Goa Religion

Hindus are, at 65.8 percent (as of Census 2001), the clear majority of the population. Since the port of Goa in India, their share has risen slowly but steadily, due mainly to immigration from other states. Nevertheless, there is still a strong Catholic minority of 26.7 percent.

Goa is thus along with East Timor and the Philippines, the region with the most Catholics in Asia. Catholicism was embossed in the 16th Century by the Portuguese. Under the Inquisition, many Hindus were forced to accept the Christian faith. Muslims make up only 6.8 percent of the population. While Hindus and Christians are divided equally between rural areas and towns, the Muslim minority lives mostly in rural areas.

Education

Goa has in comparison to most other states in India, a well-developed education system. This is most evident in the literacy rate, which is the third highest of all 28 states. In the census in 2001 it was 82.3 percent (Men: 88.9 percent; women: 75.5 percent). Only Kerala and Mizoram surpassed those numbers. 97 percent of all school-age children are actually enrolled.

Since 1985, Goa also has a university. Situated in Taleigao, just outside of Panaji, Goa University now has eleven faculties. There are two private colleges and a public technical college and a State College of Medicine. The Goa Institute of Management is privately held.