New Delhi: The population of Parsi community in the country has dipped by 22 per cent to 57,264 in 2011 from 69,601 in 2001.

According to the census data released today, the total Parsi/Zoroastrian population in 2011 stood at 57,264 of which 28,115 were males and 29,149 females.

In 2001, the total Parsi population was 69,601.

This is the sharpest decline in the small but prosperous community’s population after 1981 when the census reported about 27 per cent fall over the previous decade.

The population of Parsi community was 91,266 in 1971 and had fallen to 71,630 in 1981.

In subsequent years, the decline had slowed down but the 2011 headcount indicated their numbers were falling again.

Maharashtra has a Parsi population of 44,854, the highest among all states, followed by Gujarat with 9,727.

In Delhi, the Parsi population is just 221.

The Parsi population count in Andhra Pradesh was 609, in Karnataka 443, while 291 in West Bengal, 263 in Madhya Pradesh, 188 in Jharkhand, 127 in Tamil Nadu, 104 in Uttar Pradesh, 85 in Rajasthan, 83 in Haryana, 67 in Daman and Diu, 53 in Goa, 52 in Dadra and Nager Haveli, 24 in Kerala, 16 in Assam, 11 each in Mizoram and Odisha, nine in Punjab among others.

PTI