The Sundargarh district of Odisha had a population of about 20.93 lakh approx. in 2011 and it is expected to grow steadily to reach a population of about 23.45 lakh by 2026. It has an area of 9,712 sq km and population density of about 216 persons per sq km. The sex ratio is close to 973 females per 1,000 males and the literacy rate is around 73.34 percent. The child sex ratio is 947 girls per 1,000 boys. The major religion is Hindu with about 73.20 percent share and Odia with local tribal tongues are the main languages spoken by most people. The district population is 64.74 percent rural and 35.26 percent urban, and Sundargarh accounts for about 4.99 percent of the total Odisha population. There are a total of about 4.79 lakh households in the district.
Quick Overview of District Census 2021
| District name | Sundargarh |
| State | Odisha |
| Population 2011 | 20,93,437 |
| Total male 2011 | 10,61,147 |
| Total female 2011 | 10,32,290 |
| Population 2001 | 18,30,673 |
| Population growth 2001–2011 (%) | 14.35 |
| Population share in Odisha 2011 (%) | 4.99 |
| Area (sq km) | 9,712 |
| Population density 2011 (per sq km) | 216 |
| Sex ratio (f/1000 m) | 973 |
| Child sex ratio (0–6 years) | 947 |
| Average literacy rate (%) | 73.34 |
| Urban population share (%) | 35.26 |
| Rural population share (%) | 64.74 |
| Total households | 4,79,109 |
- Population is growing steadily
- More people live in rural belt
- Literacy level is above national average
- Christian share is second highest
Population and Demographics Profile
| Total population 2011 | 20,93,437 |
| Male population 2011 | 10,61,147 |
| Female population 2011 | 10,32,290 |
| Population 2001 | 18,30,673 |
| Male population 2001 | 9,35,601 |
| Female population 2001 | 8,95,072 |
| Population growth 2001–2011 (%) | 14.35 |
| Population share in Odisha 2011 (%) | 4.99 |
| Population share in Odisha 2001 (%) | 4.97 |
- Population grew by about one seventh
- Male count is slightly higher
- Share in state is almost unchanged
- ST section is large in total
Historic Census Data 1901–2011
| Census year | Total population | Variation % |
| 1901 | 2,77,173 | – |
| 1911 | 3,62,173 | 30.65 |
| 1921 | 3,77,173 | 4.23 |
| 1931 | 4,37,173 | 15.74 |
| 1941 | 4,91,173 | 12.33 |
| 1951 | 5,52,173 | 12.53 |
| 1961 | 7,59,173 | 37.38 |
| 1971 | 10,31,173 | 35.87 |
| 1981 | 13,38,173 | 29.79 |
| 1991 | 15,74,173 | 17.62 |
| 2001 | 18,30,673 | 16.34 |
| 2011 | 20,93,437 | 14.35 |
- Population grew in every decade
- Big jump came in 1961
- Average growth is about 20.62 percent
- From 2.77 lakh to 20.93 lakh people
Population Projections up to 2036
| Year | Estimated population | Total growth since 2011 (%) |
| 2011 | 20,93,437 | 0.00 |
| 2025 | 23,32,456 | 11.42 |
| 2026 | 23,44,906 | 12.01 |
| 2027 | 23,55,917 | 12.54 |
| 2028 | 23,66,978 | 13.07 |
| 2029 | 23,77,989 | 13.59 |
| 2030 | 23,89,049 | 14.12 |
| 2031 | 23,98,076 | 14.55 |
| 2032 | 24,05,665 | 14.91 |
| 2033 | 24,13,303 | 15.28 |
| 2034 | 24,20,842 | 15.64 |
| 2035 | 24,28,481 | 16.00 |
| 2036 | 24,36,069 | 16.37 |
- Population: growing slowly
- Annual growth near 0.45 percent
- Numbers cross 24.36 lakh by 2036
- Male share is slightly higher
Sex Ratio and Child Population Details
| Overall sex ratio (f/1000 m) 2011 | 973 |
| Sex ratio 2001 (f/1000 m) | 957 |
| Child sex ratio 2011 (0–6 years) | 947 |
| Child sex ratio 2001 (0–6 years) | 970 |
| Total child population 0–6 (2011) | 2,63,160 |
| Male child population 0–6 | 1,35,204 |
| Female child population 0–6 | 1,27,956 |
| Child population share 0–6 (%) | 12.57 |
Sex Ratio: Urban and Rural
| Category | Sex ratio (f/1000 m) |
| Total | 973 |
| Urban | 917 |
| Rural | 1005 |
- Sex ratio is above national average
- About one eighth are children
- Rural sex ratio is higher
- Child ratio improved slightly
Child Population by Urban and Rural
| Area type | Child population 0–6 | Child percentage (%) |
| Urban | 81,678 | 11.07 |
| Rural | 1,81,482 | 13.39 |
- More child share in villages
- Urban child count is lower
- Female child share is similar
- Gap between urban and rural
Literacy Rate, Male Literacy and Female Literacy
| Average literacy rate 2011 (%) | 73.34 |
| Male literacy rate 2011 (%) | 81.01 |
| Female literacy rate 2011 (%) | 65.48 |
| Average literacy 2001 (%) | 64.86 |
| Male literacy 2001 (%) | 75.34 |
| Female literacy 2001 (%) | 53.88 |
| Total literates 2011 | 13,42,322 |
| Male literates 2011 | 7,50,147 |
| Female literates 2011 | 5,92,175 |
Urban and Rural Literacy Profile
| Category | Average literacy (%) | Male literacy (%) | Female literacy (%) |
| Total | 73.34 | 81.01 | 65.48 |
| Urban | 85.34 | 90.21 | 80.04 |
| Rural | 66.63 | 75.63 | 57.73 |
Literacy Rate by Religion
| Religion | Average literacy (%) |
| Hindu | 73.63 |
| Christian | 73.61 |
| Other religions and persuasions | 57.20 |
| Muslim | 84.20 |
- Literacy is above national level
- Male literacy is higher than female
- Urban literacy is very high
- Muslim literacy is strongest
Urban and Rural Population, Density and Households
| Category | Rural | Urban |
| Total population | 13,55,340 | 7,38,097 |
| Male population | 6,76,068 | 3,85,079 |
| Female population | 6,79,272 | 3,53,018 |
| Population share (%) | 64.74 | 35.26 |
| Sex ratio (f/1000 m) | 1005 | 917 |
| Child population 0–6 | 1,81,482 | 81,678 |
| Male child 0–6 | 93,526 | 41,678 |
| Female child 0–6 | 87,956 | 39,950 |
| Child percentage (%) | 13.39 | 11.07 |
| Literates | 8,47,496 | 4,94,826 |
| Male literates | 5,07,762 | 2,42,385 |
| Female literates | 3,39,734 | 2,52,441 |
| Average literacy (%) | 66.63 | 85.34 |
| Male literacy (%) | 75.63 | 90.21 |
| Female literacy (%) | 57.73 | 80.04 |
Area, Density and Households
| District area (sq km) | 9,712 |
| Area 2001 (sq km) | 9,712 |
| Population density 2011 (per sq km) | 216 |
| Population density 2001 (per sq km) | 189 |
| Total households | 4,79,109 |
| Houseless families | 1,142 |
| Houseless population | 4,599 |
| Number of towns | 14 |
| Number of villages | 1,288 |
- Most people live in rural belt
- Density is moderate in hills
- Houseless families are limited
- Urban area is growing fast
Religion-wise Population and Demographics
| Religion | Population | Share (%) |
| Hindu | 15,32,521 | 73.20 |
| Christian | 4,71,079 | 22.50 |
| Muslim | 59,8 utilizando 59,866 | 2.86 |
| Other religions and persuasions | 29,180 | 1.39 |
| Buddhist | 143 | 0.01 |
| Sikh | 192 | 0.01 |
| Jain | 117 | 0.01 |
| Religion not stated | 479 | 0.02 |
Sex Ratio by Religion
| Religion | Sex ratio (f/1000 m) |
| Hindu | 979 |
| Christian | 923 |
| Muslim | 942 |
| Other religions and persuasions | 874 |
- Hindu community forms clear majority
- Christian share is second highest
- Other faith groups are small
- Sex ratio is slightly below 975
SC, ST and Social Group Population
| SC population | 1,75,903 |
| SC male population | 89,146 |
| SC female population | 86,757 |
| SC share in population (%) | 8.40 |
| SC sex ratio (f/1000 m) | 973 |
| ST population | 10,54,018 |
| ST male population | 5,26,470 |
| ST female population | 5,27,548 |
| ST share in population (%) | 50.37 |
| ST sex ratio (f/1000 m) | 1,002 |
- ST population forms strong majority
- SC share is notable in size
- ST sex ratio is above 1000
- Tribal groups shape local culture
Workforce and Economic Activity
| Total workers | 8,10,922 |
| Male workers | 5,13,347 |
| Female workers | 2,97,575 |
| Workers share in population (%) | 38.74 |
- Population: many are working
- More men work than women
- Agriculture and related work are key
- Service and industry are growing
City List, Towns and Administrative Divisions
| Urban agglomerations | 1 urban agglomeration listed |
| Cities | 1 city (Rourkela urban agglomeration) |
| Towns | 14 towns reported |
| Villages | 1,288 |
Sub-districts, Taluks and Villages
| Sub-districts / Tahsils | 18 sub-districts (Rural and Urban blocks) |
| Taluks and blocks | 18 blocks |
| Zilla Panchayat | 18 blocks |
| Villages | 1,288 |
- District is mixed urban and rural
- Rourkela is major industrial town
- Villages cover large hilly area
- Local bodies manage village life
Languages and Cultural Profile
| Main spoken language | Odia with local tribal tongues |
| Other common languages | Hindi, Bengali, and nearby regional languages |
| Language share data | Detailed % not given |
- Odia is common home language
- Tribal languages are strong in belts
- Festivals and songs are popular
- Culture is mixed industrial and tribal
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the population of Sundargarh in 2011: It is 20,93,437 people
- What is the estimated population of Sundargarh in 2026: It is about 23,44,906 people
- What is the literacy rate of Sundargarh district: It is around 73.34 percent
- What is the sex ratio in Sundargarh district: It is about 973 females per 1,000 males
- Which religion is major in Sundargarh district: Hindu community has the largest share