Basti district in eastern Uttar Pradesh had a population of 24,64,464 as per the 2011 Census, up from 20,84,814 in 2001, reflecting a decadal growth of about 18.2%. The district covers 2,688 sq km and has a high population density of 874 persons per sq km. The overall sex ratio is around 963–967 females for every 1,000 males, and the child sex ratio (0–6 years) is a little lower but still relatively favourable by state standards. The overall literacy rate is about 56.6–69.7%, with male literacy significantly higher than female literacy. Hindus form a large majority, Muslims are the principal minority, and Basti remains strongly rural with only a small share of its population living in urban areas.
Quick Overview — Basti Census 2011
| Key Fact |
Figure (2011) |
| Total Population |
24,64,464 |
| Male Population |
12,55,272 |
| Female Population |
12,09,192 |
| Area |
2,688 sq km |
| Population Density |
874 persons/sq km |
| Sex Ratio |
about 963–967 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6) |
about 922 |
| Overall Literacy Rate |
about 56.6–69.69% |
| Male Literacy Rate |
around 65–79% |
| Female Literacy Rate |
around 48–60% |
| Total Households |
3,82,212 |
| Number of Tehsils |
4 |
- Basti’s population reached about 24.6 lakh in 2011, growing by a little over 18% since 2001.
- The district is densely populated, with nearly 900 people living in each square kilometre.
- The sex ratio is relatively favourable compared with many districts of Uttar Pradesh, though the child sex ratio is somewhat lower.
- Literacy has improved, but overall and especially female literacy remain below the state’s better‑performing districts.
Population of Basti
| Population Detail |
2011 Value |
2001 Value |
| Total Population |
24,64,464 |
20,84,814 |
| Male Population |
12,55,272 |
10,75,765 |
| Female Population |
12,09,192 |
10,09,049 |
| Decadal Growth (2001–2011) |
18.19% |
— |
| Population Density |
874 persons/sq km |
about 775 persons/sq km |
Historical Population Data
| Census Year |
Population |
Decadal Growth |
| 1901 | 9,10,000 | — |
| 1911 | 9,60,000 | 5.49% |
| 1921 | 9,30,000 | -3.13% |
| 1931 | 10,40,000 | 11.83% |
| 1941 | 11,70,000 | 12.50% |
| 1951 | 13,00,000 | 11.11% |
| 1961 | 14,80,000 | 13.85% |
| 1971 | 16,80,000 | 13.51% |
| 1981 | 18,90,000 | 12.50% |
| 1991 | 19,40,000 | 2.65% |
| 2001 | 20,84,814 | 7.45% |
| 2011 | 24,64,464 | 18.19% |
Population Projections
| Year |
Estimated Population |
| 2025 |
29,00,000 |
| 2026 |
29,30,000 |
| 2027 |
29,60,000 |
Literacy Rate in Basti
| Literacy Detail |
2011 Rate |
2001 Rate |
| Overall Literacy |
about 56.56–69.69% |
around high‑40s to low‑50s% |
| Male Literacy |
around mid‑60s to high‑70s% |
around 60–62% |
| Female Literacy |
around high‑40s to high‑50s% |
around 37–40% |
- Basti’s literacy rate rose notably between 2001 and 2011 but still remains below the all‑India and many intra‑state benchmarks.
- There is a clear gender gap in literacy, with male literacy significantly higher than female literacy.
- Urban parts of the district record better literacy levels, while rural areas, which host most of the population, lag behind.
Sex Ratio and Child Population
| Category |
Figure |
| Overall Sex Ratio (females per 1000 males) |
about 963–967 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6 years) |
about 922 |
| Total Child Population (0–6 years) |
around 4,00,000 |
| Male Children (0–6 years) |
about 2,08,000 |
| Female Children (0–6 years) |
about 1,92,000 |
| Children (0–6) as % of Total Population |
around 16% |
Religion-wise Population
| Religion |
Population |
Share of Total |
| Hindu |
20,83,000 |
84.52% |
| Muslim |
3,64,000 |
14.79% |
| Christian |
3,450 |
0.14% |
| Sikh |
1,000 |
0.04% |
| Buddhist |
9,900 |
0.40% |
| Jain |
negligible |
0.00% |
| Other Religions |
negligible |
0.00% |
| Religion Not Stated |
about 2,700 |
0.11% |
Basti district is overwhelmingly Hindu, with Hindus comprising more than four‑fifths of the population. Muslims form a significant minority at nearly 15%, while Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and others together account for only a fraction of residents. A very small proportion of people did not state their religion in the census.
SC and ST Population
| Caste Group |
Population |
Percentage of Total |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) |
about 4,40,000 |
around 17–18% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) |
very small |
around 0.1% |
Urban and Rural Population
| Region |
Population |
Share of District |
| Rural Population |
23,26,367 |
94.40% |
| Urban Population |
1,38,097 |
5.60% |
| Household Detail |
Count |
| Total Households |
3,82,212 |
Workforce and Occupation
| Workforce Category |
Number of People |
| Total Workers |
about 9,20,000 |
| Male Workers |
about 5,60,000 |
| Female Workers |
about 3,60,000 |
| Main Workers |
about 6,20,000 |
| Marginal Workers |
about 3,00,000 |
| Non-Workers |
about 15,40,000 |
Administrative Divisions
| Administrative Unit |
Count |
| Tehsils / Sub-districts |
4 |
| Blocks |
14 |
| Gram Panchayats |
1,235 |
| Total Villages |
3,305–3,348 (varies slightly by source) |
| Total Towns |
5 |
Towns and Cities
| Town / City |
Remark |
| Basti |
District headquarters and main urban centre |
| Bhabnan Bazar |
Nagar panchayat town within the district |
| Harraiya |
Town in Harraiya tehsil |
Language Spoken
| Language |
Percentage / Remark |
| Hindi |
principal official language and most widely spoken |
| Bhojpuri / Awadhi and local dialects |
commonly used in everyday speech |
| Urdu |
used among sections of the Muslim population |
Households
| Household Detail |
Count |
| Total Households |
3,82,212 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the population of Basti district? — Basti district has a population of 24,64,464 as per the 2011 Census.
- What is the sex ratio in Basti? — The sex ratio in Basti is about 963–967 females for every 1,000 males.
- How many children (0–6 years) live in Basti? — There are around 4 lakh children in the 0–6 age group, about 16% of the population.
- What is the literacy rate of Basti? — The overall literacy rate lies roughly between 56.6% and 69.7%, with male literacy higher than female literacy.
- What proportion of Basti’s population is rural? — About 94.4% of people live in rural areas and only 5.6% in urban areas.
- Which religion is followed by most people in Basti? — Hinduism is the majority religion, followed by about 84.52% of residents, with Muslims as the main minority.
- How many tehsils are there in Basti district? — Basti district has 4 tehsils or sub‑districts.
- How many households are there in Basti? — There are 3,82,212 households in Basti district according to the 2011 Census.