Migration, Demographic Change, and Persecution of Hindus and Other Minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh (1950–2026)

 

Demographic Change in Pakistan

Pakistan (Present-Day Pakistan)

According to the 1941 Census, Hindus constituted roughly 14–15% of the population in territories that today form Pakistan, while Sikhs accounted for another 6%. The Partition of 1947 triggered one of the largest forced migrations in human history. About 4.7 to 5 million Hindus and Sikhs migrated from West Pakistan to India between 1947 and 1951.

Hindu Population in Pakistan

Year	Hindu Population %
1941	~14.8%
1951	~1.6%
1998	~1.85%
Current Estimates	2–3%

The dramatic decline occurred mainly during and immediately after Partition, when most Hindus and Sikhs fled or were expelled from what became Pakistan.

Demographic Change in East Pakistan / BangladeshThe situation in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) followed a different trajectory.

Hindu Population in East Pakistan / Bangladesh

Year	Hindu Share
1947	~28–31%
1951	~22–30%
1961	~19%
1974	~14%
Today	~7.9–8.5%

Researchers generally agree that the Hindu percentage declined continuously after Partition.

Major Waves of Migration into India

1. Partition Migration (1947–1951)

From West Pakistan

• Hindus and Sikhs migrating to India:
• Approximately 4.7–5 million
• Major origin areas:
• Punjab
• Sindh
• North-West Frontier Province
• Balochistan

Destination areas included:

• Delhi
• Punjab
• Haryana
• Rajasthan
• Gujarat
• Maharashtra

This remains the largest migration wave.

2. East Pakistan Migration (1950–1965)

Following:

• Anti-Hindu riots
• Property confiscation laws
• Political discrimination

large numbers of Bengali Hindus migrated to:

• West Bengal
• Assam
• Tripura
• Meghalaya

Estimates vary, but several million migrated during this period.

3. 1964–1971 Migration

A major scholarly estimate by Bangladeshi economist Dr. Abul Barkat concluded that:

11.3 million Hindus left Bangladesh between 1964 and 2013 due to religious discrimination and insecurity.

This estimate is frequently cited in discussions of long-term minority outmigration.

4. Bangladesh Liberation War Migration (1971)

The largest post-Partition refugee flow occurred during the Bangladesh Liberation War.

By November 1971:

• About 10 million refugees fled into India.
• Most studies indicate that a majority of these refugees were Hindus.

Refugees entered:

• West Bengal
• Tripura
• Assam
• Meghalaya
• Bihar

Many returned after Bangladesh became independent, but several million remained permanently in India.

5. Post-Independence Bangladesh Migration (1972–2026)

Migration continued because of:

• Land seizures
• Communal violence
• Religious discrimination
• Economic considerations

Most migrants settled in:

• West Bengal
• Assam
• Tripura
• Delhi
• Maharashtra
• Gujarat

The cumulative total of migrants from Bangladesh to India since 1947 is generally estimated in the tens of millions, although precise religious breakdowns remain disputed.

How Many Hindus Were Killed?

Partition Violence (1947–48)

Scholars estimate total deaths during Partition between:

• 200,000 and 2 million

Victims included:

• Hindus
• Sikhs

East Pakistan Violence (1950)

Large-scale anti-Hindu violence occurred in:

• Dhaka
• Barisal
• Khulna

Thousands were killed and many more displaced.

1964 Riots

Following unrest across East Pakistan:

• Thousands of Hindus fled to India.
• Casualty estimates vary widely.

The 1971 Bangladesh Genocide

This remains the most important episode affecting the Hindu population.

The Pakistani Army launched military operations on 25 March 1971 against Bengali nationalists and civilians.

Multiple contemporary diplomatic records and later investigations indicate that Hindus were specifically targeted.

Death Estimates

Different estimates exist:

Source	Estimated Deaths
Bangladesh Government	~3 million
Some Western scholars	300,000–500,000
Other studies	1–3 million

Were Most Victims Hindus?

Evidence shows Hindus were disproportionately targeted.

American diplomat Archer Blood reported systematic targeting of Hindus. U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy also documented selective violence against Hindu communities.

• Hindus were a primary target.
• A very large proportion of the victims were Hindus.

Forced Conversions

Pakistan

Human-rights organizations have documented:

• Forced conversion of Hindu girls
• Forced conversion of Sikh girls
• Forced marriages

The problem is concentrated particularly in:

• Sindh Province
• Southern Punjab

Reliable cumulative figures since 1950 do not exist.

Bangladesh

There is evidence of:

• Religious intimidation
• Land grabbing
• Occasional forced conversions

However, migration appears to have been a much larger demographic factor than conversion.

Christians, Buddhists and Sikhs

Pakistan

Sikhs

Most Sikhs left during Partition.

Estimated migration:

• Approximately 1.5–2 million Sikhs moved to India between 1947 and 1951.

Broad Research-Based Conclusions

Pakistan

• Nearly all Hindus and Sikhs of West Pakistan migrated during Partition.
• Approximately 5–7 million Hindus and Sikhs moved to India between 1947 and 1951.

Bangladesh / East Pakistan

• Hindu share declined from roughly 28–31% at Partition to around 8% today.
• One major academic estimate suggests 11.3 million Hindus left Bangladesh between 1964 and 2013.
• About 10 million refugees entered India during the 1971 war, the majority believed to be Hindus.

Killings

• The 1971 Bangladesh genocide caused between 300,000 and 3 million deaths depending on the source consulted.
• Hindus were a specifically targeted community, though victims also included many Bengali MuslimsAWAMI SUPPORTERS

Total Migration to India Since 1947

A reasonable synthesis of available scholarship suggests that:

• 5–7 million Hindus and Sikhs migrated from West Pakistan during Partition.
• More than 10–15 million Hindus are estimated to have migrated from East Pakistan/Bangladesh over the decades following Partition.
• Additional smaller numbers of Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Parsis, and Hindus migrated from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh in later decades.

Thus, the cumulative migration of persecuted or vulnerable non-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, East Pakistan/Bangladesh, and Afghanistan into India since 1947 is commonly estimated to exceed 15–20 million people, .

This remains one of the largest and longest-running minority migration movements in South Asia since Partition.