Dhule district overview
The Dhule district of Maharashtra had a population of about 20.51 lakh in 2011 and it is expected to grow steadily to reach a population of around 23.53 lakh by 2026. It has an area of 7,195 sq km and population density of 285 persons per sq km. The sex ratio is close to 946 females per 1000 males and the literacy rate is around 72.80. The child sex ratio is 898 girls per 1000 boys. The major religion is Hindu with about 89.01% and Marathi is the main language spoken by large share of people. The district population is about 27.84% urban and 72.16% rural, and villages account for most of the total population. There are a total of about 4.09 lakh households in the district.
Quick Overview of District Census 2021
| Indicator | Value |
| Total population 2011 | 20,50,862 |
| Male population 2011 | 10,54,031 |
| Female population 2011 | 9,96,831 |
| Sex ratio 2011 | 946 |
| Child sex ratio 0–6 | 898 |
| Average literacy 2011 | 72.80% |
| Male literacy 2011 | 79.50% |
| Female literacy 2011 | 65.77% |
| Area (sq km) | 7,195 |
| Population density (2011) | 285 per sq km |
Population and projections up to 2036
| Year | Projected population | Growth since 2011 |
| 2011 | 20,50,862 | – |
| 2025 | 23,37,093 | 13.96% |
| 2026 | 23,53,211 | 14.74% |
| 2027 | 23,68,242 | 15.48% |
| 2028 | 23,83,272 | 16.21% |
| 2029 | 23,98,284 | 16.94% |
| 2030 | 24,13,315 | 17.67% |
| 2031 | 24,26,568 | 18.32% |
| 2032 | 24,38,589 | 18.91% |
| 2033 | 24,50,610 | 19.49% |
| 2034 | 24,62,612 | 20.08% |
| 2035 | 24,74,633 | 20.66% |
| 2036 | 24,86,636 | 21.25% |
Sex ratio and child population
| Category | Value |
| Total sex ratio (females/1000 males) | 946 |
| Urban sex ratio | 935 |
| Rural sex ratio | 950 |
| Child sex ratio 0–6 | 898 |
| Urban child sex ratio 0–6 | 872 |
| Rural child sex ratio 0–6 | 906 |
| Total child population 0–6 | 2,73,507 |
| Male child 0–6 | 1,44,121 |
| Female child 0–6 | 1,29,386 |
| Child share of total population | 13.34% |
Literacy and education levels
| Category | Average literacy | Male literacy | Female literacy |
| Total population | 72.80% | 79.50% | 65.77% |
| Urban areas | 86.68% | 90.29% | 82.85% |
| Rural areas | 67.31% | 75.21% | 59.07% |
- Literacy is slightly below national average in Dhule
- Male literacy is higher than female literacy in both town and village
- Urban areas show much better literacy than rural areas
Religion and literacy by religion
| Religion | Population | Percentage |
| Hindu | 18,25,460 | 89.01% |
| Muslim | 1,87,901 | 9.16% |
| Buddhist | 13,405 | 0.65% |
| Jain | 12,818 | 0.63% |
| Religion not stated | 5,291 | 0.26% |
| Christian | 3,653 | 0.18% |
| Sikh | 1,422 | 0.07% |
| Other religions and persuasions | 912 | 0.04% |
| Religion | Average literacy | Male literacy | Female literacy |
| Hindu | 71.51% | 78.51% | 64.16% |
| Muslim | 83.53% | 87.76% | 79.18% |
| Buddhist | 79.01% | 87.10% | 70.76% |
| Jain | 95.44% | 95.83% | 95.02% |
Caste (SC/ST) and sex ratio by religion
| Caste group | Population | Percentage of total |
| Scheduled Castes (SC) | 1,27,571 | 6.22% |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 6,47,315 | 31.56% |
| Religion | Sex ratio |
| Hindu | 944 |
| Muslim | 971 |
| Buddhist | 963 |
| Jain | 938 |
Urban–rural, area and household data
| Category | Population | Share of total |
| Urban population | 5,71,036 | 27.84% |
| Rural population | 14,79,826 | 72.16% |
| Indicator | Value |
| Total area (sq km) | 7,195 |
| Population density (persons per sq km) | 285 |
| Total households | 4,08,874 |
| Total towns | 8 |
| Total villages | 678 |
Workforce and employment profile
| Indicator | Value |
| Total workers | 9,36,370 |
| Male workers | 5,70,448 |
| Female workers | 3,65,922 |
| Workers as % of total population | 45.66% |
- About two in five people are working in some job
- Male workers are more than female workers
- Many families depend on farming and village‑based trade
Historic census growth 1901–2011
| Census year | Population | Variation % |
| 1901 | 2,57,194 | 0.00% |
| 1911 | 3,21,000 | 24.77% |
| 1921 | 3,41,000 | 6.20% |
| 1931 | 4,10,000 | 20.33% |
| 1941 | 4,85,000 | 18.29% |
| 1951 | 6,08,000 | 25.36% |
| 1961 | 7,85,000 | 29.13% |
| 1971 | 9,70,000 | 23.49% |
| 1981 | 12,02,000 | 23.98% |
| 1991 | 14,73,000 | 22.53% |
| 2001 | 17,08,000 | 15.94% |
| 2011 | 20,51,000 | 20.08% |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: What is the total population of Dhule district in 2026? Answer: About 23.53 lakh.
- Question: What is the literacy rate of Dhule district in 2011? Answer: Around 72.80%.
- Question: What is the sex ratio in Dhule district? Answer: About 946 females per 1000 males.
- Question: Which religion has the largest share in Dhule district? Answer: Hindu with about 89.01%.
- Question: What is the rural–urban split in Dhule district? Answer: Around 72% rural and 28% urban.