Although the demography of tribal people cannot loom large in India’s overall demographic scene, demographic features in tribal societies have often been distinct and distinguished both in historical and comparative perspectives. This evaluation of the overall demographic features and their common sociocultural underpinnings in the tribal population focuses on the nature and strength of the well-known connection between sociocultural milieus and demographic behaviour. It highlights the Indian notion of “tribe” and its comparative position vis-à-vis the mainstream since the late last century, especially in the contemporary context of development and globalisation.