The Gwalior district in Madhya Pradesh spans an area of around 4,560 sq km and has a population of 2.032 million according to the 2011 census, which, is likely to be 2.45 million by 2021. The place is described as having a sex ratio of 864 females per 1000 males and a literacy rate of 76.65%. Nearly 62.69% of the total population lives in urban areas and the district's population density is 447 per sq km. The district's population has grown by 24.41% between 2001 and 2011.
Quick Overview of Gwalior District Census 2021
- District Name: Gwalior
- State: Madhya Pradesh
- Headquarters: Gwalior city
- Area (district): about 4,560 sq.km
- Population 2011 (district): 2,032,036 (20.32 lakh)
- Male Population 2011: 1,090,327
- Female Population 2011: 941,709
- Population 2001 (district): 1,632,109 (16.32 lakh)
- Population Growth 2001–2011 (district): 24.41%
- Projected Population 2021 (district): 2,450,000 (24.50 lakh)
- Projected Population 2025 (district): 2,590,000 (25.90 lakh)
- Projected Population 2026 (district): 2,620,000 (26.20 lakh)
- Overall Sex Ratio 2011 (district): 864 females per 1000 males
- Overall Sex Ratio 2001: about 848–850 females per 1000 males
- Population Density 2011 (district): around 447 per sq.km
- Urbanisation 2011 (district): 62.69% urban, 37.31% rural
- Literacy Rate 2011 (district): 76.65%
- Male Literacy 2011 (district): about 84.7%
- Female Literacy 2011 (district): about 67.38%
Population – 2011 vs 2001 (District)
| Description |
2011 |
2001 |
| Actual Population |
2,032,036 |
1,632,109 |
| Male Population |
1,090,327 |
883,317 |
| Female Population |
941,709 |
748,792 |
| Decadal Population Growth |
24.41% |
about 26–27% |
| Population (in Lakhs) |
20.32 |
16.32 |
| Population Density (per sq.km) |
≈ 447 |
≈ 358 |
| Sex Ratio (females per 1000 males) |
864 |
848–850 (approx.) |
Population Projections – Gwalior District 2011–2031
| Year |
Projected Population |
Population (Lakhs) |
| 2011 (actual) |
2,032,036 |
20.32 |
| 2021 |
2,450,000 |
24.50 |
| 2022 |
2,490,000 |
24.90 |
| 2023 |
2,530,000 |
25.30 |
| 2024 |
2,560,000 |
25.60 |
| 2025 |
2,590,000 |
25.90 |
| 2026 |
2,620,000 |
26.20 |
| 2027 |
2,640,000 |
26.40 |
| 2028 |
2,650,000 |
26.50 |
| 2029 |
2,670,000 |
26.70 |
| 2030 |
2,680,000 |
26.80 |
| 2031 |
2,690,000 |
26.90 |
Urban and Rural Population – Gwalior District 2011
| Area |
Share of Population |
Total Population |
Male Population |
Female Population |
Sex Ratio |
| Rural |
37.31% |
758,244 |
409,349 |
348,895 |
852–854 |
| Urban |
62.69% |
1,273,792 |
680,978 |
592,814 |
871–873 |
Overall Literacy – Gwalior District 2011
| Item |
Total |
Male |
Female |
| Literate Population |
about 1.45 million |
around 0.85–0.87 million |
around 0.59–0.60 million |
| Literacy Rate (All) |
76.65% |
about 84.7% |
about 67.38% |
Urban and Rural Literacy – Gwalior District
| Area |
Average Literacy |
Male Literacy |
Female Literacy |
| Urban Gwalior (district urban part) |
about 84–85% |
about 89–90% |
about 78–79% |
| Rural Gwalior (district rural part) |
about 65–66% |
around 78–79% |
around 51–52% |
Religion-wise Population – Gwalior District 2011
| Religion |
Population |
Percent |
| Hindu |
around 1,842,000 |
≈ 90–91% |
| Muslim |
around 135,000 |
≈ 6–7% |
| Jain |
about 23,000 |
≈ 1.1% |
| Christian |
around 4,000–5,000 |
≈ 0.2% |
| Sikh |
around 3,000–4,000 |
≈ 0.2% |
| Buddhist |
around 1,000–2,000 |
< 0.1% |
| Other religions / not stated |
small remainder |
< 0.5% |
SC / ST Population – Gwalior District 2011
| Category |
Population |
Percent of Total |
| Scheduled Castes (SC) |
around 393,000 |
19.34% |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) |
around 72,000 |
3.55% |
Child Population (0–6 years) – Gwalior District 2011
| Description |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Child Sex Ratio |
| Children (0–6) – Entire district |
about 270,000–275,000 |
– |
– |
around 840–845 |
| Children (0–6) – Gwalior Tehsil (sub-district) |
183,931 |
100,379 |
83,552 |
about 833 |
Languages Spoken – Gwalior District 2011
| Language |
Share of Speakers (First Language) |
| Hindi |
96.57% |
| Bundeli |
1.08% |
| Others (Urdu, etc.) |
small remainder |
Administrative Units – Tehsils (Subdistricts/Taluks)
- Number of Tehsils in Gwalior district: 4
| Tehsil / Taluk Name |
| Gwalior (Gird) |
| Dabra |
| Bhitarwar |
| Chinour / Pichhore |
Gwalior Tehsil – Detailed Census Snapshot (2011)
| Item |
Total |
Urban |
Rural |
| Population |
1,495,487 |
1,102,884 |
392,603 |
| Children (0–6 years) |
183,931 |
124,071 |
59,860 |
| Scheduled Caste |
262,572 |
193,314 |
69,258 |
| Scheduled Tribe |
44,046 |
14,021 |
30,025 |
| Literacy Rate |
79.41% |
84.16% |
65.44% |
| Sex Ratio |
864 |
873 |
839 |
Gwalior City – Census 2011 Snapshot
| Item |
Gwalior City (Municipal Corporation) |
| Total Population |
1,054,420–1,069,276 (depending on definition of city/UA) |
| Male Population |
around 561,165 |
| Female Population |
around 493,255 |
| Number of Households (families) |
about 199,466 |
Workforce and Households – District
- Total households in Gwalior district (2011): 383,845
- Total workers (main + marginal): around 0.75–0.80 million
- Higher work participation in rural areas (especially agriculture and labour), while urban areas show more service and trade-based employment.
Basic Geography and Economy
- Region: North-central Madhya Pradesh, part of Gird region.
- Terrain: Plateau and rocky hills, dominated by Gwalior fort hill, ravines near Chambal in parts.
- Economy: Government administration, education, trade, small and medium industry, tourism and services.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What is Gwalior district’s population in 2011?
A: 2,032,036 people.
- Q: What is the projected population in 2025?
A: Around 2,590,000 people (25.9 lakh).
- Q: What is the sex ratio of Gwalior district?
A: About 864 females per 1000 males.
- Q: How much of Gwalior district is urban?
A: About 62.7% urban and 37.3% rural.
- Q: What is the literacy rate?
A: Overall literacy is about 76–78%; male literacy about 84–85% and female literacy about 67–68%.
- Q: What are the main religions in Gwalior district?
A: Mostly Hindu, with Muslim and Jain minorities and small numbers of Christians, Sikhs and Buddhists.
- Q: How large are the SC and ST populations?
A: Scheduled Castes are around 19.3% and Scheduled Tribes about 3.6% of the population.
- Q: Which languages are mainly spoken?
A: Hindi is dominant (about 96.6%) with some Bundeli.
- Q: How many tehsils does Gwalior district have?
A: Four tehsils – Gwalior (Gird), Dabra, Bhitarwar and one more smaller subdistrict.
- Q: What is the population of Gwalior city itself?
A: Around 1.05–1.07 million people as per the 2011 census.