The Baleshwar district of Odisha had a population of about 23.20 lakh approx. in 2011 and it is expected to grow steadily to reach a population of about 25.99 lakh by 2026. It has an area of 3,806 sq km and population density of about 610 persons per sq km. The sex ratio is close to 957 females per 1,000 males and the literacy rate is around 79.79 percent. The child sex ratio is 943 girls per 1,000 boys. The major religion is Hindu with about 94.71 percent share and Odia and related local languages are the main tongues spoken by most people. The district population is 10.92 percent urban and 89.08 percent rural, and Baleshwar accounts for about 5.53 percent of the total Odisha population. There are a total of about 5,33,001 households in the district.
Quick Overview of District Census 2021
| District name | Baleshwar |
| State | Odisha |
| Population 2011 | 23,20,529 |
| Estimated population 2025 | 25,85,477 |
| Estimated population 2026 | 25,99,277 |
| Area (sq km) | 3,806 |
| Population density (per sq km) | 610 |
| Sex ratio (females per 1000 males) | 957 |
| Child sex ratio (0-6 years) | 943 |
| Average literacy rate (%) | 79.79 |
| Urban population share (%) | 10.92 |
| Rural population share (%) | 89.08 |
| Total households | 5,33,001 |
- Total population is rising
- Most people live in villages
- Literacy level is high
- Hindu share is very high
Population and Demographics Profile
| Total population 2011 | 23,20,529 |
| Male population 2011 | 11,85,787 |
| Female population 2011 | 11,34,742 |
| Population 2001 | 20,24,508 |
| Male population 2001 | 10,36,511 |
| Female population 2001 | 9,87,997 |
| Population growth 2001–2011 (%) | 14.62 |
| Population share in Odisha 2011 (%) | 5.53 |
| Population share in Odisha 2001 (%) | 5.50 |
- Population grew by about one eighth
- Male count is slightly higher
- Growth slowed after 1990s
- Share in state is steady
Historic Census Population Data 1901–2011
| Census year | Total population | Variation % |
| 1901 | 6,79,046 | – |
| 1911 | 6,70,180 | –1.39 |
| 1921 | 6,23,390 | –6.99 |
| 1931 | 6,31,410 | 1.29 |
| 1941 | 6,60,940 | 4.68 |
| 1951 | 6,59,290 | –0.25 |
| 1961 | 8,38,790 | 27.38 |
| 1971 | 10,91,000 | 30.05 |
| 1981 | 13,58,000 | 24.42 |
| 1991 | 16,97,000 | 24.96 |
| 2001 | 20,24,508 | 19.33 |
| 2011 | 23,20,529 | 14.62 |
- Population grew in every decade
- Big jump came in 1971
- Average growth is about 12.55 percent
- From 6.79 lakh to 23.21 lakh people
Population Projections up to 2036
| Year | Estimated population | Total growth since 2011 (%) |
| 2011 | 23,20,529 | 0.00 |
| 2025 | 25,85,477 | 11.42 |
| 2026 | 25,99,277 | 12.01 |
| 2027 | 26,11,482 | 12.54 |
| 2028 | 26,23,743 | 13.07 |
| 2029 | 26,35,948 | 13.59 |
| 2030 | 26,48,209 | 14.12 |
| 2031 | 26,58,215 | 14.55 |
| 2032 | 26,66,627 | 14.91 |
| 2033 | 26,75,094 | 15.28 |
| 2034 | 26,83,451 | 15.64 |
| 2035 | 26,91,917 | 16.00 |
| 2036 | 27,00,329 | 16.37 |
- Population: growing slowly
- Annual growth around 0.45 percent
- Numbers cross 27 lakh by 2036
- Male share is slightly higher
Sex Ratio and Child Population Details
| Overall sex ratio (f/1000 m) 2011 | 957 |
| Sex ratio 2001 (f/1000 m) | 953 |
| Child sex ratio 2011 (0-6 years) | 943 |
| Child sex ratio 2001 (0-6 years) | 944 |
| Total child population 0-6 (2011) | 2,88,672 |
| Male child population 0-6 | 1,48,565 |
| Female child population 0-6 | 1,40,107 |
| Child population share 0-6 (%) | 12.44 |
Sex Ratio: Urban and Rural
| Category | Sex ratio (f/1000 m) |
| Total | 957 |
| Urban | 959 |
| Rural | 957 |
- Sex ratio is above national average
- About one eighth are children
- Urban and rural sex ratio are similar
- Child ratio improved slightly
Literacy Rate, Male Literacy and Female Literacy
| Average literacy rate 2011 (%) | 79.79 |
| Male literacy rate 2011 (%) | 87.00 |
| Female literacy rate 2011 (%) | 72.28 |
| Average literacy 2001 (%) | 70.56 |
| Male literacy 2001 (%) | 81.69 |
| Female literacy 2001 (%) | 58.90 |
| Total literates 2011 | 16,21,232 |
| Male literates 2011 | 9,02,359 |
| Female literates 2011 | 7,18,873 |
Urban and Rural Literacy Profile
| Category | Average literacy (%) |
| Total population | 79.79 |
| Urban area | 84.67 |
| Rural area | 79.18 |
Literacy Rate by Religion
| Religion | Average literacy (%) |
| Hindu | 80.42 |
| Muslim | 69.82 |
| Other religions and persuasions | 51.10 |
| Christian | 85.75 |
- Literacy is above national level
- Male literacy is higher than female
- Urban literacy is very high
- Christian and Hindu literacy are strong
Urban and Rural Population, Density and Households
| Category | Rural | Urban |
| Total population | 20,67,236 | 2,53,293 |
| Male population | 10,56,466 | 1,29,321 |
| Female population | 10,10,770 | 1,23,972 |
| Population share (%) | 89.08 | 10.92 |
| Sex ratio (f/1000 m) | 957 | 959 |
| Child population 0-6 | 2,60,819 | 27,853 |
| Male child 0-6 | 1,34,260 | 14,305 |
| Female child 0-6 | 1,26,559 | 13,548 |
| Child percentage (%) | 12.62 | 11.00 |
| Literates | 14,30,341 | 1,90,891 |
| Male literates | 7,99,882 | 1,02,477 |
| Female literates | 6,30,459 | 88,414 |
| Average literacy (%) | 79.18 | 84.67 |
| Male literacy (%) | 86.74 | 89.10 |
| Female literacy (%) | 71.42 | 80.26 |
Area, Density and Households
| District area (sq km) | 3,806 |
| Area 2001 (sq km) | 3,805 |
| Population density 2011 (per sq km) | 610 |
| Population density 2001 (per sq km) | 533 |
| Total households | 5,33,001 |
| Houseless families | 1,974 |
| Houseless population | 7,942 |
| Number of towns | 13 |
| Villages | 1,077 |
- Most people live in villages
- Density is high due to coastal plain
- Houseless families are limited
- Urban area is small but dense
Religion-wise Population and Demographics
| Religion | Population | Share (%) |
| Hindu | 21,97,679 | 94.71 |
| Muslim | 1,11,420 | 4.80 |
| Other religions and persuasions | 1,530 | 0.07 |
| Christian | 539 | 0.02 |
| Buddhist | 3,104 | 0.13 |
| Sikh | 4,057 | 0.18 |
| Jain | 1,168 | 0.05 |
| Religion not stated | 1,112 | 0.05 |
Sex Ratio by Religion
| Religion | Sex ratio (f/1000 m) |
| Hindu | 960 |
| Muslim | 918 |
| Other religions and persuasions | 943 |
| Christian | 959 |
- Hindu community forms clear majority
- Muslim share is second largest
- Other faith groups are small
- Sex ratio is slightly below 960
SC and ST Population and Demographics
| SC population | 2,70,170 |
| SC male population | 1,38,011 |
| SC female population | 1,32,159 |
| SC share in population (%) | 11.64 |
| SC sex ratio (f/1000 m) | 956 |
| ST population | 1,485 |
| ST male population | 768 |
| ST female population | 717 |
| ST share in population (%) | 0.06 |
| ST sex ratio (f/1000 m) | 934 |
- SC population is notable in size
- ST share is very small
- SC sex ratio is near balance
- Tribal groups are limited in number
Workforce and Economic Activity
| Total workers | 8,45,179 |
| Male workers | 5,59,860 |
| Female workers | 2,85,319 |
| Workers share in population (%) | 36.42 |
- Population: many are working
- More men work than women
- Agriculture and related work is key
- Service sector is growing
City List, Towns and Administrative Divisions
| Urban agglomerations | 1 urban agglomeration |
| Cities | 1 city (Balasore urban agglomeration) |
| Towns | 13 towns reported |
| Villages | 1,077 |
Sub-districts, Taluks and Villages
| Sub-districts / Tahsils | 6 sub-districts |
| Taluks and blocks | 11 blocks |
| Villages | 1,077 |
- District is mainly rural
- One main city and few towns
- Villages cover coastal and inland
- Local bodies manage village life
Languages and Cultural Profile
| Main spoken language | Odia and related local languages |
| Other common languages | Hindi, Bengali, and nearby regional tongues |
| Language share data | Detailed % not given |
- Odia is common home language
- Bengali is heard in border areas
- Festivals and songs are popular
- Culture is mixed coastal and agrarian
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the population of Baleshwar in 2011: It is 23,20,529 people
- What is the estimated population of Baleshwar in 2026: It is about 25,99,277 people
- What is the literacy rate of Baleshwar district: It is around 79.79 percent
- What is the sex ratio in Baleshwar district: It is about 957 females per 1,000 males
- Which religion is major in Baleshwar district: Hindu community has the largest share