Delhi
District-Level Data & Statistics
- PopulationCensus 2011, the latest complete count; Census 2027 results are expected from 2028
- 1.5 Crore
- 1.2% of India
- Projected 2026: 2.3 CroreOfficial projection for 1 March 2026, not a count: Technical Group on Population Projections, National Commission on Population, MoHFW (2020)
- Districts
- 12
- Avg 12.5 Lakh each
- AreaDensity uses the Census 2011 population
- 1,484 km²
- 10,089 people /km²
- Literacy RateCensus 2011: literates as a share of people aged 7 and above
- 86.1%
- India: 72.9%
- Sex RatioCensus 2011: females per 1,000 males
- 873
- India: 943
- RankBy Census 2011 population
- 19th
- of 36 by population
Delhi is India's 19th most populous state with a population of 1.5 Crore (Census 2011) spread across 12 districts covering 1,484 sq km. The state's literacy rate stands at 86.1%, above the national average of 72.9%. With a sex ratio of 873 females per 1,000 males, it is below the national figure of 943.
Credit Growth (5-Year) in Delhi · district average 57.5%, 34th of 36 states
All 11 on the map →MSME Density in Delhi · population-weighted average 71.7 per 1,000 people, 2nd of 36 states
Women Literacy in Delhi · population-weighted average 83.9%, 14th of 36 states
All 11 on the map →Health Insurance in Delhi · population-weighted average 29.1%, 32nd of 34 states
All 11 on the map →Demographics
What changed in Delhi, 2019–21 to 2023–24
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
Delhi districts ranked
Population (Census 2011)
- 1West 25.4 Lakh
- 2North West 22.5 Lakh
- 3South East 15 Lakh
- 4East 14.6 Lakh
- 5North 14.1 Lakh
- 1New Delhi 1.4 Lakh
- 2Central 5.8 Lakh
- 3Shahdara 11.1 Lakh
- 4South 12.3 Lakh
- 5South West 13.7 Lakh
Population Density (per km²)
- 1East 47,900
- 2North East 40,303
- 3Shahdara 33,366
- 4West 19,992
- 5South East 15,292
- 1New Delhi 937
- 2South West 4,979
- 3North 4,982
- 4Central 7,365
- 5South 7,988
Literacy Rate
- 1East 89.3%
- 2South West 88.4%
- 3New Delhi 88.3%
- 4West 87.0%
- 5South 86.9%
- 1North 82.5%
- 2North East 82.6%
- 3Central 85.1%
- 4Shahdara 85.1%
- 5North West 85.7%
Sex Ratio (females per 1,000 males)
- 1Shahdara 895
- 2Central 892
- 3East 882
- 4North East 881
- 5West 875
- 1New Delhi 822
- 2North 853
- 3South East 855
- 4South 870
- 5South West 872
Underweight Children
- 1West 34.0%
- 2North 31.0%
- 3Shahdara 30.0%
- 4South West 27.8%
- 5North East 26.1%
- 1Central 19.9%
- 2East 23.4%
- 3South 25.0%
- 4South East 25.4%
- 5North West 25.5%
Electricity Access
- 1East 100.0%
- 2North 99.9%
- 3South West 99.8%
- 4Central 99.8%
- 5West 99.7%
- 1North West 98.2%
- 2South East 98.7%
- 3New Delhi 99.1%
- 4Shahdara 99.6%
- 5South 99.7%
Small Business Density
- 1New Delhi 540.1
- 2Central 131.6
- 3South 98.2
- 4North West 88.4
- 5South West 83.4
- 1Shahdara 20.5
- 2South East 30.8
- 3North 51.5
- 4North East 57.9
- 5West 60.1
All Districts
12 districts| District | Population (2011) | Literacy % | Sex Ratio | Density /km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West | 25,43,243 | 87.0% | 875 | 19,992 |
| North West | 22,50,816 | 85.7% | 872 | 15,103 |
| South East | 15,00,636 | 86.3% | 855 | 15,292 |
| East | 14,61,440 | 89.3% | 882 | 47,900 |
| North | 14,05,723 | 82.5% | 853 | 4,982 |
| North East | 13,78,779 | 82.6% | 881 | 40,303 |
| South West | 13,65,152 | 88.4% | 872 | 4,979 |
| South | 12,31,293 | 86.9% | 870 | 7,988 |
| Shahdara | 11,10,751 | 85.1% | 895 | 33,366 |
| Central | 5,82,320 | 85.1% | 892 | 7,365 |
| New Delhi | 1,42,004 | 88.3% | 822 | 937 |
| Nazul | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Delhi in crore?
Delhi has a population of 1.5 Crore (1,49,72,157) according to the Census 2011, making it India's 19th most populous state, across 12 districts.
What is the total area of Delhi in sq km?
Delhi covers a total area of 1,484 sq km, divided into 12 districts.
What is the literacy rate of Delhi?
Delhi's literacy rate is 86.1% (Census 2011), above the national average of 72.9%. East has the highest literacy rate (89.3%) and North the lowest (82.5%). Female literacy is lowest in North East (75.8%).
What is the population density of Delhi?
Delhi has 10,089 people per sq km, against a national average of 366. East has the highest population density and New Delhi the lowest.
What is the sex ratio of Delhi?
Delhi has a sex ratio of 873 females per 1,000 males, below the national average of 943. Shahdara has the highest sex ratio (895) and New Delhi the lowest (822).
Which district of Delhi has the highest and lowest population?
West has the highest population in Delhi (25.4 Lakh) and New Delhi the lowest (1.4 Lakh), per the Census 2011.
Which is the largest district of Delhi by area?
North is the largest district of Delhi by area, and Nazul the smallest.
How many children in Delhi are stunted or underweight?
In Delhi, 26.4% of children under 5 are stunted, 15.0% wasted and 27.6% underweight (NFHS-6, 2023–24, provisional). Stunting compares with an India average of 28.0%.
How many households in Delhi have health insurance?
29.1% of households in Delhi 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 Delhi between NFHS-5 and NFHS-6?
Between NFHS-5 (2019–21) and NFHS-6 (2023–24), Delhi improved most in women internet use (64% to 82%), women with a bank account (73% to 86%), women owning a mobile phone (74% to 84%), and got worse in male diabetes (14% to 23%), women diabetes (12% to 19%), modern contraception (58% to 52%). Changes under 5 percentage points are not counted.
Is there newer population data for Delhi 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 Delhi on 1 March 2026 is 2.3 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.