Shimla district which is spread over 5, 131 km² was estimated to have a population of around 9 lakh in 2021 which is expected to reach about 9.28 lakh by 2025. It boasts of a literacy rate of 83.64% and an urban population of 24.74%. There are 3, 231 villages and 11 towns in the district and the total workforce is a little over 4.3 lakh. The sex ratio of the district is around 915 females per 1000 males.
Quick Overview of Shimla District Census 2021 (Projection)
- Estimated Population 2021: 9,01,600 – 9,02,000
- Estimated Population 2025: 9,28,200 / 8,92,474
- Area: 5,131 sq.km
- Density (2011): 159/km²
- Sex Ratio (2011): 915–916 (rural: 949–950, urban: 818–819)
- Child Sex Ratio (2011): 925 (urban: 892, rural: 933)
- Literacy Rate (2011): 83.64% (Male: 89.59%, Female: 77.13%)
- Urban Population (2011): 24.74% (2,01,351)
- Rural Population (2011): 75.26% (6,12,659)
- SC Population: 2,15,777 (26.51%)
- ST Population: 8,755 (1.08%)
- Child Population (0-6 yrs): 81,564 (10.02%)
- Households (2011): 1,84,362
- Villages: 3,231 (inhabited: 2,520)
- Towns: 11
- Tehsils: 17
- Blocks: 12
- Workforce (2011): 4,30,926
Population Projection Table (2025–2036)
| Year | Estimated Population | Total Growth Since 2011 |
|---|
| 2025 | 9,28,200 / 8,92,474 | 9.64%–14.04% |
| 2026 | 8,96,131 | 10.09% |
| 2027 | 8,99,199 | 10.47% |
| 2028 | 9,02,385 | 10.86% |
| 2029 | 9,05,452 | 11.23% |
| 2030 | 9,08,638 | 11.62% |
| 2036 | 9,19,611 | 12.97% |
Historic Population Trend (1901–2011)
| Year | Population | Growth % | Male | Female |
|---|
| 1901 | 2,30,144 | - | 1,24,000 | 1,06,000 |
| 1911 | 2,23,701 | -2.80% | 1,19,000 | 1,05,000 |
| 1921 | 2,28,138 | 1.98% | 1,24,000 | 1,04,000 |
| 1931 | 2,38,280 | 4.45% | 1,26,000 | 1,12,000 |
| 1941 | 2,59,656 | 8.97% | 1,39,000 | 1,21,000 |
| 1951 | 2,86,111 | 10.18% | 1,53,000 | 1,34,000 |
| 1961 | 3,41,461 | 19.34% | 1,84,000 | 1,57,000 |
| 1971 | 4,19,844 | 22.96% | 2,25,000 | 1,95,000 |
| 1981 | 5,10,932 | 21.70% | 2,72,000 | 2,39,000 |
| 1991 | 6,17,404 | 20.84% | 3,26,000 | 2,92,000 |
| 2001 | 7,22,502 | 17.02% | 3,80,996 | 3,41,506 |
| 2011 | 8,14,010 | 12.67% | 4,25,039 | 3,88,971 |
Main Census 2011 Data
| Description | Total | Male | Female |
| Population | 8,14,010 | 4,25,039 | 3,88,971 |
| Households | 1,84,362 | — | — |
| SC Population | 2,15,777 | 1,10,828 | 1,04,949 |
| ST Population | 8,755 | 4,554 | 4,201 |
| Child (0-6) Population | 81,564 | 42,376 | 39,188 |
| Workers | 4,30,926 | 2,58,628 | 1,72,298 |
Religion-wise Population (2011)
| Religion | Population | % |
| Hindu | 7,91,449 | 97.23% |
| Muslim | 11,810 | 1.45% |
| Sikh | 4,047 | 0.5% |
| Buddhist | 3,262 | 0.40% |
| Christian | 2,025 | 0.25% |
| Jain | 185 | 0.02% |
| Other religions and persuasions | 197 | 0.02% |
| Not stated | 1,035 | 0.13% |
SC/ST Details (2011)
| Category | Total | Male | Female | % Population | Sex Ratio |
| SC | 2,15,777 | 1,10,828 | 1,04,949 | 26.51% | 947 |
| ST | 8,755 | 4,554 | 4,201 | 1.08% | 923 |
Sex Ratio by Area and Religion (2011)
| Category | Sex Ratio |
| Total Population | 916 |
| Urban Area | 819 |
| Rural Area | 950 |
| Hindu | 921 |
| Muslim | 641 |
| Sikh | 876 |
| Buddhist | 920 |
Urban/Rural Split (2011)
| Area | Population | Male | Female | Sex Ratio | Child Sex Ratio | Literacy Rate |
| Urban |
2,01,351 |
1,10,744 |
90,607 |
818–819 |
892 |
93.1% (M: 94.56%, F: 91.3%) |
| Rural |
6,12,659 |
3,14,295 |
2,98,364 |
949–950 |
933 |
80.45% (M: 87.79%, F: 72.74%) |
Literacy Rate by Area and Religion (2011)
| Category | Average | Male | Female |
| Total Population | 83.64% | 89.59% | 77.13% |
| Urban Area | 93.1% | 94.56% | 91.3% |
| Rural Area | 80.45% | 87.79% | 72.74% |
| Hindu | 83.8% | 89.85% | 77.21% |
| Muslim | 67.73% | 72.92% | 59.05% |
| Sikh | 95.69% | 97.13% | 94.06% |
| Buddhist | 83.6% | 86.25% | 80.75% |
Tehsil / Block / Subdivision List
- Chaupal
- Cheta
- Chirgaon
- Dodra Kwar
- Jubbal
- Junga
- Kotkhai
- Kumharsain
- Nankhari
- Nerua
- Rampur
- Rohru
- Seoni
- Shimla (Rural)
- Shimla (Urban)
- Theog
- Tikar
Village and Towns
- Total Villages: 3,231 (inhabited: 2,520)
- Total Towns: 11
- Main towns/cities: Shimla (MC and UA), Rampur, Kumarsain, Narkanda, Theog, Seoni, Chaupal, Kotkhai, Jubbal, Rohru
Socio-Economic, Climate & Miscellaneous
- Most urbanized Himachal district; HQ and state capital: Shimla
- Elevation: 987–4,500 m; mixed forest/agriculture; tourism center, major institutions (state secretariat, HP university, advanced studies)
- Climate: Alpine/temperate; extremes from −12.2°C to +32.4°C; rainfall avg 1425 mm/year; prominent snowfall in winter
- Notable: Panchayats: 363; 102 houseless families (2011)
- Main spoken languages: Pahari, Hindi, Nepali, Punjabi, Kangri
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the population (2011, 2021, 2025)? 8,14,010 (2011); 9.01 lakh (2021, est.); 9.28 lakh/8.92 lakh (2025)
- SC/ST share? SC: 26.51%, ST: 1.08%
- Sex Ratio? 915–916; rural 949–950, urban 818–819
- Main religions? Hindu (97.23%), Muslim (1.45%), Sikh (0.5%), Buddhist (0.4%), Christian (0.25%)
- Urban/rural %? Urban: 24.7%; Rural: 75.3%
- Literacy rate? 83.64% (male: 89.6%, female: 77.1%)
- Main towns? Shimla UA (& MC), Rampur, Kumarsain, Theog, Narkanda, Seoni, Chaupal, Kotkhai, Jubbal, Rohru
- Main tehsils/blocks? Chaupal, Cheta, Theog, Jubbal, Kotkhai, Rampur, Nankhari, Seoni, Junga, Shimla Urban/Rural, Rohru, Kumharsain, Chirgaon, Dodra Kwar, Tikar, Nerua
- Main spoken languages? Pahari (67.6%), Hindi (20.3%), Nepali (4.6%), Punjabi (1.4%), Kangri (1.1%)
- Main geography/industry? Mountainous, forested, tourism hub