Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India, is home to approximately 200 million people. Muslims made up 19.26% of Uttar Pradesh’s total population in 2011, reflecting a slight increase from 18.4% in 2001. This state is divided into 75 districts, with Rampur standing out as a unique area where Muslims comprise more than 50% of the population.

Moradabad, Bijnor, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, and Amroha are notable districts in Uttar Pradesh, where Muslims make up significant portions of the population—47.1%, 43%, 42%, 41.3%, and 40.8%, respectively.

1. Muslim population in Paschimi Uttar Pradesh

Paschimi(Western) Uttar Pradesh is a region in India that includes the western districts of the state, such as Rohilkhand. In this area, people commonly speak Hindi and Braj. The biggest city in the region is Ghaziabad, and the second biggest is Agra, which is a popular place for Taj Mahal, tourists to visit.

The total population of Paschimi(Western) Uttar Pradesh is 67,766,583 people. Out of this, 18,297,717 are Muslims, which means that Muslims make up 27% of the total population. This significant percentage highlights the diverse and multicultural nature of the region.

Agra has a Muslim population of 411,313, making up 9.31% of the total population, with the community playing a role in the city’s historical tourism and local industries.

Aligarh has a significant Muslim population of 729,283 (19.85%), known for its prestigious Aligarh Muslim University, which has been a center of Islamic learning and culture. In Ambedkar Nagar, Muslims make up 16.75% of the population (401,678), contributing to the local economy through agriculture and trade.

Auraiya has a smaller Muslim population of 101,963 (7.39%), primarily engaged in agriculture and local businesses.

Azamgarh is home to 718,692 Muslims, making up 15.58% of its population, with a rich history in Islamic education. In Baghpat, 364,583 Muslims constitute 27.98% of the population, playing a key role in the district’s agricultural sector.

Bahraich has a large Muslim population of 1,169,330 (33.53%), contributing to the district’s agricultural and cultural diversity. Ballia has 213,440 Muslims, representing 6.59% of the population, with the community engaged in farming and trade.

Balrampur has a high Muslim population percentage of 37.51% (805,975), contributing significantly to agriculture. Banda has a Muslim population of 157,612 (8.76%), with contributions to agriculture and local industries.

Barabanki has 737,106 Muslims (22.61%), playing a significant role in the district’s agriculture and trade. Bareilly has a substantial Muslim population of 1,536,534 (34.54%), with the community contributing to the city’s trade and cultural richness.

2. Muslim Population in Bundelkhand Region

Bundelkhand is a historic region in central India that spans seven districts in Uttar Pradesh: Jhansi, Jalaun, Lalitpur, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Banda, and Chitrakoot. Bundelkhand is surrounded by the Vindhyachal valleys and stretches across parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. People in this region speak a language called Bundeli.

The total population of Bundelkhand is 9,681,552 people. Among them, 694,041 are Muslims, which represents 7.16% of the overall population. This percentage indicates the presence of a significant Muslim community within the larger population.

Basti has a Muslim population of 364,510 (14.79%), primarily involved in agriculture. Bijnor has one of the highest Muslim populations in the state, with 1,585,210 Muslims making up 43.04% of the population, contributing to local agriculture and trade.

Budaun has 790,515 Muslims (21.47%), with the community involved in farming and local businesses. Bulandshahr has a Muslim population of 777,407 (22.22%), playing a significant role in the district’s agricultural and industrial sectors.

Chandauli has 215,081 Muslims (11.01%), with the community engaged in local trade and farming. Chitrakoot has a small Muslim population of 34,559 (3.48%), contributing to agriculture and local businesses.

Deoria has 358,539 Muslims (11.56%), primarily involved in agriculture. Etah has a Muslim population of 146,346 (8.25%), with contributions to agriculture and trade. Etawah has 113,961 Muslims (7.2%), engaged in agriculture and local industries.

Faizabad, now known as Ayodhya, has a Muslim population of 365,806 (14.8%), contributing to local trade and agriculture. Farrukhabad has 276,846 Muslims (14.69%), involved in agriculture and local businesses.

Fatehpur has a Muslim population of 350,700 (13.32%), contributing to the district’s agricultural economy. Firozabad has 314,812 Muslims (12.6%), with the community playing a role in the local glass industry.

Gautam Buddh Nagar has 215,500 Muslims (13.08%), contributing to the district’s growing industrial and commercial sectors. Ghaziabad has a substantial Muslim population of 1,186,776 (25.35%), with contributions to the city’s trade and industry.

3. Muslim Population in Awadh Region

Awadh is a significant historical region located in northern India, currently forming the northeastern part of Uttar Pradesh. The name ‘Awadh’ is derived from Ayodhya, an ancient city that served as the capital of the kingdom of Kosala. Awadh is considered the homeland of the Hindu deity Rama, who is believed to be the earthly incarnation of Vishnu. This kingdom’s borders largely align with the present-day region of Awadh. In the 12th century, Muslim invaders took control of Awadh, and by the 16th century, it was integrated into the Mughal Empire, marking an important chapter in its history.

In the heart of northern Uttar Pradesh, the Awadh region is home to Awadhi, an Indo-Aryan language also known as Audhi. This language is deeply rooted in the area’s cultural and historical landscape.

The total population of the area is 39,843,170 people. Out of this number, 6,420,140 are Muslims, which represents 16.11% of the overall population. This proportion highlights a significant Muslim community within the region, reflecting its diverse demographic makeup.

Ghazipur has 368,153 Muslims (10.17%), involved in agriculture and local businesses. Gonda has a Muslim population of 678,615 (19.76%), contributing to the district’s agricultural output.

Gorakhpur has 403,847 Muslims (9.09%), engaged in local trade and agriculture. Hamirpur has a smaller Muslim population of 91,269 (8.26%), with the community involved in agriculture.

Hardoi has a Muslim population of 556,219 (13.59%), contributing to local trade and agriculture. Jalaun has 171,581 Muslims (10.15%), involved in agriculture and small businesses.

Jaunpur has 483,750 Muslims (10.76%), contributing to the district’s cultural and agricultural landscape. Jhansi has a Muslim population of 147,842 (7.4%), contributing to local trade and agriculture.

Jyotiba Phule Nagar (Amroha) has a large Muslim population of 750,368 (40.78%), engaged in agriculture and trade, with a rich cultural heritage. Kannauj has 273,967 Muslims (16.54%), known for their contributions to the perfume industry and local businesses.

Kanpur Dehat has a Muslim population of 176,327 (9.82%), engaged in agriculture and local trade. Kanpur Nagar has 720,660 Muslims (15.73%), contributing to the city’s industrial, trade, and educational sectors.

Kanshiram Nagar has 213,822 Muslims (14.88%), involved in agriculture and local industries. Kaushambi has a Muslim population of 220,423 (13.78%), contributing to agriculture and trade.

Kheri has a large Muslim population of 807,600 (20.08%), engaged in agriculture, particularly in sugarcane production. Kushinagar has 620,244 Muslims (17.4%), contributing to agriculture and trade in this culturally significant district.

Lalitpur has the smallest Muslim population in the state, with 33,724 Muslims (2.76%) involved in agriculture and small businesses.

Lucknow has a vibrant Muslim community of 985,070 (21.46%), involved in various sectors including trade, education, and politics, with the city known for its rich Mughal history. Mahamaya Nagar has 159,448 Muslims (10.19%), contributing to local trade and agriculture.

Mahoba has 57,454 Muslims (6.56%), with a focus on agriculture and small-scale trade. Mahrajganj has 458,650 Muslims (17.08%), engaged in agriculture, especially in sugarcane production.

Mainpuri has 100,723 Muslims (5.39%), contributing to local agriculture and trade. Mathura has 216,933 Muslims (8.52%), involved in trade and agriculture in this city of religious importance.

4. Muslims in Purvanchal Uttar Pradesh

Purvanchal is in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, India, and has a long history. It is part of the bigger Bhojpuri region and mainly includes areas where people speak Bhojpuri. This region is known for its rich culture and traditions.

Varanasi, often referred to as the spiritual city, is seen as the heart of Purvanchal. It is regarded as the central city in this eastern region of Uttar Pradesh. If Purvanchal were to become a separate state, Varanasi would be its capital.

The total population of Purvanchal is 50,271,498(5 crore) people. Among them, 6,836,150(68 Lakh) are Muslims, which represents 13.59% of the total population. This indicates that a significant portion of the population practices Islam, contributing to the area’s diverse cultural and social landscape.

Mau has 428,555 Muslims (19.43%), contributing to agriculture and local trade in a district with a rich cultural heritage. Meerut has a large Muslim population of 1,185,643 (34.43%), contributing to the city’s commerce, education, and historical significance.

Mirzapur has 195,765 Muslims (7.84%), engaged in agriculture and local trade, with the district known for its carpets and brassware industries.

Moradabad has the largest Muslim population in the state, with 2,248,392 Muslims (47.12%) driving the district’s brassware industry.

Muzaffarnagar has 1,711,453 Muslims (41.3%), contributing significantly to the district’s agricultural output. Pilibhit has 489,686 Muslims (24.11%), involved in agriculture, particularly sugarcane and rice cultivation.

Pratapgarh has a Muslim population of 452,394 (14.1%), contributing to agriculture and local businesses.

Prayagraj formally named Allahabad, has a significant Muslim population of 796,756 (13.38%), with the city being a major religious and educational center.

Rae Bareli has 413,243 Muslims (12.13%), contributing to local agriculture and trade in a district known for its political significance.

Rampur has the highest percentage of Muslims in the state, with 1,181,337 Muslims (50.57%) contributing to the district’s cultural heritage, including the historic Rampur Raza Library. Saharanpur has a large Muslim population of 1,454,052 (41.95%), with the district being a key center for Islamic education and wood carving industry.

Sant Kabir Nagar has 404,410 Muslims (23.58%), involved in agriculture and local trade, with the district named after the famous saint Kabir. Sant Ravidas Nagar (Bhadohi) has 203,887 Muslims (12.92%), contributing to the district’s renowned carpet industry.

Shahjahanpur has a Muslim population of 527,581 (17.55%), contributing to agriculture and local businesses. Shrawasti has 343,981 Muslims (30.79%), involved in agriculture and local trade in a district known for its ancient Buddhist ruins.

Siddharthnagar has 748,073 Muslims (29.23%), engaged in agriculture and local industries, with the district having historical significance related to Buddhism. Sitapur has 893,725 Muslims (19.93%), contributing to agriculture and local trade in a district known for its traditional industries.

Sonbhadra has a smaller Muslim population of 103,567 (5.56%), contributing to agriculture and local businesses in this district known for its natural resources. Sultanpur has 650,261 Muslims (20.92%), contributing significantly to agriculture and trade in a district known for its vibrant cultural traditions.

Unnao has 363,453 Muslims (11.69%), engaged in agriculture and local businesses in a district with historical significance.

Varanasi, one of the oldest cities in the world, has 546,987 Muslims (14.88%), contributing to the city’s rich cultural and religious tapestry, with the city being a major center for Islamic scholarship and trade.

The Muslim population in Uttar Pradesh is distributed across its various regions, each with its own unique demographic makeup. In Purvanchal, Muslims constitute 13.59% of the population, with a total of 6,836,150 people. Awadh, another significant region, has 6,420,140 Muslims, making up 16.11% of its population. Bundelkhand, known for its historical significance, has a smaller Muslim community, comprising 7.16% of the population, with 694,041 people. In contrast, Paschimi Uttar Pradesh (Western UP) has the largest Muslim population, with 18,297,717 individuals, representing 27% of the region’s total population. These statistics reflect the diverse and intricate social fabric of Uttar Pradesh, where different communities coexist, each contributing to the state’s cultural richness.