Sikhism

==Sikh people==
{{Main|Sikhs}}
{|class="sortable wikitable floatright"
|+ [[Sikhs in India]]<ref name=census2011sikhs/>
! [[States and union territories of India|State/Union Territory]] !! Percentage
|-
|[[Punjab, India|Punjab]]||57.7% 
|-
|[[Chandigarh]]||13.1%
|-
|[[Haryana]]||4.9%
|-
|[[Delhi]]||3.4%
|-
|[[Uttarakhand]]||2.3%
|-
|[[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]||1.9%
|-
|[[Rajasthan]]||1.3%
|-
|[[Himachal Pradesh]]||1.2% 
|}
{|class="sortable wikitable floatright"
|+ [[Sikhs in Canada]]<ref name="canadareligion2021">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=26 October 2022 |title=Religion by visible minority and generation status: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810034201 |access-date=26 October 2022 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |archive-date=5 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305220639/https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810034201 |url-status=live }}</ref>
! [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province/Territory]] !! Percentage
|-
|[[British Columbia]]||5.9% 
|-
|[[Manitoba]]||2.7%
|-
|[[Alberta]]||2.5%
|-
|[[Ontario]]||2.1%
|-
|[[Yukon]]||1.0%
|}
{|class="sortable wikitable floatright"
|+ [[Sikhism in England|Sikhs in England]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=TS030 – Religion Edit query|url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/query/asv2htm|access-date=29 November 2022|website=nomisweb.co.uk}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
! [[Regions of England|Region]] !! Percentage
|-
|[[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]]||2.9% 
|-
|[[Greater London]]||1.6%
|-
|[[East Midlands (region)|East Midlands]]||1.1%
|}
{|class="sortable wikitable floatright"
|+ [[Sikhs in Australia]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://profile.id.com.au/australia/religion?WebID=110&EndYear=2001&DataType=UR|title=Australia-Community Profile|access-date=3 April 2023|archive-date=23 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123042443/https://profile.id.com.au/australia/religion?WebID=110&EndYear=2001&DataType=UR|url-status=live}}</ref>
! [[States and territories of Australia|State/Territory]] !! Percentage
|-
|[[Victoria (state)|Victoria]]||1.4% 
|-
|[[South Australia]]||1.0%
|-
|[[Australian Capital Territory]]||1.0%
|}
{|class="sortable wikitable floatright"
|+ [[Sikhism in New Zealand|Sikhs in New Zealand]]<ref name="figure">{{cite web|title=Religious affiliations in the Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand|url=https://figure.nz/chart/K5hAmlDDPKAqwyjk|website=Figure NZ Trust|access-date=19 December 2022|archive-date=20 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220043832/https://figure.nz/chart/K5hAmlDDPKAqwyjk|url-status=live}}</ref>
! [[Regions of New Zealand|Region]] !! Percentage
|-
|[[Bay of Plenty Region|Bay of Plenty]]||1.6% 
|-
|[[Auckland Region|Auckland]]||1.5%
|}
Estimates {{As of|2019|lc=y}} state that Sikhism has some 25–30&nbsp;million followers worldwide.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-50374567|title = Sikhs in Wolverhampton celebrate 550 years of Guru Nanak|work = BBC News|date = 12 November 2019|access-date = 21 January 2021|archive-date = 27 January 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210127230917/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-50374567|url-status = live}}</ref> According to [[Pew Research Center|Pew Research]], a think tank and research group based in Washington DC, over 9-in-10 Sikhs are in [[Sikhism in India|India]], but there are also sizable Sikh communities in the [[Sikhism in the United States|United States]], the [[Sikhism in the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]], and [[Sikhism in Canada|Canada]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-12-18 |title=Other Religions |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-other/ |access-date= |website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project |language=en-US |archive-date=1 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901021622/https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-other/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Within India, the Sikh population is found in every [[States and union territories of India|state and union territory]], but it is predominantly found in the northwestern and northern states. Only in the state of [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] do Sikhs constitute a majority (58% of the total, per [[2011 Census of India|2011 census]]).<ref name=census2011sikhs/> In addition to Punjab, the states and union territories of India where Sikhs constitute more than 1.5% of its population are [[Chandigarh]], [[Haryana]], [[Delhi]], [[Uttarakhand]], and [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu & Kashmir]], all of which are in the northern half of India.<ref name=census2011sikhs>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/Religion_PCA.html Religion demographics: 2011 Census] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815045141/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/Religion_PCA.html |date=15 August 2018 }}, Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India</ref>

Canada is home to the largest national Sikh proportion (2.1% of the total population) in the world.<ref name="canadareligion2021"/> Within Canada, Sikhs form 5.9% of the total population in the western province of [[British Columbia]], representing the third-largest Sikh proportion amongst all global [[administrative divisions]], behind only Punjab and Chandigarh in India. British Columbia, [[Manitoba]], and [[Yukon]] hold the distinction of being three of the only four [[administrative divisions]] in the world with Sikhism as the second-most followed religion among the population.{{refn|Sikhism is the second-largest religion in British Columbia, Manitoba, and Yukon.<ref name="canadareligion2021"/> Per the [[2011 Indian census]], Sikhism is the largest religion in Punjab and second in Chandigarh. These are the only two Indian states/UTs where Sikhism is one of the two most common religions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Population by religion community – 2011 |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW03C-01%20MDDS.XLS |publisher=The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923230423/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW03C-01%20MDDS.XLS |archive-date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/0401_PART_A_DCHB_CHANDIGARH.pdf |title=Census of India 2011 – Chandigarh |access-date=28 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821191248/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/0401_PART_A_DCHB_CHANDIGARH.pdf |archive-date=21 August 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref>|name="ProvincePopulation"}}

Prior to the [[Partition of India|1947 partition]] of [[British Raj|British India]], millions of Sikhs lived in what later became [[Punjab, Pakistan|Pakistan]]. Likewise, Sikhism was founded in what is now Pakistan, and some of the [[Sikh gurus|Gurus]] were born near [[Lahore]] and in other parts of Pakistan. During the partition, Sikhs and Hindus left the newly created Muslim-majority Pakistan and mostly moved to Hindu-majority India—with some moving to Muslim-majority [[Afghanistan]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Explainer: Who are the Afghan Sikhs? |work=The Conversation |date=20 August 2014 |url=https://theconversation.com/explainer-who-are-the-afghan-sikhs-30699 |access-date=20 May 2020 |archive-date=31 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331144838/https://theconversation.com/explainer-who-are-the-afghan-sikhs-30699 |url-status=live }}</ref>—while numerous Muslims in India moved to Pakistan.<ref>{{cite book |first1=L. A. |last1=Kosinski |first2=K. M. |last2=Elahi |title=Population Redistribution and Development in South Asia |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=tGiSBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA186 |date=2012 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-94-009-5309-3 |pages=186–203}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first1=Nigel |last1=Eltringham |first2=Pam |last2=Maclean |title=Remembering Genocide |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=6OfpAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT30 |date=2014 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |location=Abingdon-on-Thames, England |isbn=978-1-317-75421-3 |pages=30–32}}</ref> According to 2017 news reports, only about 20,000 [[Sikhism in Pakistan|Sikhs remain in Pakistan]], and their population is dwindling ({{nowrap|0.01%}} of the country's estimated 200&nbsp;million population).<ref>[https://www.dawn.com/news/1176521 Pakistan's dwindling Sikh community wants improved security] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806075623/http://www.dawn.com/news/1176521 |date=6 August 2015 }}, ''The Dawn'', Pakistan (17 April 2017)</ref><ref>[https://www.dawn.com/news/1321294 Pakistan's Sikh community disappointed at being 'left out' of national census] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026214602/https://www.dawn.com/news/1321294 |date=26 October 2017 }}, Ali Akbar, ''The Dawn'' (March 2017)</ref>

===Sikh sects===
{{main|Sects of Sikhism}}
Sikh sects are sub-traditions within Sikhism that believe in an alternate lineage of gurus, or have a different interpretation of the Sikh scriptures, or believe in following a living guru, or hold other concepts that differ from the orthodox Khalsa Sikhs.<ref name="Syan2014p170">{{cite book |first=Hardip Singh |last=Syan |editor1-first=Pashaura |editor1-last=Singh |editor2-first=Louis E. |editor2-last=Fenech |title=The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=8I0NAwAAQBAJ |date=2014 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-969930-8|pages=170–180}}</ref><ref name="Takhar2014p350" /> The major historic sects of Sikhism have included Udasi, Nirmala, Nanakpanthi, Khalsa, Sahajdhari, Namdhari Kuka, Nirankari, and Sarvaria.<ref name="Oberoi1994p24">{{cite book |first=Harjot |last=Oberoi |title=The Construction of Religious Boundaries: Culture, Identity, and Diversity in the Sikh Tradition |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=1NKC9g2ayJEC&pg=PA78 |date=1994 |publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]] |isbn=978-0-226-61592-9 |pages=24–25}}</ref>

Sikhs originally had only five orders, or [[Sampradaya|sampradas]] (not to be confused as deviant sects). These include:

[[Nihang]]s - the Sikh [[Panth|Panth's]] warriors or armed troops.<ref name=":5" /> There are two main groups within this order: Buddha Dal, or the army of veterans, and Tarna Dal, or the army of youth. There are other smaller sub-orders connected to these two.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Akalis/Nihangs |url=http://www.philtar.ac.uk/encyclopedia/sikhism/akalis.html |access-date=22 February 2023 |website=philtar.ac.uk}}</ref> The president of Buddha Dal, previously always served as the president of the [[Akal Takht|Akaal Takht]], which has jurisdiction over all things pertaining to the [[Nihang|Akaali Nihang]] order.<ref name=":2a" /> Theoretically, the religion is the property of [[Fateh Singh (Sikhism)|Baba Fateh Singh]], Sahibzada (son) of the tenth Guru.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}
[[File:Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa, a white convert to Sikhism, who authored the most widely used translation of the primary Sikh Scripture.jpg|thumb|Sant Singh Khalsa, a white convert to Sikhism, authored the most widely used translation of the Guru Granth Sahib]]
[[Nirmala (sect)|Nirmalas]] – scholars. Composed texts as well as traditionally studying a wide range of [[Indian religions|Indian]] and some non-Indian literature. They converse with other [[Dharma|Dharmik pathways]] as well.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nirmalas |url=http://www.philtar.ac.uk/encyclopedia/sikhism/nirmal.html |access-date=22 February 2023 |website=philtar.ac.uk}}</ref> The 10th Guru also institutionalized them. Bhai Daya Singh Ji Samparda and Bhai Dharam Singh Ji Samparda, two of the [[Panj Pyare]] or cherished ones of the 10th Guru, founded two Nirmala orders.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 June 2006 |title=Nirmal Home |url=http://nirmalashramrishikesh.org/Home.asp?GivePage=reso1024 |access-date=22 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615052041/http://nirmalashramrishikesh.org/Home.asp?GivePage=reso1024 |archive-date=15 June 2006 }}</ref> There are further sub-orders with these two orders.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}

[[Udasi]]s – an ascetic group that historically looked after [[Gurdwara]]s and carried out [[missionary]] activity. Although not promoting it to others, certain of their practices depart from the majority of Sikh beliefs.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Udasis |url=http://www.philtar.ac.uk/encyclopedia/sikhism/udas.html |access-date=22 February 2023 |website=philtar.ac.uk}}</ref> [[Sri Chand|Baba Sri Chand]], the eldest Sahibzada (son) of the first Guru, [[Guru Nanak|Guru Nanak Dev]], founded the order.<ref name=":3" /> Their Gurdev is Baba Sri Chand.<ref name=":2a" />

[[Sevapanthi (Sikh Order)|Sevapanthis]] – philanthropists who engage in charitable work/seva, or selfless service, without expecting payment.<ref name=":4">Shriniwas, Geeta. "sevapanthi sampradaya itihash aur vikas."</ref> They also work on academic projects. Bhai Kahnaiya, a Sikh of the 9th & 10th Guru, served as the first head of the order<ref>Mahal, Ramandeep. "Bhai Kanhaiya ji: A Humanitarian Soul."</ref> and is renowned for his wartime medical assistance to wounded enemy soldiers.<ref name=":4" /> Very few of them exist today. The environment in which they lived and interacted with was a predominately Muslim.<ref name=":4" />

[[Damdami Taksal|Gyaaniyan Samparda]] – the university of Sikhi, whilst technically not an order, it essentially serves as one.<ref name="Nirbhai Singh 1990 1–3" /> Made up from individuals belonging to all of the above sects. Many branches within this order.[[File:Ustad Baljit Singh Luxmi Namdhari and Fateh Singh.jpg|left|thumb|[[Namdhari|Namdhari Sikhs]], also called the ''Kuka'' Sikhs are a sect of Sikhism known for their crisp white dress and horizontal ''pagari'' (turban).<ref name=britsikhssects>[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sikhism/Sects-and-other-groups "Sects and other groups: Sikhism"], ''[[Encyclopaedia Britannica]] Online''.</ref><ref name="HaarKalsi2009p10">{{cite book |first1=Kristen |last1=Haar |first2=Sewa Singh |last2=Kalsi |title=Sikhism |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=YOI1nB_zTyAC |date=2009 |publisher=Infobase |isbn=978-1-4381-0647-2 |pages=10–11}}</ref> Above: Namdhari singer and musicians.]]

The early Sikh sects were [[Udasi]]s and [[Mina (Sikhism)|Minas]] founded by Baba [[Sri Chand]] – the elder son of [[Guru Nanak]], and [[Prithi Chand]] – the elder son of [[Guru Ram Das]] respectively, in parallel to the official succession of the Sikh Gurus. Later on [[Ramraiya]] sect, founded by [[Baba Ram Rai|Ram Rai]], grew in [[Dehradun]] with the patronage of Aurangzeb.<ref name="FenechMcLeod2014p260" /> Many splintered Sikh communities formed during the [[Mughal Empire]] era. Some of these sects were financially and administratively supported by the Mughal rulers in the hopes of gaining a more favorable and compliant citizenry.<ref name="Takhar2014p350">{{cite book |first1=Opinderjit Kaur |last1=Takhar |editor1-first=Pashaura |editor1-last=Singh |editor2-first=Louis E. |editor2-last=Fenech |title=The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=8I0NAwAAQBAJ |date=2014|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-969930-8|pages=350–359}}</ref><ref name="FenechMcLeod2014p260">{{cite book |first1=Louis E. |last1=Fenech |first2=W. H. |last2=McLeod |title=Historical Dictionary of Sikhism|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=xajcAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA260|date=2014|publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |location=Lanham, Maryland |isbn=978-1-4422-3601-1|pages=260–261}}</ref>

After the collapse of Mughal Empire, and particularly during the rule of Ranjit Singh, Udasi Sikhs protected Sikh shrines, preserved the Sikh scripture and rebuilt those that were desecrated or destroyed during the Muslim–Sikh wars. However, Udasi Sikhs kept idols and images inside these Sikh temples.<ref name="Oberoi1994p78" /><ref name="Fenech2014p375">{{cite book |first1=Pashaura |last1=Singh |first2=Louis E. |last2=Fenech |title=The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=8I0NAwAAQBAJ |date=2014|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-969930-8|pages=375–377}}</ref> In the 19th century, [[Namdhari]]s and [[Nirankari]]s sects were formed in Sikhism, seeking to reform and return to what each believed was the pure form of Sikhism.<ref name="fenech273">{{cite book |first1=Louis E. |last1=Fenech |first2=W. H. |last2=McLeod |title=Historical Dictionary of Sikhism|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=xajcAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA273|date=2014|publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |location=Lanham, Maryland |isbn=978-1-4422-3601-1|pages=151, 273}}</ref><ref name="SinghFenech2014p28" /><ref name="Mandair 2013 85–86"/>

All these sects differ from Khalsa orthodox Sikhs in their beliefs and practices, such as continuing to solemnize their weddings around fire and being strictly vegetarian.<ref name=britsikhssects/><ref name="HaarKalsi2009p10" /> Many accept the concept of living Gurus such as Guru [[Baba Dyal Singh]]. The Nirankari sect, though unorthodox, was influential in shaping the views of Tat Khalsa and the contemporary-era Sikh beliefs and practices.<ref name=britsikhsects>[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sikhism/Sects-and-other-groups "Sects in Sikhism"], ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'' Online. Retrieved 7 August 2018.</ref><ref>{{cite book |page=141 |title=The Culture of India |first=Kathleen |last=Kuiper |publisher=Rosen}}</ref> Another significant Sikh sect of the 19th century was the [[Radhasoami]] movement in Punjab led by Baba Shiv Dyal.<ref name="HaarKalsi2009p9">{{cite book |first1=Kristen |last1=Haar |first2=Sewa Singh |last2=Kalsi |title=Sikhism |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=YOI1nB_zTyAC&pg=PA9 |date=2009 |publisher=Infobase |isbn=978-1-4381-0647-2 |pages=9–14}}</ref> Other contemporary era Sikhs sects include the [[3HO]], formed in 1971, which exists outside India, particularly in North America and Europe.<ref name="HaarKalsi2009p9" /><ref name=verne560>{{cite book |first=Verne |last=Dusenbery |editor1-first=Pashaura |editor1-last=Singh |editor2-first=Louis E. |editor2-last=Fenech |title=The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=8I0NAwAAQBAJ |date=2014 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-969930-8 |pages=560–570}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Mooney |first=Nicola |title=Reading Weber Among the Sikhs: Asceticism and Capitalism in the 3HO/Sikh Dharma |journal=Sikh Formations |volume=8 |issue=3 |year=2012 |issn=1744-8727 |doi=10.1080/17448727.2012.745305 |pages=417–436 |s2cid=145775040}}</ref>

===Sikh castes===
[[File:Nagar Kirtan.jpg|thumb|[[Nagar Kirtan]] in [[Bangalore]]]]
According to Surinder Jodhka, the state of Punjab with a Sikh majority has the "largest proportion of [[Dalit|scheduled caste]] population in India". Although decried by Sikhism, Sikhs have practiced a caste system. The system, along with [[untouchability]], has been more common in rural parts of Punjab. The landowning dominant Sikh castes, states Jodhka, "have not shed all their prejudices against the lower castes or [[dalits]]; while dalits would be allowed entry into the village gurdwaras they would not be permitted to cook or serve langar." The Sikh dalits of Punjab have tried to build their own gurdwara, other local level institutions and sought better material circumstances and dignity. According to Jodhka, due to economic mobility in contemporary Punjab, castes no longer mean an inherited occupation, nor are work relations tied to a single location.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jodhka|first1=Surinder S|title=Caste and Untouchability in Rural Punjab |journal=Economic and Political Weekly|date=11–17 May 2002|volume=37|issue=19|pages=1813–1823|jstor=4412102}}</ref>
In 1953, the government of India acceded to the demands of the Sikh leader, [[Tara Singh (activist)|Master Tara Singh]], to include Sikh Dalit castes in the list of scheduled castes.<ref name="Harish K. Puri 2004">{{cite book |title=Dalits in Regional Context |first=Harish K. |last=Puri |isbn=978-81-7033-871-0|date=2004|publisher=Rawat Publications }}</ref> In the [[Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee]], 20 of the 140 seats are reserved for low-caste Sikhs.<ref name="Harish K. Puri 2004" />

Over 60% of Sikhs belong to the [[Jat Sikh|Jat]] caste, which is an agrarian caste. Despite being very small in numbers, the mercantile [[Khatri]] and [[Arora]] castes wield considerable influence within the Sikh community. Other common Sikh castes include [[Saini]]s, [[Ramgarhia]]s (artisans), [[Brahmins]], [[Ahluwalia (caste)|Ahluwalias]] (formerly brewers), [[Rajput]]s,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Refugees |first=United Nations High Commissioner for |title=Refworld {{!}} India: Rajput Sikh religion |url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be4214.html |access-date=4 April 2023 |website=Refworld |language=en}}</ref> [[Rai Sikh]] (Rai), [[Kamboj]]s (rural caste), [[Labana]]s, [[Kumhar]]s and the two Dalit castes, known in Sikh terminology as the [[Mazhabi]]s (the Chuhras) and the [[Ravidasia]]s (the Chamars).<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Sikhism (religion)|url= http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/543916/Sikhism/253170/The-rejection-of-caste |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] Online |access-date=25 November 2014}}</ref>

===Sikh diaspora===
{{Further|Sikhism in India|Sikh diaspora|Sikhism by country}}
[[File:Sikhs on the move!.jpg|thumb|Sikhs celebrating [[Vaisakhi]] in [[Toronto, Canada]]]]
Sikhism is [[Major religious groups#Religious demographics|the fifth-largest amongst the world religions]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Almasy |first1=Steve |date=August 5, 2012 |title=Who are Sikhs and what do they believe? |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/08/05/us/religion-what-is-a-sikh/index.html |access-date=21 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Whitmer |first=Governor Gretchen |date=1 April 2022 |title=April 2022: Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month |url=https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/news/proclamations/2022/04/01/april-2022-sikh-awareness-and-appreciation-month |access-date=12 July 2022 |website=michigan.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Hautzinger |first=Daniel |date=5 May 2021 |title=A Brief Introduction to Sikhism |url=https://interactive.wttw.com/playlist/2021/05/05/sikhism-chicago |access-date=12 July 2022 |publisher=WTTW}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Simko-Bednarski |first=Evan |date=9 July 2020 |title=US Sikhs tirelessly travel their communities to feed hungry Americans |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/sikh-pandemic-food-support/index.html |access-date=12 July 2022 |website=CNN Digital}}</ref> and one of the youngest.<ref name="Partridge2013">{{cite book |first=Christopher |last=Partridge |title=Introduction to World Religions|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Z3AjAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA429|date=1 November 2013|publisher=Fortress Press |isbn=978-0-8006-9970-3|pages=429–}}</ref><ref name="McDowellBrown2009">{{cite book |first1=Michael |last1=McDowell |first2=Nathan Robert |last2=Brown |title=World Religions at Your Fingertips |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=K0_dHrRY3gIC&pg=PA232 |date=2009 |publisher=Alpha Books |isbn=978-1-59257-846-7 |page=232}}</ref><ref name="Teece2005">{{cite book |first=Geoff |last=Teece |title=Sikhism |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=kJO1WIABhPQC&pg=PA4|date=2005 |publisher=Black Rabbit Books |isbn=978-1-58340-469-0 |pages=4–}}</ref> Worldwide, there are 30&nbsp;million Sikhs,<ref name="Britannica">McLeod, William Hewat. 2019 [1998]. {{cite encyclopedia |title=Sikhism |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] Online |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sikhism |access-date=7 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=12 November 2019 |title=Sikhs in Wolverhampton celebrate 550 years of Guru Nanak |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-50374567}}</ref> which makes up 0.4% of the world's population. Approximately 75% of Sikhs live in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], where they constitute 57.7% of the state's population. Large communities of Sikhs migrate to the neighboring states such as Indian State of Haryana which is home to the second largest Sikh population in India with 1.1&nbsp;million Sikhs as per 2001 census, and large immigrant communities of Sikhs can be found across India. However, Sikhs only comprise about 1.7% of the Indian population.<ref name="Singh Kalsi 2007 12">{{cite book |title=Sikhism |last=Singh Kalsi |first=Sewa |date=2007 |publisher=Bravo Ltd |location=London |isbn=978-1-85733-436-4 |page=12}}</ref>

Most Sikhs outside India live in the [[core Anglosphere]], with 771,790 in [[Sikhism in Canada|Canada]] (2.1% Sikh),<ref name="canadareligion2021"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=26 October 2022 |title=The Daily — The Canadian census: A rich portrait of the country's religious and ethnocultural diversity |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/221026/dq221026b-eng.htm |access-date=26 October 2022 |website=www150.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref> 524,140 in the [[Sikhism in the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]] (0.9% Sikh),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Religion, England and Wales – Office for National Statistics |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/religion/bulletins/religionenglandandwales/census2021 |access-date=29 November 2022 |website=ons.gov.uk}}</ref> 280,000 in the [[Sikhism in the United States|United States]] (0.1% Sikh),{{refn|While the [[U.S. Census]] does not ask about religion,<ref>{{cite web|title=
Does the Census Bureau have data for religion?
|url=https://ask.census.gov/prweb/PRServletCustom/app/ECORRAsk2_/YACFBFye-rFIz_FoGtyvDRUGg1Uzu5Mn*/!STANDARD?pzuiactionzzz=CXtpbn0rTEpMcGRYOG1vS0tqTFAwaENUZWpvM1NNWEMzZ3p5aFpnWUxzVmw0TjJndno5ZkJPc24xNWYvcCtNbVVjWk5Z*|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=18 March 2023}}</ref> 70,697 Americans (or {{Percentage|70,697|331,449,281|2}} of the total population) declared Sikh as their ethnicity in the [[2020 U.S. census|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web|title=
Asian Indian Was The Largest Asian Alone Population Group in 2020|url=https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/09/2020-census-dhc-a-asian-population.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=23 September 2023}}</ref> In the [[2021 Canadian census]], 194,640 Canadians declared Sikh as their ethnicity while 771,790 Canadians declared Sikh as their religion, indicating that the Sikh American population may be around 280,329, or {{Percentage|280,329|331,449,281|2}} of the total population.<ref>{{cite web|title=
Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population| date=9 February 2022 |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&DGUIDList=2021A000011124&GENDERList=1,2,3&STATISTICList=1,4&HEADERList=0&SearchText=Canada|publisher=[[Statistics Canada]]|access-date=23 September 2023}}</ref> The [[U.S. Census Bureau]] estimated the adult Sikh American population at 78,000 in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2012 - Section 1: Population - Table 75: Self-Described Religious Identification of Adult Population: 1990, 2001, and 2008 (page 61)|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2011/compendia/statab/131ed/2012-statab.pdf|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref> The [[Pew Research Center]] estimated the Sikh American adult population to be 140,000 and the total population at 200,000 in 2012 while the World Religion Database at Boston University estimated the American Sikh population to be at 280,000 in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2012 - Section 1: Population - Table 75: Self-Described Religious Identification of Adult Population: 1990, 2001, and 2008 (page 61)|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2011/compendia/statab/131ed/2012-statab.pdf|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref><ref name="How Many U.S. Sikhs">{{cite web|title=How Many U.S. Sikhs?|date=6 August 2012 |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/2012/08/06/ask-the-expert-how-many-us-sikhs/|publisher=[[Pew Research Center]]|access-date=18 March 2023}}</ref> Sikh organizations like the [[Sikh Coalition]] and [[American Sikh Congressional Caucus]] estimate the Sikh American population to be as high as 1,000,000, but do not provide any sources for these figures;<ref>{{cite web|title=About Sikhs|url=https://www.sikhcoalition.org/about-sikhs/|publisher=[[Sikh Coalition]]|access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=H. RES. 275 - 118th Congress (2023-2024)|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-resolution/275/text?s=1&r=1/|publisher=[[United States Congress]]|access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref><ref name="How Many U.S. Sikhs">{{cite web|title=How Many U.S. Sikhs?|date=6 August 2012 |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/2012/08/06/ask-the-expert-how-many-us-sikhs/|publisher=[[Pew Research Center]]|access-date=18 March 2023}}</ref> 500,000 nevertheless remains the most cited Sikh American population size in news media.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sikhism Reporter's Guide|url=https://www.sikhcoalition.org/resources/sikhism-reporters-guide/|publisher=[[Sikh Coalition]]|access-date=23 July 2023}}</ref>{{refn|<ref>{{cite web|title=The Sikh Community Today |url=https://pluralism.org/the-sikh-community-today|publisher=[[Harvard University]]|access-date=28 March 2023|quote="Today there are well over 500,000 Sikhs in the United States."}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=American Sikhs are targets of bigotry, often due to cultural ignorance |date=10 August 2022 |url=https://religionnews.com/2022/08/10/american-sikhs-are-targets-of-bigotry-often-due-to-cultural-ignorance/|publisher=[[Religion News Service]]|access-date=28 March 2023|quote="Scholars and government officials estimate the Sikh American population to number around 500,000."}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sikhs in America:A History of Hate |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/sikhs-in-america-hate-crime-victims-and-bias|publisher=[[ProPublica]]|access-date=28 March 2023|quote="There are an estimated 500,000 Sikhs living in the U.S., many in New York and California."
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=April 2022: Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month |url=https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/news/proclamations/2022/04/01/april-2022-sikh-awareness-and-appreciation-month|publisher=State of Michigan Office of the Governor|access-date=28 March 2023|quote="Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world, and, today, there are more than 30 million Sikhs worldwide and an estimated 500,000 Sikh Americans;"}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Want to know about Sikhism?|date=23 May 2022 |url=https://www.wuwm.com/2022-05-23/want-to-know-about-sikhism-head-to-new-book-collection-in-oak-creek|publisher=[[WUWM]]|access-date=28 March 2023|quote="There are more than 500,000 Sikhs in the United States."}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=A Brief Introduction to Sikhism|date=5 May 2021 |url=https://interactive.wttw.com/playlist/2021/05/05/sikhism-chicago|publisher=[[WTTW]]|access-date=28 March 2023|quote="Despite its relatively recent arrival in Chicago, Sikhism is the world’s fifth-largest religion, with 25 to 30 million adherents around the globe and an estimated 500,000 in America today."}}</ref>}} With 1% of [[Asian Americans#Religion|Asian Americans]] being Sikh, and 90.7% of Sikh Americans being Asian American, the American Sikh population can be estimated around 280,000 in 2021.<ref>{{cite web|title=Asian Americans: A Mosaic of Faiths|date=19 July 2012 |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2012/07/19/asian-americans-a-mosaic-of-faiths-overview/|publisher=[[Pew Research Center]]|access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2020 National Sikh American Survey: Key Findings|date=23 October 2020 |url=https://issuu.com/saldefmedia/docs/2020_national_sikh_american_survey|publisher=[[Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund]]|access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=DP05ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES|url=https://data.census.gov/table?tid=ACSDP1Y2021.DP05|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref>}} 210,400 in [[Sikhism in Australia|Australia]] (0.8% Sikh),<ref>{{cite web|author=Glenn |url=http://blog.id.com.au/2012/australian-census-2011/2011-australian-census-fastest-growing-religions/ |title=2011 Australian Census – Fastest Growing Religions  |publisher=Blog.id.com.au |date=6 September 2012 |access-date=2 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | url = https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/2071.0~2016~Main%20Features~Religion%20Article~80
 | title = 2071.0 – Census of Population and Housing: Reflecting Australia – Stories from the Census, 2016  
 | publisher = Australian Bureau of Statistics
 | date = 28 June 2017
| access-date = 14 August 2021
}}</ref> and 40,908 in [[Sikhism in New Zealand|New Zealand]] (0.9% Sikh).<ref name="New Zealand Sikh population">{{cite web | url=https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/losing-our-religion |title = Losing our religion &#124; Stats NZ}}</ref>{{When|date=May 2023}} While these communities are over 125 years old, most Sikhs in the West are first, second, or third-generation immigrants. {{As of|2021|alt=As of}} the [[2021 Canadian Census]], more than half of Canada's Sikhs can be found in one of four cities: [[Brampton, Ontario|Brampton]] (163,260),<ref name="bramptoncity2021">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=26 October 2022 
|title= Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Profile table Brampton, City (CY) Ontario [Census subdivision] Total – Religion for the population in private households – 25% sample data |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?LANG=E&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&DGUIDlist=2021A00053521010&HEADERlist=32&SearchText=brampton |access-date=31 October 2022 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref> [[Surrey, BC|Surrey]] (154,415),<ref name="surreycity2021">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=26 October 2022 
|title= Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Profile table Surrey, City (CY) British Columbia [Census subdivision] Total – Religion for the population in private households – 25% sample data |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?LANG=E&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&DGUIDlist=2021A00055915004&HEADERlist=32&SearchText=surrey |access-date=31 October 2022 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref> [[Calgary]] (49,465),<ref name="calgarycity2021">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=26 October 2022 
|title= Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Profile table Calgary, City (CY) Alberta [Census subdivision] Total – Religion for the population in private households – 25% sample data |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?LANG=E&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&DGUIDlist=2021A00054806016&HEADERlist=32&SearchText=calgary |access-date=31 October 2022 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref> and [[Abbotsford, BC|Abbotsford]] (38,395).<ref name="abbotsfordcity2021">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=26 October 2022 
|title= Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Profile table Abbotsford, City (CY) British Columbia [Census subdivision] Total – Religion for the population in private households – 25% sample data |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?LANG=E&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&DGUIDlist=2021A00055909052&HEADERlist=32&SearchText=abbotsford |access-date=31 October 2022 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref> Brampton, Surrey, and Abbotsford are 25.1% Sikh, 27.4% Sikh, and 25.5% Sikh, respectively. [[Gurdwaras]], newspapers, radio stations, and markets cater to these large, multi-generational Sikh Canadian groups. Sikh festivals such as Vaisakhi and [[Bandi Chhor Divas|Bandi Chhor]] are celebrated in those Canadian cities by the largest groups of followers in the world outside the Punjab.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}

Sikhs also migrated to East Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. These communities developed as Sikhs migrated out of Punjab to fill in gaps in imperial labour markets.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ballantyne|first=Tony|date=2006|title=Between Colonialism and Diaspora: Sikh Cultural Formations in an Imperial World|publisher=Duke University Press |isbn=978-0-8223-3824-6|pages=69–74}}</ref> Smaller populations of Sikhs are found within many countries in Western Europe, especially Italy, as well as other nations such as Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Fiji, Nepal, China, Afghanistan, and Iran.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}