In the 2011 Census of Bharat, undivided Andhra Pradesh recorded 88.46% Hindus, 9.56% Muslims, and only 1.35% Christians. The Christian population had been declining since the 1971 Census, with numbers dropping from over 15 lakhs to about 6.8 lakhs by 2011. However, recent evidence suggests that the number of Christians in Andhra Pradesh is now approximately 25%.
The Lutheran Church alone reports having 3 million members in Andhra Pradesh, surpassing the official census count of 6.8 lakh Christians. Additionally, a 2020 news report revealed that the state has 33,803 temple priests, 29,841 pastors, and 13,646 imams. The high number of pastors compared to the census data suggests a significant underreporting of Christians. Assuming each pastor serves 100 families (about 500 people), the Christian population could be around 1.5 crores, or 25% of Andhra’s 6 crore population.
A TV interview with Raghu Rama Krishna Raju, an MP from Narsapuram, corroborated the 25% Christian population estimate. This large-scale conversion and census data manipulation may be driven by government benefits tied to reservations, which are available to Scheduled Castes (SC) who convert to Christianity but do not change their official religious status to retain these benefits.
The rise in the Christian population in Andhra Pradesh can be traced back to the efforts of former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy and his family, who actively promoted Christianity. His son, Jagan Mohan Reddy, the current Chief Minister, continues this legacy by appointing Christians to significant positions and promoting Christian pilgrimages, such as offering subsidies for trips to Jerusalem.
The concealment of the actual Christian population may also be a strategic move to avoid alarming the Hindu majority. As the Christian population grows, there is concern among Hindus about potential long-term consequences, drawing parallels to the historical decline of Roman Paganism after the rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire. The Christianization of regions such as Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Australia over millennia serves as a reminder of the possible future if the current trend in Andhra Pradesh continues unchecked.