Katihar district in Bihar is spread over an area of 3, 057 square kilometers. Its population numbered over 3.07 million in 2011 and is projected to reach 4.06 million by 2025. The district has a sex ratio of 919 females per 1000 males, a literacy rate of 52.24%, and the major part of the population is rural, i.e., 91.08%. The district is home to 1, 540 villages, 16 blocks, and three towns with the SC (8.57%) and ST (5.86%) communities.
Quick Overview of Katihar District (2021/2025 Projection & 2011 Census)
- District: Katihar, Bihar
- Area: 3,057 sq km
- Headquarters: Katihar
- Population (2011): 3,071,029 (Male: 1,600,430 | Female: 1,470,599)
- Estimated Population (2025): 3,790,878 – 4,060,000
- Population Density (2011): 1,005 per sq km
- Sex Ratio (2011): 919 females per 1000 males
- Child Sex Ratio (0-6): 961 girls per 1000 boys
- Literacy Rate (2011): 52.24% (Male: 59.36%, Female: 44.39%)
- SC population: 8.57% | ST population: 5.86%
- Urban population: 8.92% | Rural: 91.08%
- Households (2011): 619,076
- Blocks/Taluks: 16 | Subdivisions: 3 | Villages: 1,540
- Number of Towns: 3
Historic Population (1901–2011, Decadal and Projected Growth)
| Census Year | Population | Variation | Variation % | Male | Female |
|---|
| 1901 | 484,667 | - | - | 247,000 | 238,000 |
| 1911 | 520,805 | +36,138 | +7.46% | 265,000 | 256,000 |
| 1921 | 556,136 | +35,331 | +6.78% | 287,000 | 270,000 |
| 1931 | 601,533 | +45,397 | +8.16% | 311,000 | 291,000 |
| 1941 | 654,841 | +53,308 | +8.86% | 336,000 | 319,000 |
| 1951 | 694,986 | +40,145 | +6.13% | 360,000 | 335,000 |
| 1961 | 911,037 | +216,051 | +31.09% | 472,000 | 439,000 |
| 1971 | 1,136,994 | +225,957 | +24.80% | 591,000 | 546,000 |
| 1981 | 1,428,622 | +291,628 | +25.65% | 741,000 | 688,000 |
| 1991 | 1,825,380 | +396,758 | +27.77% | 956,000 | 869,000 |
| 2001 | 2,392,638 | +567,258 | +31.08% | 1,246,872 | 1,145,766 |
| 2011 | 3,071,029 | +678,391 | +28.35% | 1,600,430 | 1,470,599 |
| Year | Projected Population |
|---|
| 2025 | 3,790,878 – 4,060,000 |
| 2026 | 3,888,240 – 4,100,000 |
| 2027 | 3,939,436 – 4,140,000 |
| 2031 | 4,140,019 – 4,240,000 |
| 2036 | 4,359,826 |
Urban & Rural, Households, City/Town Stats
| Urban | Rural | Total |
|---|
| Population (2011) | 273,822 | 2,797,207 | 3,071,029 |
| Male | 144,686 | 1,455,744 | 1,600,430 |
| Female | 129,136 | 1,341,463 | 1,470,599 |
| Sex Ratio | 893 | 921 | 919 |
| Child Sex Ratio | 939 | 962 | 961 |
| Literacy Rate | 77.27% | 49.6% | 52.24% |
| Male Literacy | 82.46% | 56.9% | 59.36% |
| Female Literacy | 71.4% | 41.59% | 44.39% |
| Number of Households | 619,076 |
| Number of Towns | 3 |
| Number of Villages | 1,540 |
City List & Urban Agglomerations
| City Name | Population 2011 | Male | Female | Estimated Population 2025 |
|---|
| Katihar (Municipal Corporation) | 226,261 | 119,574 | 106,687 | 279,297 |
| Katihar (Urban Agglomeration) | 240,838 | 127,240 | 113,598 | – |
Subdistrict/Taluks/Blocks in Katihar
- Katihar
- Korha
- Falka
- Sameli
- Barari
- Kursela
- Pranpur
- Hasanganj
- Dandkhora
- Mansahi
- Barsoi
- Kadwa
- Azamnagar
- Balrampur
- Manihari
- Amdabad
| Subdivision | Blocks |
|---|
| Katihar | Katihar, Korha, Falka, Sameli, Barari, Kursela, Pranpur, Hasanganj, Dandkhora, Mansahi |
| Barsoi | Barsoi, Kadwa, Azamnagar, Balrampur |
| Manihari | Manihari, Amdabad |
Religion-wise Population (2011 & 2025 Estimate)
| Religion |
Population 2011 |
% (2011) |
Estimated Population 2025 |
| Hindu | 1,684,589 | 54.85% | 2,079,457 |
| Muslim | 1,365,645 | 44.47% | 1,685,752 |
| Christian | 8,659 | 0.28% | 10,689 |
| Sikh | 2,754 | 0.09% | 3,400 |
| Buddhist | 212 | 0.01% | 262 |
| Jain | 507 | 0.02% | 626 |
| Other/Not Stated | 8,663 (Other+Not Stated) | 0.28% | 10,694 |
| Total | 3,071,029 | 100% | 3,790,878 |
Block-wise Religion Percentage (2011)
| Block | Hindu % | Muslim % | Other % |
|---|
| Falka | 69.94 | 29.38 | 0.68 |
| Korha | 59.16 | 39.78 | 1.06 |
| Hasanganj | 62.91 | 36.66 | 0.43 |
| Kadwa | 47.33 | 52.27 | 0.40 |
| Balrampur | 45.67 | 53.45 | 0.88 |
| Barsoi | 27.61 | 72.06 | 0.33 |
| Azamnagar | 43.48 | 56.21 | 0.31 |
| Pranpur | 61.37 | 38.17 | 0.46 |
| Dandkhora | 85.89 | 12.76 | 1.35 |
| Katihar | 70.91 | 28.08 | 1.01 |
| Mansahi | 55.87 | 43.79 | 0.34 |
| Barari | 52.28 | 46.70 | 1.02 |
| Sameli | 91.3 | 8.57 | 0.13 |
| Kursela | 92.25 | 7.51 | 0.24 |
| Manihari | 62.86 | 35.67 | 1.47 |
| Amdabad | 45.57 | 54.13 | 0.3 |
SC/ST/Caste-wise Population (2011)
| Caste |
Total |
Male |
Female |
% of Population |
Sex Ratio |
| Scheduled Caste | 263,100 | 136,429 | 126,671 | 8.57% | 929 |
| Scheduled Tribe | 179,971 | 92,190 | 87,781 | 5.86% | 953 |
Sex Ratio & Child Sex Ratio, Religion & Area
| Category | Sex Ratio |
|---|
| Total | 919 |
| Urban | 893 |
| Rural | 922 |
| SC | 929 |
| ST | 953 |
| Religion | Sex Ratio |
|---|
| Hindu | 913 |
| Muslim | 927 |
| Christian | 954 |
| Religion not stated | 991 |
Literacy Rate (Overall, Urban/Rural, Religion, 2011)
| Category |
Average Literacy Rate |
Male Literacy Rate |
Female Literacy Rate |
| Total | 52.24% | 59.36% | 44.39% |
| Urban | 77.27% | 82.46% | 71.4% |
| Rural | 49.6% | 56.9% | 41.59% |
| Religion |
Average Literacy Rate |
Male Literacy Rate |
Female Literacy Rate |
| Hindu | 57.34% | 65.32% | 48.5% |
| Muslim | 45.58% | 51.54% | 39.08% |
| Christian | 55.83% | 63.57% | 47.79% |
| Religion not stated | 52.31% | 60.6% | 44.19% |
Child Population (0-6 years, 2011)
|
Total |
Male |
Female |
% of Population |
Child Sex Ratio |
| Katihar |
620,332 |
316,391 |
303,941 |
20.20% |
961 |
Workforce Details (2011)
| Work Profile | Total | Male | Female |
|---|
| Main Workers | 667,602 | 555,631 | 111,971 |
| Cultivators | 139,059 | 125,129 | 13,930 |
| Agricultural Labourers | 399,923 | 324,095 | 75,828 |
| Household Industries | 10,823 | 7,037 | 3,786 |
| Other Workers | 117,797 | 99,370 | 18,427 |
| Marginal Workers | 345,964 | 204,891 | 141,073 |
| Total Workers | 1,013,566 | 760,522 | 253,044 |
| Non Working | 2,057,463 | 839,908 | 1,217,555 |
Houseless Population (2011)
- Families living without roof: 152
- Total population houseless: 643 (~0.021%)
Languages Spoken (2011 Census)
- Surjapuri: 25.86%
- Hindi: 19.73% (+ 25.46% recorded as 'Others' under Hindi)
- Bengali: 12.04%
- Urdu: 9.11%
- Santali: 2.97%
- Bhojpuri: 2.29%
Key Rivers
- Mahananda River
- Ganges River
- Koshi River
- Righa River
Assembly Constituencies & Politics
| No. |
Constituency |
Current MLA |
Party |
Alliance |
Remarks |
| 63 | Katihar | Tarkishore Prasad | BJP | NDA | Deputy CM, Bihar |
| 64 | Kadwa | Shakeel Ahmad Khan | INC | MGB | – |
| 65 | Balrampur | Mahbub Alam | CPI(ML)L | MGB | – |
| 66 | Pranpur | Nisha Singh | BJP | NDA | – |
| 67 | Manihari | Manohar Prasad Singh | INC | MGB | – |
| 68 | Barari | Bijay Singh | JD(U) | NDA | – |
| 69 | Korha | Kavita Devi | BJP | NDA | – |
Neighbouring Districts (Bihar)
| District | Population 2011 | Population 2025 Estimate (where available) |
|---|
| Purnia | 3,264,619 | – |
| Madhepura | 2,001,762 | – |
| Saharsa | 1,900,661 | – |
| Kishanganj | 1,690,400 | – |
| Darbhanga | 3,937,385 | – |
| Araria | 2,811,569 | – |
| Muzaffarpur | 4,801,062 | 5,926,431 |
| Supaul | 2,229,076 | – |
| Madhubani | 4,487,379 | – |
| Gopalganj | 2,562,012 | – |