Bihar
District-Level Data & Statistics
- PopulationCensus 2011, the latest complete count; Census 2027 results are expected from 2028
- 10.4 Crore
- 8.6% of India
- Projected 2026: 13.2 CroreOfficial projection for 1 March 2026, not a count: Technical Group on Population Projections, National Commission on Population, MoHFW (2020)
- Districts
- 38
- Avg 27.4 Lakh each
- AreaDensity uses the Census 2011 population
- 94,163 km²
- 1,106 people /km²
- Literacy RateCensus 2011: literates as a share of people aged 7 and above
- 61.8%
- India: 72.9%
- Sex RatioCensus 2011: females per 1,000 males
- 918
- India: 943
- RankBy Census 2011 population
- 3rd
- of 36 by population
Bihar is India's 3rd most populous state with a population of 10.4 Crore (Census 2011) spread across 38 districts covering 94,163 sq km. The state's literacy rate stands at 61.8%, below the national average of 72.9%. With a sex ratio of 918 females per 1,000 males, it is below the national figure of 943.
Credit Growth (5-Year) in Bihar · district average 118.3%, 10th of 36 states
All 38 on the map →MSME Density in Bihar · population-weighted average 19.5 per 1,000 people, 35th of 36 states
Women Literacy in Bihar · population-weighted average 57.9%, 36th of 36 states
All 38 on the map →Health Insurance in Bihar · population-weighted average 21.1%, 33rd of 34 states
All 38 on the map →Demographics
What changed in Bihar, 2019–21 to 2023–24
Got better
Women Internet Use20% → 57%Women with a Bank Account77% → 91%Women Owning a Mobile Phone50% → 62%Got worse
Nothing got worse by 5 points or more.
NFHS-5 → NFHS-6, changes of 5 points or more. Same districts in both rounds.
Health & Development
NFHS-6 (2023–24, provisional)
State and National are population-weighted averages of districts, not official NFHS figures.
Women & Gender
Economy & Infrastructure
Governance
Safety & Crime
Climate Vulnerability
Bihar districts ranked
Population (Census 2011)
- 1Patna 58.4 Lakh
- 2Purba Champaran 51 Lakh
- 3Muzaffarpur 48 Lakh
- 4Madhubani 44.9 Lakh
- 5Gaya 43.9 Lakh
- 1Sheikhpura 6.4 Lakh
- 2Sheohar 6.6 Lakh
- 3Arwal 7 Lakh
- 4Lakhisarai 10 Lakh
- 5Jehanabad 11.3 Lakh
Population Density (per km²)
- 1Patna 1,903
- 2Vaishali 1,795
- 3Samastipur 1,656
- 4Darbhanga 1,628
- 5Sitamarhi 1,622
- 1Kaimur (bhabua) 507
- 2Jamui 590
- 3Banka 699
- 4Pashchim Champaran 780
- 5Rohtas 794
Literacy Rate
Sex Ratio (females per 1,000 males)
Underweight Children
- 1Purba Champaran 24.2%
- 2Siwan 26.5%
- 3Muzaffarpur 27.5%
- 4Patna 29.8%
- 5Pashchim Champaran 29.8%
Electricity Access
- 1Darbhanga 99.6%
- 2Lakhisarai 99.6%
- 3Patna 99.4%
- 4Araria 99.2%
- 5Jamui 99.2%
- 1Katihar 96.3%
- 2Vaishali 96.5%
- 3Madhubani 97.4%
- 4Pashchim Champaran 97.5%
- 5Buxar 97.5%
Small Business Density
- 1Patna 37.7
- 2Bhagalpur 24.8
- 3Purnia 24.7
- 4Muzaffarpur 24.6
- 5Vaishali 22.0
- 1Kaimur (bhabua) 13.4
- 2Bhojpur 14.6
- 3Arwal 14.8
- 4Saran 14.9
- 5Jehanabad 15.1
All Districts
38 districts| District | Population (2011) | Literacy % | Sex Ratio | Density /km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patna | 58,38,465 | 70.7% | 897 | 1,903 |
| Purba Champaran | 50,99,371 | 55.8% | 902 | 1,332 |
| Muzaffarpur | 48,01,062 | 63.4% | 900 | 1,566 |
| Madhubani | 44,87,379 | 58.6% | 926 | 1,331 |
| Gaya | 43,91,418 | 63.7% | 937 | 919 |
| Samastipur | 42,61,566 | 61.9% | 911 | 1,656 |
| Saran | 39,51,862 | 66.0% | 954 | 1,532 |
| Darbhanga | 39,37,385 | 56.6% | 911 | 1,628 |
| Pashchim Champaran | 39,35,042 | 55.7% | 909 | 780 |
| Vaishali | 34,95,021 | 66.6% | 895 | 1,795 |
| Sitamarhi | 34,23,574 | 52.1% | 899 | 1,622 |
| Siwan | 33,30,464 | 69.5% | 988 | 1,559 |
| Purnia | 32,64,619 | 51.1% | 921 | 1,055 |
| Katihar | 30,71,029 | 52.2% | 919 | 1,049 |
| Bhagalpur | 30,37,766 | 63.1% | 880 | 1,235 |
| Begusarai | 29,70,541 | 63.9% | 895 | 1,606 |
| Rohtas | 29,59,918 | 73.4% | 918 | 794 |
| Nalanda | 28,77,653 | 64.4% | 922 | 1,271 |
| Araria | 28,11,569 | 53.5% | 921 | 1,043 |
| Bhojpur | 27,28,407 | 70.5% | 907 | 1,194 |
| Gopalganj | 25,62,012 | 65.5% | 1,021 | 1,306 |
| Aurangabad | 25,40,073 | 70.3% | 926 | 799 |
| Supaul | 22,29,076 | 57.7% | 929 | 956 |
| Nawada | 22,19,146 | 59.8% | 939 | 926 |
| Banka | 20,34,763 | 58.2% | 907 | 699 |
| Madhepura | 20,01,762 | 52.3% | 911 | 1,156 |
| Saharsa | 19,00,661 | 53.2% | 906 | 1,184 |
| Jamui | 17,60,405 | 59.8% | 922 | 590 |
| Buxar | 17,06,352 | 70.1% | 922 | 1,043 |
| Kishanganj | 16,90,400 | 55.5% | 950 | 903 |
| Khagaria | 16,66,886 | 57.9% | 886 | 1,161 |
| Kaimur (bhabua) | 16,26,384 | 69.3% | 920 | 507 |
| Munger | 13,67,765 | 70.5% | 876 | 1,007 |
| Jehanabad | 11,25,313 | 66.8% | 922 | 1,248 |
| Lakhisarai | 10,00,912 | 62.4% | 902 | 854 |
| Arwal | 7,00,843 | 67.4% | 928 | 1,142 |
| Sheohar | 6,56,246 | 53.8% | 893 | 1,535 |
| Sheikhpura | 6,36,342 | 63.9% | 930 | 956 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Bihar in crore?
Bihar has a population of 10.4 Crore (10,40,99,452) according to the Census 2011, making it India's 3rd most populous state, across 38 districts.
What is the total area of Bihar in sq km?
Bihar covers a total area of 94,163 sq km, divided into 38 districts.
What is the literacy rate of Bihar?
Bihar's literacy rate is 61.8% (Census 2011), below the national average of 72.9%. Rohtas has the highest literacy rate (73.4%) and Purnia the lowest (51.1%). Female literacy is lowest in Saharsa (41.7%).
What is the population density of Bihar?
Bihar has 1,106 people per sq km, against a national average of 366. Patna has the highest population density and Kaimur (bhabua) the lowest.
What is the sex ratio of Bihar?
Bihar has a sex ratio of 918 females per 1,000 males, below the national average of 943. Gopalganj has the highest sex ratio (1,021) and Munger the lowest (876).
Which district of Bihar has the highest and lowest population?
Patna has the highest population in Bihar (58.4 Lakh) and Sheikhpura the lowest (6.4 Lakh), per the Census 2011.
Which is the largest district of Bihar by area?
Pashchim Champaran is the largest district of Bihar by area, and Sheohar the smallest.
How many children in Bihar are stunted or underweight?
In Bihar, 35.6% of children under 5 are stunted, 19.2% wasted and 35.8% underweight (NFHS-6, 2023–24, provisional). Stunting compares with an India average of 28.0%.
How many households in Bihar have health insurance?
21.1% of households in Bihar have at least one member covered by a health insurance or financing scheme (NFHS-6, 2023–24, provisional). The India average is 58.1%.
What changed in Bihar between NFHS-5 and NFHS-6?
Between NFHS-5 (2019–21) and NFHS-6 (2023–24), Bihar improved most in women internet use (20% to 57%), women with a bank account (77% to 91%), women owning a mobile phone (50% to 62%). Changes under 5 percentage points are not counted.
Is there newer population data for Bihar than the Census 2011?
Not yet. The Census 2011 is the latest complete count. Census 2027 is under way: the population count uses a reference date of 1 March 2027, with provisional results expected by late 2028. Until then, the official projection for Bihar on 1 March 2026 is 13.2 Crore (Technical Group on Population Projections, National Commission on Population, MoHFW, 2020); it is a projection, not a count. Census 2027 timeline
Data Sources
Each indicator keeps its own source and vintage. How they are crosswalked onto one district geography is on the methodology page, with the per-source limits on the caveats page.