The Kolhapur district of Maharashtra had a population of about 38.76 lakh in 2011 and it is expected to grow steadily to reach a population of around 44.47 lakh by 2026. It has an area of 7,685 sq km and a population density of 504 persons per sq km. The sex ratio is close to 957 females per 1000 males and the literacy rate is around 81.51%. The child sex ratio is 863 girls per 1000 boys. The major religion is Hindu with about 87.2% share and Marathi is the main language spoken by most people. The district population is roughly 31.73% urban and 68.27% rural, and Kolhapur city and Ichalkaranji together account for a major share of the urban population. There are a total of about 8.40 lakh households in the district.
Quick Overview of District Census 2021
| District name | Kolhapur |
| State | Maharashtra |
| Census population 2011 | 3,876,001 (38.76 lakh) |
| Estimated population 2026 | 4,447,422 (44.47 lakh) |
| Area (sq km) | 7,685 |
| Density 2011 (per sq km) | 504 |
| Sex ratio (females per 1000 males) | 957 |
| Child sex ratio (0–6 years) | 863 |
| Average literacy rate (%) | 81.51 |
| Urban population share (%) | 31.73 |
| Rural population share (%) | 68.27 |
| Total households (approx) | 840,240 |
- Population level is medium
- Village areas hold more people
- Literacy stands fairly high
- Sex ratio is above national level
Population and Historic Census Data
| Description | 2011 | 2001 |
| Actual population | 3,876,001 | 3,523,162 |
| Male population | 1,980,658 | 1,807,470 |
| Female population | 1,895,343 | 1,715,692 |
| Population growth (%) | 10.01 | 17.85 |
| Proportion to Maharashtra population (%) | 3.45 | 3.64 |
| Total child population 0–6 | 408,942 | 449,883 |
| Child proportion 0–6 (%) | 10.55 | 12.77 |
Historical Population 1901–2011
| Census year | Population (approx) | Growth rate (%) |
| 1901 | 8.73 lakh | 0.00 |
| 1911 | 7.93 lakh | -9.17 |
| 1921 | 7.95 lakh | 0.25 |
| 1931 | 9.08 lakh | 14.30 |
| 1941 | 10.39 lakh | 14.42 |
| 1951 | 12.68 lakh | 21.97 |
| 1961 | 15.53 lakh | 22.49 |
| 1971 | 20.02 lakh | 28.94 |
| 1981 | 24.57 lakh | 22.73 |
| 1991 | 29.90 lakh | 21.67 |
| 2001 | 35.23 lakh | 17.85 |
| 2011 | 38.76 lakh | 10.01 |
- Population rose in every decade after 1911
- Fastest rise came around 1971
- Recent growth has calmed down
- Child share went down in 2011
Population Projections and Growth
| Year | Projected population |
| 2011 | 3,876,001 (38.76 lakh) |
| 2021 | 4,200,000 (42.06 lakh) |
| 2022 | 4,230,000 (42.36 lakh) |
| 2023 | 4,260,000 (42.62 lakh) |
| 2024 | 4,280,000 (42.85 lakh) |
| 2025 | 4,300,000 (43.04 lakh) |
| 2026 | 4,320,000 (43.20 lakh) |
| 2027 | 4,330,000 (43.34 lakh) |
| 2028 | 4,340,000 (43.46 lakh) |
| 2029 | 4,350,000 (43.56 lakh) |
| 2030 | 4,360,000 (43.64 lakh) |
| 2031 | 4,370,000 (43.72 lakh) |
Estimated Population up to 2036 (Detailed)
| Year | Estimated population | Total growth since 2011 (%) |
| 2026 | 4,447,422 (44.47 lakh) | 14.74 |
| 2027 | 4,475,828 (44.76 lakh) | 15.48 |
| 2028 | 4,504,235 (45.04 lakh) | 16.21 |
| 2029 | 4,532,607 (45.33 lakh) | 16.94 |
| 2030 | 4,561,014 (45.61 lakh) | 17.67 |
| 2031 | 4,586,062 (45.86 lakh) | 18.32 |
| 2032 | 4,608,780 (46.09 lakh) | 18.91 |
| 2033 | 4,631,499 (46.31 lakh) | 19.49 |
| 2034 | 4,654,183 (46.54 lakh) | 20.08 |
| 2035 | 4,676,901 (46.77 lakh) | 20.66 |
| 2036 | 4,699,585 (47.00 lakh) | 21.25 |
- Population is rising gradually
- Yearly increase stays under one percent
- Size may touch about 47 lakh by 2036
- Growth path looks stable
Sex Ratio and Child Population Details
| Indicator | Value |
| Sex ratio 2011 (f per 1000 m) | 957 |
| Sex ratio 2001 (f per 1000 m) | 949 |
| Child sex ratio 2011 (0–6 years) | 863 |
| Child sex ratio 2001 (0–6 years) | 839 |
| Total child population 0–6 years | 408,942 |
| Male child 0–6 years | 219,521 |
| Female child 0–6 years | 189,421 |
| Child share in total population (%) | 10.55 |
Sex Ratio by Area and Religion
| Category | Sex ratio (f per 1000 m) |
| Total population | 957 |
| Urban area | 947 |
| Rural area | 962 |
| Hindu | 956 |
| Muslim | 977 |
| Jain | 936 |
| Buddhist | 966 |
- Overall sex ratio is fairly balanced
- Rural belt shows better balance than towns
- Child ratio is lower and needs focus
- Some communities show higher female share
Literacy Rate, Male and Female
| Indicator | Value |
| Average literacy rate 2011 (%) | 81.51 |
| Average literacy rate 2001 (%) | 76.93 |
| Male literacy rate (%) | 88.57 |
| Female literacy rate (%) | 74.22 |
| Total literates | 2,825,845 |
| Male literates | 1,559,760 |
| Female literates | 1,266,085 |
Literacy in Urban and Rural Areas
| Area type | Average literacy (%) | Male / Female literacy (%) |
| Total | 81.51 | 88.57 / 74.22 |
| Urban | 88.28 | 92.42 / 83.95 |
| Rural | 78.35 | 86.75 / 69.73 |
Literacy Rate by Religion
| Religion | Average literacy (%) | Male / Female literacy (%) |
| Hindu | 80.66 | 88.08 / 73.00 |
| Muslim | 85.56 | 90.49 / 80.54 |
| Jain | 91.57 | 95.03 / 87.91 |
| Buddhist | 81.52 | 88.77 / 74.09 |
- District literacy is higher than national figure
- Cities have very strong literacy levels
- Women still lag behind men, more in villages
- Jain community shows almost full literacy
Religion and Caste (SC/ST) Demographics
| Religion | Population count | Share of total (%) |
| Hindu | 3,379,906 | 87.20 |
| Muslim | 286,558 | 7.39 |
| Jain | 154,882 | 4.00 |
| Buddhist | 29,766 | 0.77 |
| Christian | 15,573 | 0.40 |
| Sikh | 1,570 | 0.04 |
| Other religions and persuasions | 1,274 | 0.03 |
| Religion not stated | 6,472 | 0.17 |
SC and ST Population Profile
| Caste group | Population count | Share of total (%) |
| Scheduled Castes (SC) total | 504,461 | 13.01 |
| SC males | 253,390 | - |
| SC females | 251,071 | - |
| SC sex ratio (f per 1000 m) | 991 | - |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) total | 30,206 | 0.78 |
| ST males | 15,478 | - |
| ST females | 14,728 | - |
| ST sex ratio (f per 1000 m) | 952 | - |
- Hindu community forms clear majority
- Muslims and Jains add urban diversity
- SC share is around one eighth
- ST share is very small in this district
Urban and Rural Population, City and Town List
| Area type | Population | Share of total (%) |
| Urban total population | 1,230,009 | 31.73 |
| Rural total population | 2,645,992 | 68.27 |
| Urban male population | 631,843 | - |
| Urban female population | 598,166 | - |
| Rural male population | 1,348,815 | - |
| Rural female population | 1,297,177 | - |
| Urban sex ratio (f per 1000 m) | 947 | - |
| Rural sex ratio (f per 1000 m) | 962 | - |
Child Population in Urban and Rural Areas
| Area type | Child population 0–6 | Child sex ratio |
| Urban | 128,986 | 865 |
| Rural | 279,956 | 862 |
| Urban male child | 69,159 | - |
| Urban female child | 59,827 | - |
| Rural male child | 150,362 | - |
| Rural female child | 129,594 | - |
City List and Main Urban Centres
| Urban centre | Population | Male / Female |
| Kolhapur Urban Agglomeration | 561,837 | 286,938 / 274,899 |
| Ichalkaranji Urban Agglomeration | 325,499 | 169,110 / 156,389 |
| Kolhapur Municipal Corporation | 549,236 | 280,366 / 268,870 |
| Ichalkaranji Municipal Council | 287,353 | 149,164 / 138,189 |
| Total towns in district | 23 | - |
- Villages host over two thirds of people
- Kolhapur and Ichalkaranji lead urban cluster
- Urban literacy levels are strong
- Rural child share is slightly higher
Area Statistics, Households and Administrative Divisions
| Total area (sq km) | 7,685 |
| Population density 2011 (per sq km) | 504 |
| Population density 2001 (per sq km) | 458 |
| Total households | 840,240 |
| Families without roof (houseless) | 1,019 |
| People living without roof | 3,417 |
| Share of houseless in population (%) | about 0.09 |
| Total towns | 23 |
| Total villages | 1,216 |
Sub-Districts, Taluks and Administrative Units
| Subdistrict (tahsil) | Name list |
| 1 | Ajra |
| 2 | Bavda |
| 3 | Bhudargad |
| 4 | Chandgad |
| 5 | Gadhinglaj |
| 6 | Hatkanangle |
| 7 | Kagal |
| 8 | Karvir |
| 9 | Panhala |
| 10 | Radhanagari |
| 11 | Shahuwadi |
| 12 | Shirol |
- District area is compact but busy
- Over eight lakh families stay here
- Very few people live without shelter
- Twelve tahsils manage local governance
Workforce and Economic Activity Profile
| Indicator | Value |
| Total workers | 1,704,054 |
| Male workers | 1,125,204 |
| Female workers | 578,850 |
| Workers as share of population (%) | 43.96 |
Workforce Highlights
| Aspect | Short description |
| Participation | About four in ten people are working |
| Gender pattern | Men form larger share of workers |
| Livelihood mix | Agriculture, small industry and services |
- Many workers are in farming and allied work
- Textile and small industry give city jobs
- Women workers are fewer but important
- Informal work is common in rural belt
Languages and Demographic Highlights
| Main language | Marathi |
| Other common tongues | Hindi and Kannada in some pockets |
| Key demographic feature | Strong rural base with active towns |
| Overall density | 504 persons per sq km |
- Marathi binds district daily life
- Border areas hear Kannada and other speech
- Urban centres add mixed culture
- Demographics show balanced growth
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Kolhapur district population in 2011: It is about 38.76 lakh people
- What is Kolhapur estimated population in 2026: It is around 44.47 lakh people
- What is Kolhapur district literacy rate: It is nearly 81.51 percent
- What is Kolhapur district sex ratio: It is about 957 females per 1000 males
- How much of Kolhapur is rural and urban: Around 68 percent rural and 32 percent urban