About 67% of the total population of Jammu is Dogra. Apart from them, there is a large majority of Hindus and Sikhs who are originally from Punjab.

The population of Jammu comprises 65% Hindus – the only region in the state to have a Hindu majority and 30% Muslims. The rest 5% are mostly Sikhs. The 65% Hindus in Jammu are Punjabi Hindus, migrants from Kotli and Mirpur, Kashmiri Pandits and Dogra. Hindu population mostly resides in Jammu city and Udhampur. A large number of Sikhs residing in this state formed part of the migratory population. This population came here in 1947 following Pakistan’s annexing of areas like Muzaffarabad and Poonch sector in Pakistan Controlled Kashmir.

A number of languages are spoken in Jammu. These include Dogri, Poonchi, Gojri, Kotli, Mirpuri, Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu.

On the basis of ethnicity, the Hindus of the region are further subdivided. Rajputs and Brahmins form the larger groups. The 1941 census pegged the Brahmins at 30%, Rajputs at 27%, Thakkar at 15%, Jats at 4% and Khatris at 8%.

In the districts of Rajouri, Poonch, Doda and Kishtwar, it is the Muslims who are in the majority. They are also subdivided on the basis of ethnicity as Dogras, Gujjars and Bakerwals. They are ethno-linguistically different from the Kashmiri Muslims. A majority of Muslims from Jammu do not have the same views as the Kashmiri Muslims on the topic of secession from India.

The Kashmiri Pandits (Hindus) have temporarily made Jammu their home. The number of Hindus in refugee camps here is close to a lakh. The camps were close to Jammu city and were set up in 1990 during the Kashmir conflict. This was the time when the Pandits from the valley were forced to leave it by Islamic extremists.

About 67% of the total population of Jammu and Kashmir follows Islam. In the Kashmir Valley, the total percentage of Muslim population is about 97%. Though Islam is the main religion followed in the state, there is a sizeable population that follows Buddhism, Hinduism (also Megh Bhagats) and Sikhism.

65% of the people of Jammu are Hindus. Of the rest, 31% are Muslims and 4% are Sikhs. 46% of the population of Ladakh is Buddhist while the rest follows Islam. Ladakh has people who are of Indo-Tibetan origin. There are many communities in the southern region of Jammu whose origin can be traced to neighboring states of Punjab as well as Haryana and Delhi. Of the total population, 67% are Muslims, 30% Hindus, 2% Sikhs and 1% Buddhists.

There was a time when the Kashmir region, its neighbouring states as well as the northern region of present day India and Pakistan (both the ancient and modern) had a majority of Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, and Zoroastrians. As a result of changes in the economy, riots, political tension, military involvement and extremists, many people from these religious communities moved out of the valley and settled in the neighbouring states which were progressing economically. This process of shifting happened slowly over the years and most of it happened before the borders were created. Of all the communities, the most affected were the Hindu Pandits because of the status they had in society.

Alexander Evans, the political scientist, estimates that 95% of the Kashmiri Pandits left the valley when militancy had taken over the region in 1990. this translates to about 150,000 -160,000 of the total population of 160,000- 170,000 leaving their homes and moving elsewhere. The statistics from Central Intelligence Agency puts the figure of displaced Kashmiri Pandits from all over Jammu and Kashmir, at about 300,000.

Pashto, Shina, Kashmiri, Gojri, Ladakhi, Balti, Pahari, Dogri and Urdu are the languages spoken in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The official language is Urdu which is written in Persian script. Hindi or English is the most common second language spoken by people here.

The Azadi campaign is supported by the ethnic Kashmiris who are in the majority in the Kashmir Valley. Other Muslim groups like Paharis, Sheenas, Gujjars and Bakarwals, who are non Kashmiris are present in large numbers along the line of control. They have been indifferent to the campaign by their Kashmiri counterparts. The Hindu-Muslim ratio in Jammu is 70:30. Some areas of this region too were targeted by the militants. In 2004, India and Pakistan started the process of peace which led to reduction in acts of violence.

At 67, %, the Dogras are the largest in number amongst the Gujjars, Bakerwals, Paharis and Punjabis. The Hindu dominated areas of the state are demanding a separate statehood status. The largest area in the state of Jammu and Kashmir is Ladakh. With a population of more than 200,000, it is divided into two districts - Leh and Kargil. 77% of the people in Leh are Buddhists while in Kargil 80% population follows Islam. One of the demands of the Buddhist population in Leh is to get a Union Territory status.

List of Cities in Jammu and Kashmir by Population

Urban settlements in Jammu and Kashmir with a population of more than 100,000 as per 2011 census are listed here.