The Purnia district in the state of Bihar spreads over 3, 229 square kilometers and had a population of more than 3.26 million according to the 2011 census which is expected to be around 4.3 million in 2025. There are 921 women for every 1000 men, and the literacy rate is 51.08%. The district is mainly rural (89.49%) with 1, 273 villages, 14 blocks, and 3 towns. It is a district with a considerable SC (11.98%) and ST (4.27%) population and thus is an important rural center.
Quick Overview of Purnia District (2021/2025 Projection & 2011 Census)
- District: Purnia, Bihar
- Area: 3,229 sq km
- Headquarters: Purnia
- Population (2011): 3,264,619 (Male: 1,699,370 | Female: 1,565,249)
- Estimated Population (2025): 4,029,846 – 4,320,000
- Population Density (2011): 1,011 per sq km
- Sex Ratio (2011): 921 females per 1000 males
- Child Sex Ratio (0-6): 954 girls per 1000 boys
- Literacy Rate (2011): 51.08% (Male: 59.06%, Female: 42.34%)
- SC population: 11.98% | ST population: 4.27%
- Urban population: 10.51% | Rural: 89.49%
- Households (2011): 647,777
- Blocks/Taluks: 14 | Subdivisions: 4 | Panchayats: 246 | Villages: 1,273
- Number of Towns: 3
Historic Population (1901–2011, Decadal and Projected Growth)
| Census Year | Population | Variation | Variation % | Male | Female |
|---|
| 1901 | 478,222 | - | - | 244,000 | 234,000 |
| 1911 | 513,879 | +35,657 | +7.46% | 262,000 | 252,000 |
| 1921 | 548,740 | +34,861 | +6.78% | 283,000 | 266,000 |
| 1931 | 593,534 | +44,794 | +8.16% | 307,000 | 287,000 |
| 1941 | 646,133 | +52,599 | +8.86% | 332,000 | 315,000 |
| 1951 | 685,744 | +39,611 | +6.13% | 356,000 | 329,000 |
| 1961 | 938,810 | +253,066 | +36.90% | 487,000 | 452,000 |
| 1971 | 1,191,510 | +252,700 | +26.92% | 623,000 | 569,000 |
| 1981 | 1,518,223 | +326,713 | +27.42% | 789,000 | 729,000 |
| 1991 | 1,878,885 | +360,662 | +23.76% | 987,000 | 892,000 |
| 2001 | 2,543,942 | +665,057 | +35.40% | 1,328,417 | 1,215,525 |
| 2011 | 3,264,619 | +720,677 | +28.33% | 1,699,370 | 1,565,249 |
| Year | Estimated Population |
|---|
| 2025 | 4,029,846 – 4,320,000 |
| 2026 | 4,133,000 – 4,360,000 |
| 2036 | 4,634,659 |
Urban & Rural, Households, City/Town Stats
| Urban | Rural | Total |
|---|
| Population (2011) | 343,005 | 2,921,614 | 3,264,619 |
| Male | 179,848 | 1,519,522 | 1,699,370 |
| Female | 163,157 | 1,402,092 | 1,565,249 |
| Sex Ratio | 907 | 923 | 921 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0-6) | 955 | 954 | 954 |
| Literacy Rate | 72.74% | 48.38% | 51.08% |
| Male Literacy | 77.84% | 56.70% | 59.06% |
| Female Literacy | 67.07% | 39.28% | 42.34% |
| Number of Households | 647,777 |
| Number of Towns | 3 |
| Number of Villages | 1,273 |
City List & Urban Agglomeration
| City Name | Population 2011 | Male | Female | Estimated 2025 |
|---|
| Purnia (Municipal Corp.) | 282,248 | 148,077 | 134,171 | 348,407 |
| Purnia UA | 312,669 | 164,031 | 148,638 | – |
Subdistrict/Taluks/Blocks in Purnia
- Amour
- Baisa
- Baisi
- Banmankhi
- Barhara
- Bhawanipur
- Dagarua
- Dhamdaha
- Jalalgarh
- Kasba
- Krityanand Nagar
- Purnia East
- Rupauli
- Srinagar
| Subdivision | Blocks (Talukas) |
|---|
| Purnia Sadar | Purnia East, Kasba, Jalalgarh, Krityanand Nagar, Srinagar |
| Banmankhi | Banmankhi |
| Dhamdaha | Dhamdaha, Barhara Kothi, Bhawanipur, Rupauli |
| Baisi | Baisi, Baisa, Amour, Dagarua |
Religion-wise Population (2011 & 2025 Estimate)
| Religion |
Population 2011 |
% (2011) |
Population 2025 Estimate |
| Hindu | 1,989,420 | 60.94% | 2,455,740 |
| Muslim | 1,255,641 | 38.46% | 1,549,963 |
| Christian | 7,989 | 0.24% | 9,862 |
| Sikh | 614 | 0.02% | 758 |
| Buddhist | 353 | 0.01% | 436 |
| Jain | 1,450 | 0.04% | 1,790 |
| Other | 650 | 0.02% | 802 |
| Not Stated | 8,502 | 0.26% | 10,495 |
| Total | 3,264,619 | 100% | 4,029,846 |
Block-wise Religion % (2011)
| Block | Hindu % | Muslim % | Other % |
|---|
| Banmankhi | 86.19 | 13.33 | 0.48 |
| Barhara | 90.37 | 9.11 | 0.52 |
| Bhawanipur | 75.48 | 24.07 | 0.45 |
| Rupauli | 89.20 | 10.57 | 0.23 |
| Dhamdaha | 84.32 | 14.55 | 1.13 |
| Krityanand Nagar | 67.07 | 32.03 | 0.90 |
| Purnia East | 68.52 | 30.26 | 1.22 |
| Kasba | 41.63 | 58.08 | 0.29 |
| Srinagar | 65.91 | 33.69 | 0.40 |
| Jalalgarh | 53.41 | 46.28 | 0.31 |
| Amour | 22.58 | 76.93 | 0.49 |
| Baisa | 27.76 | 71.94 | 0.30 |
| Baisi | 22.37 | 77.32 | 0.31 |
| Dagarua | 37.17 | 62.55 | 0.28 |
SC/ST/Caste-wise Population (2011)
| Caste |
Total |
Male |
Female |
% of Population |
Sex Ratio |
| Scheduled Caste | 390,991 | 203,201 | 187,790 | 11.98% | 925 |
| Scheduled Tribe | 139,490 | 71,391 | 68,099 | 4.27% | 954 |
Sex Ratio & Child Sex Ratio, Religion & Area
| Category | Sex Ratio |
|---|
| Total | 921 |
| Urban | 907 |
| Rural | 923 |
| SC | 925 |
| ST | 954 |
| Religion | Sex Ratio |
|---|
| Hindu | 914 |
| Muslim | 934 |
| Christian | 962 |
| Not Stated | 944 |
Literacy Rate (Overall, Urban/Rural, Religion, 2011)
| Category |
Average Literacy Rate |
Male Literacy Rate |
Female Literacy Rate |
| Total | 51.08% | 59.06% | 42.34% |
| Urban | 72.74% | 77.84% | 67.07% |
| Rural | 48.38% | 56.70% | 39.28% |
| Religion |
Average Literacy Rate |
Male Literacy Rate |
Female Literacy Rate |
| Hindu | 55.84% | 63.99% | 46.83% |
| Muslim | 43.13% | 50.75% | 34.91% |
| Christian | 56.68% | 64.02% | 49.13% |
| Not Stated | 56.29% | 65.67% | 46.88% |
Child Population (0-6 years, 2011)
|
Total |
Male |
Female |
% of Population |
Child Sex Ratio |
| Purnia |
656,510 |
335,955 |
320,555 |
20.11% |
954 |
Workforce Details (2011)
| Work Profile | Total | Male | Female |
|---|
| Total Workers | 1,143,318 | 803,275 | 340,043 |
| Main Workers | 776,385 | 600,719 | 175,666 |
| Cultivators | 160,724 | 137,994 | 22,730 |
| Agricultural Labourers | 474,573 | 351,814 | 122,759 |
| Household Industries | 15,717 | 9,339 | 6,378 |
| Other Workers | 125,371 | 101,572 | 23,799 |
| Marginal Workers | 366,933 | 202,556 | 164,377 |
| Non-Working | 2,121,301 | 896,095 | 1,225,206 |
Houseless Population (2011)
- Families living without roof: 398
- Total population houseless: 1,844 (~0.056%)
Languages Spoken (2011 Census)
- Hindi: 33.68%
- Urdu: 18.62%
- Maithili (incl. Thethi & Purbi): 10.72%
- Surjapuri: 8.73%
- Bengali: 4.51%
- Santali: 2.50%
- Others (under Hindi): 18.53%
Key Rivers
- Kosi River (Kari Kosi channel)
- Mahananda River
- Saura River
Administrative Divisions & Panchayats
- Subdivisions: Purnea Sadar, Banmankhi, Dhamdaha, Baisi
- Blocks: 14
(see list above)
- Panchayats: 246
- Villages: 1,273
- Major temples: Puran Devi, Kali Mandir, Maata Asthan, Panchmukhi, Rani Sati, Prahlad Stambh, Dhima Shiv Mandir
- Dargah: Hazrat Mustafa Jamalul Haque Bandagi, Khanquah Alia Mustafia
| Assembly Constituency No. |
Name |
Current MLA (2025) |
Party |
Alliance |
Remarks |
| 56 | Amour | Akhtarul Iman | AIMIM | None | – |
| 57 | Baisi | Syed Ruknuddin Ahmad | RJD | MGB | Switched from AIMIM to RJD |
| 58 | Kasba | Md Afaque Alam | INC | MGB | – |
| 59 | Banmankhi | Krishna Kumar Rishi | BJP | NDA | – |
| 60 | Rupauli | Bima Bharti | JD(U) | NDA | Switched to RJD. By-election 2024: Shankar Singh (IND) |
| 61 | Dhamdaha | Leshi Singh | JD(U) | NDA | – |
| 62 | Purnia | Vijay Kumar Khemka | BJP | NDA | – |
Neighbouring Districts (Bihar)
| District | Population 2011 | Population 2025 Estimate (where available) |
|---|
| Katihar | 3,071,029 | – |
| Kishanganj | 1,690,400 | – |
| Araria | 2,811,569 | – |
| Madhepura | 2,001,762 | – |
| Supaul | 2,229,076 | – |
| Saharsa | 1,900,661 | – |
| Madhubani | 4,487,379 | – |
| Darbhanga | 3,937,385 | – |
| Muzaffarpur | 4,801,062 | 5,926,431 |
| Sitamarhi | 3,423,574 | – |