The East Garo Hills district of Meghalaya had a population of about 3,17,917 in 2011 and it is expected to grow steadily to reach a population of around 3,94,013 by 2036, which is roughly 3,65,024 people by 2025. It has an area of 2,603 sq km and a population density of about 122 persons per sq km. The sex ratio is close to 972 females per 1,000 males and the literacy rate is around 73.95 percent. The child sex ratio is 980 girls per 1,000 boys. The major religion is Christian with about 91.13 percent share and Garo‑Kachari and related local tongues are the main language spoken by most people. The district population is 13.90 percent urban and 86.10 percent rural, and East Garo Hills accounts for about 10.72 percent of the total state population. There are a total of about 58,328 households in the district.
Quick Overview of District Census 2021
| District name | East Garo Hills |
| State | Meghalaya |
| Population 2011 | 3,17,917 |
| Estimated population 2025 | 3,65,024 |
| Estimated population 2026 | 3,68,115 |
| Area (sq km) | 2,603 |
| Population density (per sq km) | 122 |
| Sex ratio (females per 1000 males) | 972 |
| Child sex ratio (0-6 years) | 980 |
| Average literacy rate (%) | 73.95 |
| Urban population share (%) | 13.90 |
| Rural population share (%) | 86.10 |
| Total households | 58,328 |
- Total population is growing
- Most people live in villages
- Literacy level is above national average
- Christian share is very high
Population and Demographics Profile
| Total population 2011 | 3,17,917 |
| Male population 2011 | 1,61,223 |
| Female population 2011 | 1,56,694 |
| Population 2001 | 2,50,582 |
| Male population 2001 | 1,27,474 |
| Female population 2001 | 1,23,108 |
| Population growth 2001–2011 (%) | 26.87 |
| Population share in state 2011 (%) | 10.72 |
| Population share in state 2001 (%) | 10.81 |
- Population grew by about one fourth
- Male and female numbers are close
- Growth was strong after 1991
- District holds steady share in state
Historic Census Data 1901–2011
| Census year | Total population | Variation % |
| 1901 | 35,515 | – |
| 1911 | 40,820 | 14.95 |
| 1921 | 45,990 | 12.64 |
| 1931 | 49,040 | 6.63 |
| 1941 | 57,420 | 17.11 |
| 1951 | 62,180 | 8.28 |
| 1961 | 78,910 | 26.91 |
| 1971 | 1,03,630 | 31.22 |
| 1981 | 1,38,250 | 33.10 |
| 1991 | 1,90,870 | 38.27 |
| 2001 | 2,50,582 | 32.45 |
| 2011 | 3,17,917 | 26.87 |
- Population grew in every decade
- Big jump came around 1991
- Average growth is about 22.5 percent
- From 35k to 3.18 lakh people
Population Projections up to 2036
| Year | Estimated population |
| 2011 | 3,17,917 |
| 2021 | 3,90,500 |
| 2022 | 3,98,100 |
| 2023 | 4,04,600 |
| 2024 | 4,10,300 |
| 2025 | 3,65,024 |
| 2026 | 3,68,115 |
| 2027 | 3,70,992 |
| 2028 | 3,73,977 |
| 2029 | 3,76,854 |
| 2030 | 3,79,838 |
| 2031 | 3,82,396 |
| 2032 | 3,84,741 |
| 2033 | 3,87,085 |
| 2034 | 3,89,430 |
| 2035 | 3,91,668 |
| 2036 | 3,94,013 |
- Population: growing slowly
- Annual growth near 0.8 percent
- Numbers cross 3.9 lakh by 2036
- Share in state population stays steady
Sex Ratio and Child Population Details
| Overall sex ratio (f/1000 m) 2011 | 972 |
| Sex ratio 2001 (f/1000 m) | 966 |
| Child sex ratio 2011 (0-6 years) | 980 |
| Child sex ratio 2001 (0-6 years) | 971 |
| Total child population 0-6 (2011) | 58,071 |
| Male child population 0-6 | 29,328 |
| Female child population 0-6 | 28,743 |
| Child population share 0-6 (%) | 18.27 |
Sex Ratio: Urban and Rural
| Category | Sex ratio (f/1000 m) |
| Total | 972 |
| Urban | 968 |
| Rural | 973 |
- Sex ratio is above national average
- About one fifth are children
- Urban sex ratio is slightly lower
- Child ratio has improved slightly
Literacy Rate, Male Literacy and Female Literacy
| Average literacy rate 2011 (%) | 73.95 |
| Male literacy rate 2011 (%) | 77.72 |
| Female literacy rate 2011 (%) | 70.05 |
| Average literacy 2001 (%) | 60.59 |
| Male literacy 2001 (%) | 66.12 |
| Female literacy 2001 (%) | 54.84 |
| Total literates 2011 | 1,92,147 |
| Male literates 2011 | 1,02,513 |
| Female literates 2011 | 89,634 |
Urban and Rural Literacy Profile
| Category | Average literacy (%) |
| Total population | 73.95 |
| Urban area | 90.18 |
| Rural area | 71.17 |
Literacy Rate by Religion
| Religion | Average literacy (%) |
| Christian | 74.70 |
| Hindu | 76.22 |
| Other religions and persuasions | 32.32 |
| Muslim | 62.90 |
- Literacy is above national level
- Male literacy is higher than female
- Urban literacy is very high
- Christian literacy is strong
Urban and Rural Population, Density and Households
| Category | Rural | Urban |
| Total population | 2,73,725 | 44,192 |
| Male population | 1,38,763 | 22,460 |
| Female population | 1,34,962 | 21,732 |
| Population share (%) | 86.10 | 13.90 |
| Sex ratio (f/1000 m) | 973 | 968 |
| Child population 0-6 | 51,865 | 6,206 |
| Male child 0-6 | 26,266 | 3,062 |
| Female child 0-6 | 25,599 | 3,144 |
| Child percentage (%) | 18.93 | 13.63 |
| Literates | 1,57,893 | 34,254 |
| Male literates | 84,705 | 17,808 |
| Female literates | 73,188 | 16,446 |
| Average literacy (%) | 71.17 | 90.18 |
| Male literacy (%) | 75.30 | 91.80 |
| Female literacy (%) | 66.92 | 88.48 |
Area, Density and Households
| District area (sq km) |
| 2,603 |
| Population density 2011 (per sq km) | 122 |
| Population density 2001 (per sq km) | 97 |
| Total households | 58,328 |
| Houseless families | 6 |
| Houseless population | 18 |
| Number of towns | 1 |
| Number of villages | 537 |
- Most people live in villages
- Density is moderate in hills
- Houseless families are almost nil
- Urban area is small but dense
Religion-wise Population and Demographics
| Religion | Population | Share (%) |
| Christian | 2,89,723 | 91.13 |
| Hindu | 15,202 | 4.78 |
| Other religions and persuasions | 9,262 | 2.91 |
| Muslim | 2,663 | 0.84 |
| Buddhist | 1,064 | 0.34 |
| Sikh | 10 | 0.00 |
| Jain | 23 | 0.01 |
| Religion not stated | 99 | 0.03 |
Sex Ratio by Religion
| Religion | Sex ratio (f/1000 m) |
| Christian | 976 |
| Hindu | 942 |
| Other religions and persuasions | 974 |
| Muslim | 832 |
- Christian community forms clear majority
- Hindu and other groups are small
- Sex ratio is better than before
- Religious mix is less diverse
SC, ST and Social Group Population
| SC population | 2,131 |
| SC male population | 1,064 |
| SC female population | 1,067 |
| SC share in population (%) | 0.67 |
| SC sex ratio (f/1000 m) | 1,004 |
| ST population | 2,81,022 |
| ST male population | 1,41,801 |
| ST female population | 1,39,221 |
| ST share in population (%) | 88.39 |
| ST sex ratio (f/1000 m) | 982 |
- ST population forms strong majority
- SC share is very small
- ST sex ratio is slightly below 1000
- Tribal groups shape local culture
Workforce and Economic Activity
| Total workers | 1,31,022 |
| Male workers | 69,102 |
| Female workers | 61,920 |
| Workers share in population (%) | 41.21 |
- Population: many are working
- More men work than women
- Farm work is still key
- Service and small trade growing
City List, Towns and Administrative Divisions
| Urban agglomerations | No city agglomeration listed |
| Cities | No city data given |
| Towns | 1 town reported |
| Villages | 537 |
Sub-districts, Taluks and Villages
| Sub-districts / Tahsils | Not listed in given data |
| Taluks and blocks | Information not detailed |
| Villages | 537 |
- District is mainly rural
- One town acts as centre
- Villages are spread across hills
- Local bodies manage village life
Languages and Cultural Profile
| Main spoken language | Garo‑Kachari and local tongues |
| Other common languages | English and nearby regional languages |
| Language share data | Detailed % not given |
- Garo language is common at home
- Many youths know English
- Festivals and songs are popular
- Culture is closely tied to tribes
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the population of East Garo Hills in 2011: It is 3,17,917 people
- What is the estimated population of East Garo Hills in 2026: It is about 3,68,115 people
- What is the literacy rate of East Garo Hills district: It is around 73.95 percent
- What is the sex ratio in East Garo Hills district: It is about 972 females per 1,000 males
- Which religion is major in East Garo Hills district: Christian community has the largest share