The East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya had a population of about 8,25,922 in 2011 and it is expected to grow steadily to reach around 9,56,331 people by 2026. It has an area of 2,748 sq km and a population density of nearly 301 persons per sq km. The sex ratio is close to 1,011 females per 1,000 males and the literacy rate is around 84.15 percent. The child sex ratio is 964 girls per 1,000 boys. The major religion is Christian with about 65.79 percent share and Khasi is the main language spoken by most local people. The district population is 44.37 percent urban and 55.63 percent rural, and East Khasi Hills accounts for about 27.84 percent of the total state population. There are a total of around 1,64,046 households in the district.
Quick Overview of District Census 2021
| District name | East Khasi Hills |
| State | Meghalaya |
| Population 2011 | 8,25,922 |
| Estimated population 2025 | 9,48,302 |
| Estimated population 2026 | 9,56,331 |
| Area (sq km) | 2,748 |
| Population density (per sq km) | 301 |
| Sex ratio (females per 1000 males) | 1,011 |
| Child sex ratio (0-6 years) | 964 |
| Average literacy rate (%) | 84.15 |
| Urban population share (%) | 44.37 |
| Rural population share (%) | 55.63 |
| Total households | 1,64,046 |
- Total population is rising
- More people live in villages
- Literacy rate is high
- Christian population is dominant
Population and Demographics Profile
| Total population 2011 | 8,25,922 |
| Male population 2011 | 4,10,749 |
| Female population 2011 | 4,15,173 |
| Population 2001 | 6,60,923 |
| Male population 2001 | 3,33,553 |
| Female population 2001 | 3,27,370 |
| Population growth 2001–2011 (%) | 24.96 |
| Population proportion in state 2011 (%) | 27.84 |
| Population proportion in state 2001 (%) | 28.50 |
- Population has grown fast
- Female count is slightly higher
- Share in state is large
- Growth rate is near 25 percent
Historic Census Population Data (1901–2011)
| Census year | Total population | Variation % |
| 1901 | 1,10,556 | NA |
| 1911 | 1,28,496 | 16.23 |
| 1921 | 1,32,975 | 3.49 |
| 1931 | 1,58,483 | 19.18 |
| 1941 | 1,81,620 | 14.60 |
| 1951 | 1,98,755 | 9.43 |
| 1961 | 2,52,627 | 27.10 |
| 1971 | 3,26,527 | 29.25 |
| 1981 | 4,09,578 | 25.43 |
| 1991 | 5,35,555 | 30.76 |
| 2001 | 6,60,923 | 23.41 |
| 2011 | 8,25,922 | 24.96 |
- Population rose in every decade
- Big jump came around 1991
- Growth stayed strong after 1971
- District gained people over time
Population Projections and Growth up to 2036
| Year | Estimated population |
| 2011 | 8,25,922 |
| 2021 | 10,01,100 |
| 2022 | 10,19,200 |
| 2023 | 10,34,800 |
| 2024 | 10,48,300 |
| 2025 | 9,48,302 |
| 2026 | 9,56,331 |
| 2027 | 9,63,807 |
| 2028 | 9,71,559 |
| 2029 | 9,79,035 |
| 2030 | 9,86,788 |
| 2031 | 9,93,433 |
| 2032 | 9,99,524 |
| 2033 | 10,05,615 |
| 2034 | 10,11,706 |
| 2035 | 10,17,521 |
| 2036 | 10,23,612 |
- Population is projected to grow
- Growth rate is moderate
- Numbers cross 10 lakh by 2036
- District size stays same
Sex Ratio and Child Population Details
| Overall sex ratio (f/1000 m) | 1,011 |
| Sex ratio 2001 (f/1000 m) | 981 |
| Child sex ratio 2011 (0-6 years) | 964 |
| Child sex ratio 2001 (0-6 years) | 972 |
| Total child population 0-6 | 1,39,055 |
| Male child population 0-6 | 70,805 |
| Female child population 0-6 | 68,250 |
| Child population share 0-6 (%) | 16.84 |
- Sex ratio is above 1000
- Child share is near 17 percent
- Girl child ratio is slightly lower
- Child count is over one lakh
Literacy, Education and Religion-wise Literacy
| Average literacy rate (%) | 84.15 |
| Male literacy rate (%) | 84.51 |
| Female literacy rate (%) | 83.81 |
| Total literates | 5,78,030 |
| Male literates | 2,87,270 |
| Female literates | 2,90,760 |
Literacy Rate by Religion
| Religion | Average literacy (%) | Male/Female literacy (%) |
| Christian | 85.25 | 84.77 / 85.69 |
| Hindu | 86.63 | 90.40 / 82.08 |
| Other religions | 75.23 | 73.48 / 76.97 |
| Muslim | 84.48 | 87.23 / 80.54 |
- Literacy is higher than national level
- Male and female literacy are close
- Urban literacy is very high
- Rural literacy is lower but good
Religion-wise Population and Demographics
| Religion | Population | Share (%) |
| Christian | 5,43,394 | 65.79 |
| Hindu | 1,44,935 | 17.55 |
| Other religions and persuasions | 1,15,597 | 14.00 |
| Muslim | 14,185 | 1.72 |
| Buddhist | 3,111 | 0.38 |
| Sikh | 2,495 | 0.30 |
| Religion not stated | 1,902 | 0.23 |
| Jain | 303 | 0.04 |
Sex Ratio by Religion
| Religion | Sex ratio (f/1000 m) |
| Christian | 1,077 |
| Hindu | 838 |
| Other religions and persuasions | 997 |
| Muslim | 721 |
- Christian people form clear majority
- Hindu share is second highest
- Other local faiths also strong
- Muslim and other groups are small
SC, ST and Social Group Population
| SC population | 5,642 |
| SC male population | 2,924 |
| SC female population | 2,718 |
| SC share in population (%) | 0.68 |
| SC sex ratio (f/1000 m) | 930 |
| ST population | 6,61,158 |
| ST male population | 3,20,048 |
| ST female population | 3,41,110 |
| ST share in population (%) | 80.05 |
| ST sex ratio (f/1000 m) | 1,066 |
- ST population is very high
- SC share is very small
- ST sex ratio is above 1000
- Tribal people shape local culture
Urban and Rural Population, Literacy and Sex Ratio
| Category | Rural | Urban |
| Total population | 4,59,441 | 3,66,481 |
| Male population | 2,28,409 | 1,82,340 |
| Female population | 2,31,032 | 1,84,141 |
| Population share (%) | 55.63 | 44.37 |
| Sex ratio (f/1000 m) | 1,012 | 1,010 |
| Child population 0-6 | 95,328 | 43,727 |
| Male child 0-6 | 48,233 | 22,572 |
| Female child 0-6 | 47,095 | 21,155 |
| Child percentage (%) | 20.75 | 11.93 |
| Literates | 2,83,008 | 2,95,022 |
| Male literates | 1,38,245 | 1,49,025 |
| Female literates | 1,44,763 | 1,45,997 |
| Average literacy (%) | 77.73 | 91.41 |
| Male literacy (%) | 76.73 | 93.28 |
| Female literacy (%) | 78.70 | 89.58 |
Overall Sex Ratio and Literacy Summary
| Indicator | Value |
| Overall sex ratio | 1,011 |
| Urban sex ratio | 1,010 |
| Rural sex ratio | 1,012 |
| Overall literacy (%) | 84.15 |
| Urban literacy (%) | 91.41 |
| Rural literacy (%) | 77.73 |
- Urban areas show very high literacy
- Rural areas hold more people
- Sex ratio is healthy in both parts
- Child share is higher in villages
Area, Density, Households and Administrative Units
| District area (sq km) | 2,748 |
| Area 2001 (sq km) | 2,820 |
| Population density 2011 (per sq km) | 301 |
| Population density 2001 (per sq km) | 234 |
| Total households | 1,64,046 |
| Houseless families | 70 |
| Houseless population | 232 |
| Number of towns | 13 |
| Number of villages | 975 |
- District area is moderate in size
- Density has increased since 2001
- Village count is very high
- Few families live without roof
Workforce and Economic Activity Profile
| Total workers | 3,26,786 |
| Male workers | 2,04,303 |
| Female workers | 1,22,483 |
| Workers share in population (%) | 39.57 |
- Workforce share is near 40 percent
- More men are working than women
- Many people depend on local jobs
- Rural work still plays key role
Major City, Towns and Urban Centres
| Urban unit | Type | Population |
| Shillong (Urban Agglomeration) | Urban agglomeration | 3,54,759 |
| Shillong (Municipal Board) | City | 1,43,229 |
- Shillong is main urban centre
- Most urban people live near Shillong
- District has many small towns
- Urban zone drives service jobs
Subdistricts, Taluks and Administrative Divisions
| Subdistricts / Tahsils (count) | Data not specified |
| Block and taluk details | Not listed in given data |
| Administrative structure | District, towns and villages |
- District is split into smaller units
- Towns act as local hubs
- Villages cover most land area
- Rural bodies manage basic services
Languages and Cultural Profile
| Main spoken language | Khasi |
| Other local languages | English and regional tongues |
| Language share data | Detailed % not given |
- Khasi is common home language
- Many people also know English
- Local culture is strong in hills
- Festivals link with tribal groups
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the population of East Khasi Hills district 2011: It is 8,25,922 people
- What is the estimated population of East Khasi Hills in 2026: It is about 9,56,331 people
- What is the literacy rate of East Khasi Hills district: It is around 84.15 percent
- What is the sex ratio in East Khasi Hills district: It is about 1,011 females per 1,000 males
- Which religion is major in East Khasi Hills district: Christian community has the largest share