The traditional Naga religion is animistic, though conceptions of a supreme creator and an afterlife exist. Nature is seen to be alive with invisible forces, minor deities, and spirits with which priests and medicine men mediate. In the 19th century, with the advent of British rule, Christianity was introduced, and Baptist missionaries became especially active in the region. As a result, the population now is predominantly Christian. Women hold a high and honorable position in Naga society, work on equal terms with men in the fields, and wield influence in tribal councils.
Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy.
About four-fifths of all workers are cultivators. Crops include autumn and winter rice, small millets, edible seeds, oilseeds, sugarcane, potatoes, and tobacco.