The Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh had a population of 1, 459, 000 approx. in 2011 and it is expected to grow steadily to reach a population of 1, 775, 000, 1, 780, 000 by 2025. It has an area of 7, 371 sq km and a population density of 198 persons per sq km. The sex ratio is close to 896 females per 1000 males and the literacy rate is around 70, 72%. Hindu is the major religion (~88%) and Hindi is the main language spoken by 95%. The district population is 23% urban and 77% rural, and Scheduled Caste accounts for 20% of the total population.
Quick Overview of District Census 2021 (Vidisha)
- District: Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh; headquarters: Vidisha city.
- Estimated population 2025: about 17.75–17.80 lakh (1.78 million) with steady growth since 2011.
- 2011 Census population: 1,458,875 (about 14.59 lakh) with 769,568 males and 689,307 females.
- Population density: 198 persons per sq. km over an area of 7,371 sq. km.
- Overall sex ratio: around 896–897 females per 1,000 males; child sex ratio (0–6 years) about 926–927.
- Literacy rate: about 70.5–72.1% overall; male literacy around 79%; female literacy around 61%.
- Urban population share: 23.28%; rural population share: 76.72%.
- Major religions: Hindu majority (~88.25%), Muslim (~10.25%), Jain (~1.27%), and small shares of other faiths.
- Social groups: Scheduled Castes about 20.03% and Scheduled Tribes about 4.63% of total population.
- Primary language: Hindi (about 95%) with a small Urdu-speaking minority.
Population Projections 2021–2036
- 2011 Census base population: 14.59 lakh (1,458,875).
- 2021 projected population: about 17.00 lakh (1,700,000).
- 2022 projected population: about 17.30 lakh (1,730,000).
- 2023 projected population: about 17.50 lakh (1,750,000).
- 2024 projected population: about 17.70 lakh (1,770,000).
- 2025 projected population: 17.75–17.80 lakh (around 1,775,023–1,780,000).
- 2026 projected population: 17.93–18.00 lakh; growth since 2011 crosses 22–23%.
- Medium-term projections up to 2030–2031 reach around 18.6–18.8 lakh total.
- By 2036, estimated population is about 19.54 lakh with roughly 10.19 lakh males and 9.35 lakh females.
- Average yearly population growth rate from 2011 to 2036 is close to 1.1–1.2%.
| Year |
Estimated / Projected Population |
Total Growth Since 2011 |
Notes |
| 2011 |
14.59 lakh (1,458,875) |
Base year |
Actual Census 2011 |
| 2021 |
17.00 lakh (1,700,000) |
≈16–17% |
Projected |
| 2022 |
17.30 lakh (1,730,000) |
≈18–19% |
Projected |
| 2023 |
17.50 lakh (1,750,000) |
≈20% |
Projected |
| 2024 |
17.70 lakh (1,770,000) |
≈21% |
Projected |
| 2025 |
17.75–17.80 lakh |
≈21.7–22% |
Projected |
| 2026 |
17.94 lakh (1,793,740) |
≈23% |
Projected |
| 2030 |
18.63 lakh (1,863,493) |
≈27.7% |
Projected |
| 2033 |
19.09 lakh (1,909,279) |
≈30.9% |
Projected |
| 2036 |
19.54 lakh (1,954,011) |
≈33.9% |
Projected peak for series |
Historic Population 1901–2011
- Vidisha’s population grew from about 2.28 lakh in 1901 to 14.59 lakh in 2011.
- High growth decades include 1961–1971 (around 34.6% increase) and 1991–2001 (~25.2% increase).
- 1931 recorded a small negative growth compared to 1921, reflecting a rare demographic decline.
- Average decadal growth across 1901–2011 is close to 18.9%.
| Census Year |
Population (Approx.) |
Decadal Change |
Decadal Growth % |
Male (Approx.) |
Female (Approx.) |
| 1901 |
2.28 lakh |
- |
- |
1.18 lakh |
1.10 lakh |
| 1911 |
2.97 lakh |
+0.69 lakh |
≈30.25% |
1.53 lakh |
1.44 lakh |
| 1921 |
3.48 lakh |
+0.51 lakh |
≈17.20% |
1.82 lakh |
1.66 lakh |
| 1931 |
3.46 lakh |
-0.02 lakh |
≈-0.64% |
1.80 lakh |
1.65 lakh |
| 1941 |
3.83 lakh |
+0.38 lakh |
≈10.85% |
2.01 lakh |
1.82 lakh |
| 1951 |
3.86 lakh |
+0.03 lakh |
≈0.71% |
2.02 lakh |
1.85 lakh |
| 1961 |
4.89 lakh |
+1.03 lakh |
≈26.71% |
2.59 lakh |
2.30 lakh |
| 1971 |
6.58 lakh |
+1.69 lakh |
≈34.59% |
3.50 lakh |
3.09 lakh |
| 1981 |
7.83 lakh |
+1.25 lakh |
≈18.93% |
4.16 lakh |
3.67 lakh |
| 1991 |
9.70 lakh |
+1.87 lakh |
≈23.92% |
5.18 lakh |
4.53 lakh |
| 2001 |
12.15 lakh |
+2.44 lakh |
≈25.19% |
6.48 lakh |
5.67 lakh |
| 2011 |
14.59 lakh |
+2.44 lakh |
≈20.09% |
7.70 lakh |
6.89 lakh |
Population, Sex Ratio & Density (2011)
- Total population: 1,458,875 persons (about 14.59 lakh).
- Males: 769,568; females: 689,307.
- Decadal population growth 2001–2011: about 20.09%.
- Population proportion to Madhya Pradesh: around 2.01%.
- Overall sex ratio: about 896–897 females per 1,000 males (improved from around 875 in 2001).
- Child sex ratio (0–6 years): about 926–927 girls per 1,000 boys.
- Area of district: 7,371 sq. km with population density of 198 persons per sq. km (up from 165 in 2001).
| Description |
2011 |
2001 |
| Total Population |
1,458,875 (14.59 lakh) |
1,214,857 (12.15 lakh) |
| Male Population |
769,568 |
647,838 |
| Female Population |
689,307 |
567,019 |
| Population Growth % |
20.09% |
25.20% |
| Area (Sq. Km) |
7,371 |
7,371 |
| Density (per Sq. Km) |
198 |
165 |
| Sex Ratio (females/1,000 males) |
896–897 |
875 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6) |
≈926–927 |
943 |
| Average Literacy (%) |
70.53–72.08 |
61.83 |
| Male Literacy (%) |
79.14 |
74.23 |
| Female Literacy (%) |
60.85 |
47.40 |
Child Population, SC/ST & Houseless
- Total child population (0–6 years) in 2011: 235,391 (about 2.35 lakh), forming 16.14% of total population.
- Male children (0–6): 122,200; female children (0–6): 113,191.
- Child sex ratio: about 926–927 girls per 1,000 boys, slightly lower than 943 in 2001.
- Scheduled Caste population: about 2.92 lakh (292,144), i.e., nearly 20.03% of total population.
- Scheduled Tribe population: about 67,603 (around 4.63% of total), with ST sex ratio near 932.
- Houseless population: about 3,048 persons in 729 families living without roof cover (around 0.21% of total population).
| Category |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Share / Ratio |
| Child Population (0–6) |
235,391 |
122,200 |
113,191 |
16.14% of total |
| Child Sex Ratio |
Girls per 1,000 boys |
≈926–927 |
| Scheduled Castes (SC) |
292,144 (≈2.92 lakh) |
154,504 |
137,640 |
20.03% of population; SC sex ratio ≈891 |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) |
67,603 |
34,993 |
32,610 |
4.63% of population; ST sex ratio ≈932 |
| Houseless Families |
729 |
- |
- |
| Houseless Population |
3,048 |
- |
≈0.21% of population |
Religion-wise Population & Literacy
- Hindus form about 88.25% of Vidisha population, with around 12.87 lakh persons.
- Muslims form about 10.25% with nearly 1.50 lakh persons.
- Jains form about 1.27% (around 18,490 persons); small Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and other groups are also present.
- Hindu male and female population are around 6.80 lakh and 6.07 lakh respectively.
- Muslim male population is around 78,154; Muslim female population about 71,394.
- Religion-wise literacy is highest among Jains (above 95%), followed by Christians and Hindus.
| Religion |
Population Count |
Percentage Share |
| Hindu |
1,287,391 |
88.25% |
| Muslim |
149,548 |
10.25% |
| Jain |
18,490 |
1.27% |
| Christian |
1,313 |
0.09% |
| Sikh |
914 |
0.06% |
| Buddhist |
295 |
0.02% |
| Other religions |
70 |
≈0.00% |
| Religion not stated |
854 |
0.06% |
| Religion |
Average Literacy (%) |
Male Literacy (%) |
Female Literacy (%) |
| Hindu |
70.62 |
79.55 |
60.54 |
| Muslim |
66.09 |
72.97 |
58.53 |
| Jain |
95.71 |
97.23 |
94.08 |
| Christian |
83.11 |
86.61 |
79.75 |
Urban–Rural Population & Households
- Urban population: 339,618 persons (about 3.40 lakh), or 23.28% of total population.
- Rural population: 1,119,257 persons (about 11.19 lakh), or 76.72% of total population.
- Urban sex ratio: about 912–913 females per 1,000 males; rural sex ratio: 891.
- Urban child population (0–6 years): 46,537; rural child population: 188,854.
- Urban literacy rate: 81.45% overall; rural literacy rate: 67.09% overall.
- Total households: about 299,676 (nearly 3.00 lakh households) in the district.
| Description |
Rural |
Urban |
| Population (%) |
76.72% |
23.28% |
| Total Population |
1,119,257 |
339,618 |
| Male Population |
591,962 |
177,606 |
| Female Population |
527,295 |
162,012 |
| Sex Ratio (females/1,000 males) |
891 |
912–913 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6) |
928 |
920 |
| Child Population (0–6) |
188,854 |
46,537 |
| Male Child (0–6) |
97,964 |
24,236 |
| Female Child (0–6) |
90,890 |
22,301 |
| Average Literacy (%) |
67.09 |
81.45 |
| Male Literacy (%) |
76.76 |
86.82 |
| Female Literacy (%) |
56.14 |
75.56 |
Literacy Rate (Total, Male, Female)
- Total literacy rate (2011): about 70.53% for the district.
- Male literacy rate: 79.14%; female literacy rate: 60.85%.
- Urban literacy is higher at 81.45%, while rural literacy is 67.09%.
- Gender gap in literacy remains around 18–19 percentage points (male–female difference).
| Category |
Average Literacy (%) |
Male Literacy (%) |
Female Literacy (%) |
| Total Population |
70.53 |
79.14 |
60.85 |
| Urban Area |
81.45 |
86.82 |
75.56 |
| Rural Area |
67.09 |
76.76 |
56.14 |
Languages & Workforce Profile
- Major language: Hindi, spoken by about 94.96% of Vidisha residents.
- Urdu is spoken by around 4.57% of population as the first language.
- Total workers: around 550,402 persons, about 37.73% of total population.
- Male workers: around 401,583; female workers: about 148,819.
| Language |
Approximate Share of Population |
| Hindi |
≈94.96% |
| Urdu |
≈4.57% |
| Others |
Small percentages |
| Workforce Category |
Total Workers |
Male Workers |
Female Workers |
Share of Population |
| All Workers |
550,402 |
401,583 |
148,819 |
≈37.73% |
Subdistricts (Tehsils) of Vidisha District
- Vidisha Urban
- Vidisha Rural
- Ganj Basoda
- Gyaraspur
- Kurwai
- Lateri
- Nateran
- Sironj
- Gulabganj
- Pathari
- Shamshabad
- Tyonda
District Area, Towns & Villages
- Total geographical area: 7,371 square km on the Vindhyachal Plateau.
- Population density: 198 persons per sq. km as per 2011 Census.
- Total towns: about 7; total villages: about 1,614 in the district.
- Total households: approximately 2,99,676 (around 3.0 lakh households).
| Administrative / Geographic Item |
Count / Value |
| Total Area (Sq. Km) |
7,371 |
| Population Density (persons/Sq. Km) |
198 |
| Total Towns |
7 |
| Total Villages |
1,614 |
| Total Households |
2,99,676 |
Major City & Urban Local Body
- Key city: Vidisha (Municipality), functioning as main urban centre and district headquarters.
- Vidisha city population (2011): 155,951 persons.
- Vidisha male population: 81,488; female population: 74,463.
- The district has no listed large Urban Agglomeration apart from individual cities/towns.
| City / Town |
Type |
Total Population |
Male |
Female |
| Vidisha |
Municipality |
155,951 |
81,488 |
74,463 |
Geography & Neighbouring Districts
- Vidisha lies on the Vindhyachal Plateau with a south-to-north slope.
- Major rivers draining the district include the Betwa, Bina and Sindh.
- Neighbouring districts: Ashoknagar (northeast), Sagar (east), Raisen (south), Bhopal (southwest), Guna (northwest).
- The district also contains important historical sites like Besnagar and the Sanchi Stupa area.
Tourist & Heritage Places
- Udayeshwar (Neelkantheshwar) Temple at Udaypur.
- Maladevi Temple at Gyaraspur.
- Udayagiri Caves near Udayagiri hills.
- Heliodorus pillar at Vidisha.
- Vidisha District Museum in Vidisha city.
- Lohangi Pir at Vidisha.
- Hindola Torana at Gyaraspur.
- Gadarmal Devi Temple at Pathari.