Sikhs

Sikhs constitute an ethnoreligious group whose identity is shaped by the beliefs and practices of Sikhism, a religion founded in the late fifteenth century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. Originating from the revelation and teachings of Guru Nanak, Sikh identity has developed through shared religious principles, distinct cultural markers, and a strong sense of community. Today, Sikhs form a global diaspora, with significant populations in India, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, where they maintain cultural continuity alongside civic integration.
Sikh identity is both religious and cultural. According to the Sikh Rehat Maryada, a Sikh is defined as a person who believes in the One Immortal Being, the ten gurus from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh, the Guru Granth Sahib, the teachings of the ten gurus, and the initiation tradition known as Amrit Sanskar, while not owing allegiance to any other religion. Distinctive surnames such as Singh for men and Kaur for women were bestowed by the gurus to eliminate caste distinctions and create a unified identity within the community.

Demographics and Global Distribution

Sikhs represent a small but visible proportion of the global population. As of 2024, Sikhs number between fifty-five and sixty million people, representing less than 0.4 per cent of the world’s population. Their historic homeland is the Punjab region, which has served as the cultural and political centre of Sikh life since the sixteenth century.
India remains home to the largest Sikh population, with the state of Punjab having a Sikh majority of around sixty per cent. Several other Indian states and territories also host long-standing Sikh communities. Beyond India, Canada has the highest national proportion of Sikhs, at approximately 2.1 per cent of its population according to the 2021 census. In the same census, 194,640 Canadians identified Sikh as their ethnicity, while 771,790 identified Sikhism as their religion.
In the United States, estimates vary considerably. Official government counts have historically been limited, but figures from independent research organisations offer a range. The United States Census Bureau estimated about 78,000 Sikh American adults in 2008, while the Pew Research Center estimated around 200,000 Sikhs in total in 2012. The World Religion Database placed the Sikh American population at approximately 280,000 in the same year. Sikh organisations sometimes cite figures as high as one million, but these estimates often lack formal sourcing. Contemporary demographic analysis generally places the Sikh American population between 280,000 and 500,000, forming roughly one per cent of Asian Americans and with around ninety per cent of Sikh Americans being of Asian origin.
Several countries formally recognise Sikhs in their census categories. Canada and the United Kingdom include Sikh as a distinct religious identity, while in the United States Sikhs have been recognised as a separate ethnic group since 2020. In the United Kingdom, the landmark Mandla v. Dowell-Lee case of 1982 affirmed Sikhs as an ethnoreligious group under British law.

Terminology, Identity and Religious Foundations

The term Sikh is rooted in the Sanskrit words meaning ‘seeker’, ‘disciple’ or ‘instruction’, reflecting the community’s emphasis on learning and devotion. Sikh identity is strongly tied to the core principles of Sikhism, including belief in a single, formless and timeless God, ethical living, equality, and service to humanity. The concept of sarbat da bhala, wishing well-being for all, guides Sikh humanitarian engagement around the world.
Sikhs who undergo the initiation ceremony known as Amrit Sanchar become members of the Khalsa, an order established by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. Khalsa Sikhs are required to maintain the Five Ks, the articles of faith that serve as outward symbols of inner discipline. These include kesh (uncut hair, often covered by a dastar), kara (iron bracelet), kirpan (ceremonial sword), kachera (cotton undergarment) and kangha (wooden comb). These symbols, combined with the values of justice, courage and service, embody the ideal of the sant-sipahi or ‘saint-soldier’.

Historical Background and Social Composition

The Sikh community emerged within the diverse social fabric of early modern Punjab. Guru Nanak was born into a Khatri household, and early disciples came from both Hindu and Muslim backgrounds. Over time, followers from various castes and occupations joined the Sikh faith, creating a socially varied community. Historical sources such as the Varan Bhai Gurdas record the presence of individuals from trading families, agricultural groups, artisan communities and professional guilds, including potters, blacksmiths, barbers, washermen, craftsmen and labourers. Muslim associates also played roles in early Sikh history.
As the community expanded, religious and social reforms contributed to its cohesion. Guru Arjan’s martyrdom in 1606 marked the beginning of a more politically self-aware phase of Sikh history. Guru Gobind Singh’s founding of the Khalsa further consolidated Sikh identity by encouraging the abandonment of caste distinctions and insisting on a shared code of conduct.

Political History and Empire

The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries saw the rise of the Sikh Misls, confederated sovereign states that emerged after periods of conflict with Mughal and Afghan forces. Under leaders such as Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, these Misls unified to form the Sikh Empire, established by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The empire, at its height, encompassed regions including Kashmir, Ladakh and Peshawar. Known for its policies of religious tolerance and administrative modernisation, this period represents a high point in political Sikhism. Military leaders such as Hari Singh Nalwa further expanded territorial boundaries to the Khyber Pass.
The annexation of the Sikh kingdom by the British in 1849 marked a new era. Sikhs became significant recruits in the British Indian Army, particularly following their loyalty to the British during the 1857 uprising. Many distinctive elements of modern Sikh identity, including the turban style associated with the community today, were influenced by British military regulations in the late nineteenth century.

Cultural Continuity and Global Presence

Sikhs maintain a strong cultural connection to the Punjab region and uphold traditions associated with language, faith and community institutions. The gurdwara serves as the centre of communal life, providing worship, social support and langar, the communal kitchen that embodies Sikh ideals of equality and service.
In the global diaspora, Sikh communities contribute to cultural pluralism while preserving distinct religious and social practices. Their humanitarian engagement, particularly during natural disasters and crises, is widely recognised and reflects foundational Sikh values of compassion and universal welfare.