In
terms of demography Rajasthan is a diverse whole with people categorized
on the basis of birth or occupation. Also some parts of the state are
thickly populated while others are sparsely populated. According to the
2001 census the population of Rajasthan is 56.5 million. Though
Rajasthan is the land of the chivalrous Rajputs who were the rulers of
the Rajputana, they are a small number today with regard to the total
population of the state. Nonetheless they are still the most influential
section of the population of Rajasthan. The Rajputs belong to the famous
clans of Sisodias, Chauhans, Rathores, Kacchwahas, Pawars, Bhatis,
Solankis and even have an off-shoot known as Mussalman Rajputs or
Mussalman Sipahis. Hindus account for 88.8% of the population of Rajasthan. Muslims constitute the next largest group with about 8.5 % of the population. Sikhs, Jains and Sindhis are the other religious groups found in Rajasthan. Amongst the Hindus the Brahmins present here are considered superior in caste as compared to other Hindu castes. The castes and sub-castes of people today are derived from the kind of professions their forefathers use to follow, though it is not necessary that they may follow the same profession. The Kayasths, Khatris, Bhandaris, Lodhas etc belong to the writers and chroniclers community. The trading and mercantile communities are generally referred to as Marwaris which include the Maheshwaris, Aggarwals, Mahajans, Shrimals, and Lohias etc. The Oswals from the Osian region near Jodhpur are established traders and mostly Jains.
Rajasthan has a large indigenous tribal population further divided into numerous jatis. The two prominent Scheduled tribes of this region are the Meenas or Minas and the Bhils. The Meenas mostly inhabit Jaipur, Sawai-Madhopur and Udaipur districts while the Bhils are concentrated in the districts of Bhilwara, Dungarpur, Banswara, Chittaurgarh, Sirohi and Udaipur and are ace archers. The Grasias and Sahariyas are the two other tribal groups of Rajasthan. The Banjaras and the Meos are the nomadic traders of Rajasthan. Rajasthani and Hindi are the two languages which people of Rajasthan speak and understand across religions, castes or tribes.