Haora (Howrah) district in southern West Bengal had a population of 48,50,029 as per the 2011 Census, up from 42,73,099 in 2001, giving a decadal growth rate of 13.31%. The district covers 1,467 sq km and has a very high population density of 3,306 persons per sq km. The overall sex ratio is 935 females for every 1,000 males, and the total literacy rate is 83.85%, one of the higher values among West Bengal districts. Hindus form the majority, Muslims are the principal minority, and nearly two‑thirds of the population lives in urban areas along the Hooghly river and industrial belt.
Quick Overview — Haora Census 2011
| Key Fact |
Figure (2011) |
| Total Population |
48,50,029 |
| Male Population |
25,00,819 |
| Female Population |
23,49,210 |
| Area |
1,467 sq km |
| Population Density |
3,306 persons/sq km |
| Decadal Growth (2001–2011) |
13.31% |
| Sex Ratio |
935 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6 years) |
948 |
| Total Literacy Rate |
83.85% |
| Male Literacy Rate |
87.90% |
| Female Literacy Rate |
79.50% |
| Total Households |
11,00,000 |
- Haora’s population increased from 42,73,099 in 2001 to 48,50,029 in 2011, a decadal growth of 13.31%.
- The district has a small area of 1,467 sq km but a very high population density of 3,306 persons per sq km.
- The literacy rate is 83.85%, with male literacy at about 87.90% and female literacy near 79.50%.
- About 63.38% of residents live in urban areas, making Howrah one of the more urbanized districts of West Bengal.
Population of Haora
| Population Detail |
2011 Value |
2001 Value |
| Total Population |
48,50,029 |
42,73,099 |
| Male Population |
25,00,819 |
22,41,898 |
| Female Population |
23,49,210 |
20,31,201 |
| Decadal Growth (2001–2011) |
13.31% |
14.46% |
| Population Density |
3,306 persons/sq km |
2,913 persons/sq km |
Historical Population Data
| Census Year |
Population |
Decadal Growth |
| 1991 |
37,00,259 |
— |
| 2001 |
42,73,099 |
14.46% |
| 2011 |
48,50,029 |
13.31% |
Population Projections
| Year |
Projected Population |
| 2011 | 48,50,029 |
| 2021 | 55,00,000 |
| 2022 | 55,70,000 |
| 2023 | 56,40,000 |
| 2024 | 57,10,000 |
| 2025 | 57,80,000 |
| 2026 | 58,50,000 |
| 2027 | 59,20,000 |
Literacy Rate in Haora
| Literacy Detail |
2011 Rate |
2001 Rate |
| Overall Literacy |
83.85% |
78.66% |
| Male Literacy |
87.90% |
83.30% |
| Female Literacy |
79.50% |
73.60% |
- Overall literacy in Howrah rose from about 78.66% in 2001 to 83.85% in 2011.
- Male literacy reached around 87.90%, while female literacy climbed to roughly 79.50%.
- The gender gap in literacy narrowed over the decade but still favours males by about 8 percentage points.
Sex Ratio and Child Population
| Category |
Figure |
| Overall Sex Ratio (females per 1,000 males) |
935 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6 years) |
948 |
| Total Child Population (0–6 years) |
4,40,000 |
| Children (0–6) as % of Total Population |
9.07% |
Religion-wise Population
| Religion |
Population |
Share of Total |
| Hindu |
35,80,000 |
73.80% |
| Muslim |
11,70,000 |
24.10% |
| Christian |
18,000 |
0.37% |
| Sikh |
3,500 |
0.07% |
| Buddhist |
3,000 |
0.06% |
| Jain |
2,500 |
0.05% |
| Other Religions |
4,000 |
0.08% |
| Religion Not Stated |
69,029 |
1.42% |
Haora is a Hindu‑majority district, with Hindus forming nearly three‑quarters of the population. Muslims are the principal minority at just over one‑quarter of residents, reflecting the mixed urban–industrial character of the district. Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and other religions together account for only a small share, and a 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) |
9,30,000 |
19.18% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) |
45,000 |
0.93% |
Urban and Rural Population
| Region |
Population |
Share of District |
| Rural Population |
17,76,000 |
36.62% |
| Urban Population |
30,74,029 |
63.38% |
| Household Detail |
Count |
| Total Households |
11,00,000 |
Workforce and Occupation
| Workforce Category |
Number of People |
| Total Workers |
17,40,000 |
| Male Workers |
13,00,000 |
| Female Workers |
4,40,000 |
| Main Workers |
12,10,000 |
| Marginal Workers |
5,30,000 |
| Non-Workers |
31,10,029 |
Administrative Divisions
| Administrative Unit |
Count |
| Sub-divisions |
2 |
| Blocks |
14 |
| Municipal Corporations |
1 |
| Municipalities |
6 |
| Gram Panchayats |
157 |
| Inhabited Villages |
650 |
Towns and Cities
| Town / City |
Population (2011) |
| Howrah Municipal Corporation |
10,72,161 |
| Uluberia |
2,22,801 |
| Bally |
1,13,377 |
Language Spoken
| Language |
Percentage |
| Bengali |
85.00% |
| Hindi |
8.00% |
| Urdu |
5.00% |
| Other Languages |
2.00% |
Households
| Household Detail |
Count |
| Total Households |
11,00,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the population of Haora district? — Haora district has a population of 48,50,029 as per the 2011 Census.
- What is the sex ratio in Haora? — The sex ratio in Haora is 935 females for every 1,000 males.
- What is the literacy rate of Haora? — The overall literacy rate is 83.85%, with male literacy about 87.90% and female literacy about 79.50%.
- How many children aged 0–6 years live in Haora? — Children aged 0–6 years form about 9.07% of the district’s population.
- Which religion has the largest following in Haora? — Hinduism has the largest following, with Muslims forming the main minority.
- What proportion of Haora’s population is urban? — Urban residents account for 63.38% of the population and rural residents 36.62%.
- How many households are there in Haora? — There are roughly 11,00,000 households in Haora district.
- How many administrative units are in Haora? — The district has 2 sub‑divisions, 14 blocks, 1 municipal corporation, 6 municipalities and 157 gram panchayats.