and 25. A 9-judge bench review of the ruling was still ongoing in April 2026.
2019
Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA): Excludes Muslims from fast-track citizenship.
The CAA creates a pathway to citizenship for non-Muslim persecuted minorities from three neighboring countries but explicitly excludes Muslims. USCIRF flagged the law as discriminatory and has recommended India as a Country of Particular Concern every year since 2020.
Islam as state religion
Islam is the official state religion and is required for citizenship and political office. Practicing Islam is required in the state. Non-Muslim practices are restricted and public practice of other faiths is not permitted. The legal system enforces religious unity through constitutional and criminal law. For example, hate crimes against Islam are against the law.
2008
The Maldives is more absolute with their restrictions, explicitly prioritizing Islam in their constitution. Article 9(d) of the 2008 Constitution states that “a non-Muslim may not become a citizen of the Maldives.” The U.S. Department of State’s report adds that public officers, including the President, are required to be followers of Sunni Islam. The same report states that propagating any religion other than Islam is a criminal offense, that non-Muslim foreigners may worship only in private and that the Ministry of Islamic Affairs maintains control over all religious matters.
Hinduism (81%), Buddhism (9%), Kirat (3%), Christianity (1%)
Nepal is a secular state with constitutional protection for religious freedom and bans on forced conversion. The constitution describes a state where people of different religions, cultures and languages can share common goals and loyalty to one nation. While Hinduism is historically dominant, the government allows the practice of other religions. However, while discrimination based on religion is prohibited, discrimination based on caste is not.
The centuries-long reign of Hindu monarchy over Nepal was ended by the 2007 constitution that declared the country as a secular state, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCRIF) reports. USCRIF explains that the country’s National Penal (Code) Act “criminalizes proselytism, blasphemy, and cows laughter, [disproportionately] impacting the country’s Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim populations.” Secularism, for Nepal, is defined as the “protection of religion and culture handed down from the time immemorial,” but the leading influence of Hinduism in the Nepali society continues to pose challenges for religious minorities.
1962
Panchayat Constitution: Nepal formally declared a Hindu Kingdom.
The 1962 constitution formalizes Nepal as a Hindu state under the monarchy, embedding Hinduism into the legal identity of the country for 45 years. The King is constitutionally required to be Hindu.
2007
Interim Constitution: Secular state declared after civil war.
Following a decade-long civil conflict, the interim parliament abolishes the Hindu Kingdom and declares Nepal a secular state. The change is codified in the 2015 Constitution.
2015
New Constitution: “Secular” defined as protecting ancient (Hindu) religion.
Article 4 defines “secular” as “protection of religion and culture handed down from time immemorial.” Courts have interpreted this as giving de facto priority to Hinduism. Article 26 (3) prohibits converting another person to a different religion.
2017
Penal Code: Religious conversion criminalized, up to five years imprisonment.
Section 158 of the Penal Code makes converting another person to a different religion a criminal offense punishable by up to five years in prison. Christian and other minority groups face arrests under this provision from 2018 onward.
Buddhism (83%), Hinduism (11%), Christianity (2.3%)
The constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion as well as prohibiting discrimination based on faith. However, Buddhism is the state-supported religion. Unregistered religions face restrictions and are not able to practice publicly.
In Bhutan, according to the U.S. Department of State’s report on International Religious Freedom, Article 3 of the 2008 Constitution declares Buddhism as the country’s “spiritual heritage” and requires all religious organizations to register with the government’s Commission for Religious Organizations (CRO). The Minority Rights Group also reports that of the 96 organizations registered with the CRO, all are Buddhist except for a single Hindu umbrella body. Christian and Muslim organizations are not formally recognized by Bhutan’s government.
2008
First written constitution adopted: Buddhist values embedded, Gross National Happiness enshrined.
Bhutan transitions from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy. The constitution embeds Buddhist values and enshrines Gross National Happiness as a state guiding principle. Minority religious groups report ongoing difficulty registering and operating freely.
Buddhism (70.2%), Hinduism (12.6%), Islam (9.7%), Christianity (7.4%)
Sri Lanka does not have a national religion and recognizes four faiths: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. The constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but gives Buddhism a foremost position, requiring state protection of it. Religious education is structured around select faith instruction in schools. Religious minorities, such as Christians, have reported instances of discrimination and limited legal redress.
Islam (89%), Buddhism (11%)
As is the case in Pakistan, constitutional guarantees are not enough to alleviate the strain on religious freedom in Bangladesh. New Kerala reports, “Bangladesh shows a worrying pattern of shrinking Hindu populations linked to property seizures and periodic communal violence.” The timeline of the nation’s religious liberty following the adoption of the constitution is riddled with challenges faced by minor religious groups, political conflicts, economic and cultural crises, religious extremism and misunderstandings regarding religious harmony.
1972
Constitution adopted: Secularism as a founding principle.
Bangladesh’s founding constitution highlights secularism as one of four core state principles, explicitly rejecting the religious nationalism of Pakistani rule. The constitution authorizes freedom of religion for all citizens.
1988
Eighth Amendment: Islam declared state religion.
Military ruler H.M. Ershad amends the constitution to make Islam the state religion, directly contradicting the 1972 secular foundation. The amendment remains in force today despite constitutional challenges.
2011
Supreme Court ruling: Secularism affirmed as unamendable core.
The Supreme Court rules that secularism is part of Bangladesh’s unamendable constitutional identity, creating a legal tension with the 1988 state religion amendment that has never been fully resolved. The Hindu population has fallen from 13.5% in 1974 to roughly 8% in 2024.
Source: Pew Research Center, U.S. Department of State, "International Religious Reports," 2022-2023.