Editing Leh (section)

==Demographics==
[[File:Leh old market.jpg|thumb|right|People at the old market, Leh.]]

===Population===

As of the 2011 India [[census]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/0103_PART_B_DCHB_LEH%20(LADAKH).pdf |title=District Census Handbook Leh (Ladakh) |publisher=Directorate of Census Operations (Jammu & Kashmir) |pages=112–113 |work=Census of India 2011}}</ref> Leh had a population of 30,870. Males constituted 70% of the population and females 30%, due to a large presence of transient labourers, traders and government employees. The child sex ratio was 987. Leh had an average [[literacy]] rate of 90%, higher than the national average of 74.04%; male literacy was 94.89%, and female literacy was 78.85%. In Leh, 5.5% of the population was under 6&nbsp;years of age. 

===Ethnicity===
The people of Leh are ethnic Tibetans who speak [[Ladakhi language|Ladakhi]], a [[Tibetic language]].

===Religion===
The Muslim presence dates back to the annexation of Ladakh by Kashmir, after the [[Lobsang Gyatso, 5th Dalai Lama|Fifth Dalai Lama]] came to Ladakh from Tibet. Since then, there has been further migration from the Kashmir Valley, due to trade and recently to the transfer of tourism from the Kashmir Valley to Ladakh.

Buddhism is the largest religion in Leh, followed by over 77.30% of people. [[Hinduism]] is the second-largest religion with 13.78% adherents. Islam and Sikhism form 8.16% and 2.7% of the population respectively.<ref name="Leh Population">{{Cite web |title=Demography {{!}} District Leh, Union Territory of Ladakh, India |url=https://leh.nic.in/about-district/demography/#:~:text=The%20biggest%20ethnic%20group%20is,%25%20and%20Hindus%20with%208.16%25. |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=State of India |language=en-US}}</ref>
{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = Religion in Leh City (2025)<ref name="Leh Population"/>
| label1 = [[Buddhism]]
| value1 = 77.30
| color1 = Gold
| label2 = [[Hinduism]]
| value2 = 13.78
| color2 = DarkOrange
| label3 = [[Islam]]
| value3 = 8.16
| color3 = Green
| label4 = [[Sikhism]]
| value4 = 2.16
| color4 = Yellow
| label5 = [[Christianity]]
| value5 = 0.88
| color5 = Blue
| label6 = [[Jainism]]
| value6 = 0.05
| color6 = Maroon
| label7 = Others
| value7 = 0.17
| color7 = Grey
| label8 = Not Stated
| value8 = 1.84
| color8 = Black
}}

Since the 8th century, people of different religions, particularly Buddhism and Islam, have lived in Leh. They co-inhabited the region from the early [[Namgyal dynasty of Ladakh|Namgyal dynasty]] and there are no records of any conflict between them. Meer Izzut-oollah wrote in the early 19th century:

<blockquote>This mosque was built by Ibraheem Khan (in the mid 17th century), who was a man of noble family in the service of the descendants of Timoor. In his time the Kalimaks (Calmuck Tartars), having invaded and obtained possession of the greater portion of Thibet [Ladakh], the Raja of that country claimed protection from the Emperor of Hindoostan. Ibraheem Khan was accordingly deputed by that monarch to his assistance, and in a short time succeeded in expelling the invaders and placing the Raja once more on his throne. The Raja embraced the Mahomedan faith, and formally acknowledged himself as a feudatory of the Emperor, who honored him with the title of Raja Akibut Muhmood Khan, which title to the present day is borne by the Ruler of Cashmere.<ref>''Travels in Central Asia by Meer Izzut-oollah in the Years 1812-13.'' Translated by Captain Henderson. Calcutta, 1872, p. 12.</ref></blockquote>

In recent times, Muslim migration to Leh from neighbouring [[Kargil]] and Kashmir has increased due to better opportunities, and relations between the Buddhist and Muslim communities have soured due to socio-political conflicts.<ref name="wap.business-standard.com">{{cite news |date=15 September 2017 |title=Why Buddhist women are marrying Muslim men in Ladakh |newspaper=Business Standard India |url=https://wap.business-standard.com/article/politics/why-buddhist-women-are-marrying-muslim-men-in-ladakh-117091500689_1.html}}</ref>

Other religions such as Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism do exist in Leh. The small Christian community in Leh descend from Tibetan Buddhists converted by German [[Moravian Church|Moravian]] missionaries, who established a church at [[Keylong]] in Lahaul in the 1860s, and were allowed to open another mission in Leh in 1885 and had a sub-branch in Khalatse. They stayed until Indian Independence in 1947. In spite of their successful medical and educational activities, they were able to make only a few converts.<ref>Rizvi (1996), p. 212.</ref>