Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh had a population of 34,87,731 as per the 2011 Census, up from 23,81,072 in 2001, showing rapid growth over the decade. It covers an area of 5,237 sq km, with a population density of 666 persons per sq km in 2011, compared to 483 persons per sq km in 2001. The overall sex ratio stands at 892 females for every 1,000 males, and the literacy rate remains low at 49.36%, with a wide gap between male and female literacy. Child population (0–6 years) forms a sizeable 18.77% of total residents, with a child sex ratio of 935 girls per 1,000 boys. Hindus form about two‑thirds of the population and Muslims about one‑third, while Hindi is the main language, followed by Urdu and smaller shares of Awadhi and Bhojpuri. The district is overwhelmingly rural, with only about 8% people living in towns, and has around 6,03,754 households spread across 1,390–1,392 villages.
Quick Overview — Bahraich Census 2011
| Key Fact |
Figure (2011) |
| Total Population |
34,87,731 |
| Male Population |
18,43,884 |
| Female Population |
16,43,847 |
| Area |
5,237 sq km |
| Population Density |
666 persons/sq km |
| Sex Ratio |
892 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6) |
935 |
| Overall Literacy Rate |
49.36% |
| Male Literacy Rate |
58.34% |
| Female Literacy Rate |
39.18% |
| Urban Population Share |
8.14% |
| Total Households |
6,03,754 |
- Bahraich’s population grew by about 46% between 2001 and 2011, one of the higher growth rates in Uttar Pradesh.
- Despite growth, the district remains largely rural, with just over eight percent of people living in urban areas.
- Literacy is below the state and national average, and the gap between male and female literacy is very wide.
- The sex ratio is low overall, but the child sex ratio is slightly better, though still short of balance.
Population of Bahraich
| Population Detail |
2011 Value |
2001 Value |
| Total Population |
34,87,731 |
23,81,072 |
| Male Population |
18,43,884 |
12,75,351 |
| Female Population |
16,43,847 |
11,05,721 |
| Decadal Growth (2001–2011) |
46.48% |
29.20% (1991–2001) |
| Population Density |
666 persons/sq km |
483 persons/sq km |
Historical Population Data
| Census Year |
Population |
Decadal Growth |
| 1901 | 8,88,536 | - |
| 1911 | 9,25,000 | 4.11% |
| 1921 | 8,90,000 | -3.78% |
| 1931 | 9,90,000 | 11.24% |
| 1941 | 11,10,000 | 12.12% |
| 1951 | 12,39,000 | 11.62% |
| 1961 | 14,82,000 | 19.63% |
| 1971 | 17,96,000 | 21.22% |
| 1981 | 21,73,000 | 21.01% |
| 1991 | 18,43,000 | -15.17% |
| 2001 | 23,81,072 | 29.20% |
| 2011 | 34,87,731 | 46.48% |
Population Projections
| Year |
Estimated Population |
| 2025 |
41,80,000 (approx.) |
| 2026 |
42,17,573 |
| 2027 |
42,49,060 |
Literacy Rate in Bahraich
| Literacy Detail |
2011 Rate |
2001 Rate |
| Overall Literacy |
49.36% |
35.16% |
| Male Literacy |
58.34% |
45.58% |
| Female Literacy |
39.18% |
22.78% |
- Literacy in Bahraich has improved by over 14 percentage points between 2001 and 2011, with especially large gains among women.
- Even after the rise, fewer than half of district residents are literate, and women’s literacy is still about 19 percentage points below men.
- Low literacy, combined with high population growth, is one of the main development challenges for the district.
Sex Ratio and Child Population
| Category |
Figure |
| Overall Sex Ratio (females per 1000 males) |
892 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6 years) |
935 |
| Total Child Population (0–6 years) |
6,54,794 |
| Male Children (0–6 years) |
3,38,430 |
| Female Children (0–6 years) |
3,16,364 |
| Children (0–6) as % of Total Population |
18.77% |
Religion-wise Population
| Religion |
Population (approx.) |
Share of Total |
| Hindu |
22,92,000 |
65.71% |
| Muslim |
11,69,000 |
33.53% |
| Christian |
not specified |
very small share |
| Sikh |
not specified |
very small share |
| Buddhist |
not specified |
very small share |
| Jain |
not specified |
negligible |
| Other Religions |
not specified |
negligible |
| Religion Not Stated |
not specified |
negligible |
Hindus form nearly two‑thirds of Bahraich’s population, while Muslims account for just over one‑third, giving the district a clearly two‑community profile. Other religious groups such as Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains are present only in very small numbers and together make up a tiny share of the population.
SC and ST Population
| Caste Group |
Population |
Percentage of Total |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) |
5,19,671 |
14.90% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) |
not reported as significant |
negligible |
Urban and Rural Population
| Region |
Population |
Share of District |
| Urban Population |
2,84,028 |
8.14% |
| Rural Population |
32,03,703 |
91.86% |
| Household Detail |
Count |
| Total Households |
6,03,754 |
Workforce and Occupation
| Workforce Category |
Number of People |
| Total Workers |
not consolidated in single source |
| Male Workers |
not specified |
| Female Workers |
not specified |
| Main Workers |
not specified |
| Marginal Workers |
not specified |
| Non-Workers |
not specified |
Administrative Divisions
| Administrative Unit |
Count |
| Tehsils / Sub‑divisions |
6 |
| Towns |
5 |
| Villages |
1,390–1,392 |
Towns and Cities
| Town / City |
Remark |
| Bahraich |
District headquarters town |
Language Spoken
| Language |
Percentage of Speakers |
| Hindi |
89.36% |
| Urdu |
7.02% |
| Awadhi |
1.82% |
| Bhojpuri |
1.49% |
Households
| Household Detail |
Count |
| Total Households |
6,03,754 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the population of Bahraich district? — Bahraich district has a population of 34,87,731 as per the 2011 Census.
- What is the literacy rate of Bahraich? — The overall literacy rate in Bahraich is 49.36%, with male literacy at 58.34% and female literacy at 39.18%.
- What is the sex ratio in Bahraich district? — The sex ratio in Bahraich is 892 females for every 1,000 males.
- What is the child sex ratio of Bahraich? — The child sex ratio in Bahraich is 935 girls for every 1,000 boys in the 0–6 age group.
- How many villages are there in Bahraich? — There are about 1,390–1,392 villages in Bahraich district.
- What is the SC population share in Bahraich? — Scheduled Castes account for about 14.90% of the population, with 5,19,671 people.
- How urbanised is Bahraich district? — Only 8.14% of the population of Bahraich lives in urban areas; the rest live in rural regions.
- Which languages are mainly spoken in Bahraich? — Hindi is spoken by about 89.36% people, followed by Urdu, Awadhi and Bhojpuri in smaller shares.