The Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya had a population of about 3,95,124 in 2011 and it is expected to grow steadily to reach a population of around 4,53,671 by 2025. It has an area of 3,819 sq km and a population density of about 103 persons per sq km. The sex ratio is close to 1,014 females per 1,000 males and the literacy rate is around 61.64 percent. The child sex ratio is 976 girls per 1,000 boys. The major religion is Christian with about 68.74 percent share and Khasi‑Pnar and other local tongues are the main languages spoken by most people. The district population is roughly 7.20 percent urban and 92.80 percent rural, and Jaintia Hills accounts for about 13.32 percent of the total state population. There are a total of about 66,028 households in the district.
Quick Overview of District Census 2021
| District name | Jaintia Hills |
| State | Meghalaya |
| Population 2011 | 3,95,124 |
| Estimated population 2025 | 4,53,671 |
| Estimated population 2026 | 4,57,513 |
| Area (sq km) | 3,819 |
| Population density (per sq km) | 103 |
| Sex ratio (females per 1000 males) | 1,014 |
| Child sex ratio (0-6 years) | 976 |
| Average literacy rate (%) | 61.64 |
| Urban population share (%) | 7.20 |
| Rural population share (%) | 92.80 |
| Total households | 66,028 |
- Total population is growing
- Most people live in villages
- Literacy level is moderate
- Child share is above 20 percent
Population and Demographics Profile
| Total population 2011 | 3,95,124 |
| Male population 2011 | 1,96,285 |
| Female population 2011 | 1,98,839 |
| Population 2001 | 2,99,108 |
| Male population 2001 | 1,49,891 |
| Female population 2001 | 1,49,217 |
| Population growth 2001–2011 (%) | 32.10 |
| Population share in state 2011 (%) | 13.32 |
| Population share in state 2001 (%) | 12.90 |
- Population grew by about one third
- Female count is slightly higher
- District holds strong share in state
- Growth slowed a bit after 2001
Historic Census Population Data 1901–2011
| Census year | Total population | Variation % |
| 1901 | 35,950 | – |
| 1911 | 41,780 | 16.23 |
| 1921 | 43,240 | 3.49 |
| 1931 | 51,530 | 19.18 |
| 1941 | 59,060 | 14.60 |
| 1951 | 64,630 | 9.43 |
| 1961 | 82,150 | 27.11 |
| 1971 | 1,13,960 | 38.24 |
| 1981 | 1,56,400 | 37.72 |
| 1991 | 2,19,990 | 40.97 |
| 2001 | 2,99,108 | 35.67 |
| 2011 | 3,95,124 | 32.10 |
- Population rose in every decade
- Big jump came around 1991
- Growth stayed strong after 1961
- From 36k to 3.95 lakh people
Population Projections up to 2036
| Year | Estimated population |
| 2011 | 3,95,124 |
| 2025 | 4,53,671 |
| 2026 | 4,57,513 |
| 2027 | 4,61,089 |
| 2028 | 4,64,798 |
| 2029 | 4,68,374 |
| 2030 | 4,72,083 |
| 2031 | 4,75,262 |
| 2032 | 4,78,176 |
| 2033 | 4,81,090 |
| 2034 | 4,84,004 |
| 2035 | 4,86,786 |
| 2036 | 4,89,700 |
- Population: growing slowly
- Growth rate is under 1 percent yearly
- Numbers cross 4.8 lakh by 2036
- Female share in total is rising
Sex Ratio and Child Population Details
| Overall sex ratio (f/1000 m) 2011 | 1,014 |
| Sex ratio 2001 (f/1000 m) | 996 |
| Child sex ratio 2011 (0-6 years) | 976 |
| Child sex ratio 2001 (0-6 years) | 995 |
| Total child population 0-6 (2011) | 90,911 |
| Male child population 0-6 | 46,011 |
| Female child population 0-6 | 44,900 |
| Child population share 0-6 (%) | 23.01 |
Sex Ratio: Urban and Rural
| Category | Sex ratio (f/1000 m) |
| Total | 1,014 |
| Urban | 1,079 |
| Rural | 1,009 |
- Sex ratio is above 1000
- More than one fifth are children
- Urban sex ratio is higher
- Gap slightly narrowed since 2001
Literacy Rate, Male Literacy and Female Literacy
| Average literacy rate 2011 (%) | 61.64 |
| Male literacy rate 2011 (%) | 58.14 |
| Female literacy rate 2011 (%) | 65.06 |
| Average literacy 2001 (%) | 51.87 |
| Male literacy 2001 (%) | 50.08 |
| Female literacy 2001 (%) | 53.67 |
| Total literates 2011 | 1,87,527 |
| Male literates 2011 | 87,371 |
| Female literates 2011 | 1,00,156 |
Urban and Rural Literacy Profile
| Category | Average literacy (%) |
| Total population | 61.64 |
| Urban area | 91.10 |
| Rural area | 59.05 |
Literacy Rate by Religion
| Religion | Average literacy (%) |
| Christian | 64.77 |
| Other religions and persuasions | 53.36 |
| Hindu | 61.82 |
| Muslim | 69.94 |
- Literacy has improved over time
- Female literacy is higher than male
- Urban literacy is very high
- Christian literacy is above average
Urban and Rural Population, Density and Households
| Category | Rural | Urban |
| Total population | 3,66,694 | 28,430 |
| Male population | 1,82,610 | 13,675 |
| Female population | 1,84,084 | 14,755 |
| Population share (%) | 92.80 | 7.20 |
| Sex ratio (f/1000 m) | 1,009 | 1,079 |
| Child population 0-6 | 87,054 | 3,857 |
| Male child 0-6 | 44,053 | 1,958 |
| Female child 0-6 | 43,001 | 1,899 |
| Child percentage (%) | 24.12 | 13.57 |
| Literates | 1,65,140 | 22,387 |
| Male literates | 76,611 | 10,760 |
| Female literates | 88,529 | 11,627 |
| Average literacy (%) | 59.05 | 91.10 |
| Male literacy (%) | 55.29 | 91.83 |
| Female literacy (%) | 62.75 | 90.44 |
Area, Density and Households
| District area (sq km) | 3,819 |
| Population density 2011 (per sq km) | 103 |
| Population density 2001 (per sq km) | 78 |
| Total households | 66,028 |
| Houseless families | 20 |
| Houseless population | 92 |
| Number of towns | 0 |
| Number of villages | 497 |
- Most people live in villages
- Population density is low
- Houseless families are very few
- Urban share has begun to rise
Religion-wise Population and Demographics
| Religion | Population | Share (%) |
| Christian | 2,71,622 | 68.74 |
| Hindu | 71,128 | 17.99 |
| Muslim | 27,132 | 6.86 |
| Other religions and persuasions | 20,622 | 5.22 |
| Buddhist | 1,923 | 0.49 |
| Sikh | 2,071 | 0.52 |
| Jain | 42 | 0.01 |
| Religion not stated | 684 | 0.17 |
Sex Ratio by Religion
| Religion | Sex ratio (f/1000 m) |
| Christian | 1,021 |
| Hindu | 1,102 |
| Muslim | 940 |
| Other religions and persuasions | 1,014 |
- Christian community forms clear majority
- Hindu share is second largest
- Other faith groups are small
- Sex ratio is better than state average
SC, ST and Social Group Population
| SC population | 3,420 |
| SC male population | 1,714 |
| SC female population | 1,706 |
| SC share in population (%) | 0.87 |
| SC sex ratio (f/1000 m) | 995 |
| ST population | 3,42,122 |
| ST male population | 1,69,021 |
| ST female population | 1,73,101 |
| ST share in population (%) | 86.58 |
| ST sex ratio (f/1000 m) | 1,024 |
- ST population forms strong majority
- SC share is very small
- ST sex ratio is above 1000
- Tribal groups shape local culture
Workforce and Economic Activity
| Total workers | 1,52,229 |
| Male workers | 85,022 |
| Female workers | 67,207 |
| Workers share in population (%) | 38.53 |
- Population: many are working
- More men work than women
- Agriculture is main source
- Service sector is slowly growing
City List, Towns and Administrative Divisions
| Urban agglomerations | No city agglomeration listed |
| Cities | No city data given |
| Towns | 0 towns reported |
| Villages | 497 |
Sub-districts, Taluks and Villages
| Sub-districts / Tahsils | Not listed in given data |
| Taluks and blocks | Information not detailed |
| Villages | 497 |
- District is mainly rural
- Few formal towns exist
- Villages spread across hills
- Local bodies manage village life
Languages and Cultural Profile
| Main spoken language | Khasi‑Pnar and local tongues |
| Other common languages | English and nearby regional languages |
| Language share data | Detailed % not given |
- Khasi‑Pnar 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 Jaintia Hills in 2011: It is 3,95,124 people
- What is the estimated population of Jaintia Hills in 2026: It is about 4,57,513 people
- What is the literacy rate of Jaintia Hills district: It is around 61.64 percent
- What is the sex ratio in Jaintia Hills district: It is about 1,014 females per 1,000 males
- Which religion is major in Jaintia Hills district: Christian community has the largest share