Maharajganj district in eastern Uttar Pradesh had a population of 26,84,703 as per the 2011 Census, up from 21,73,878 in 2001, giving a strong decadal growth of about 23.5%. The district covers about 2,952 sq km and has a high population density close to 910 persons per sq km. The sex ratio is 943 females for every 1,000 males, and the child sex ratio in the 0–6 age group is around 921–924 girls per 1,000 boys. The overall literacy rate is 62.76%, with male literacy at 75.85% and female literacy at 48.92%, indicating a wide gender gap in education. Hindus form the majority community, Muslims are the largest minority, and the district is largely rural with most residents living in villages rather than towns.
Quick Overview — Maharajganj Census 2011
| Key Fact |
Figure (2011) |
| Total Population |
26,84,703 |
| Male Population |
13,81,754 |
| Female Population |
13,02,949 |
| Area |
2,952 sq km |
| Population Density |
around 910 persons/sq km |
| Sex Ratio |
943 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6) |
about 921–924 |
| Overall Literacy Rate |
62.76% |
| Male Literacy Rate |
75.85% |
| Female Literacy Rate |
48.92% |
| Urban Population Share |
about 15–16% |
| Total Households |
4,21,701 |
- Maharajganj’s population increased from about 21.74 lakh in 2001 to 26.85 lakh in 2011, a rise of roughly 23.5%.
- The district is densely populated, with close to 910 people living in each square kilometre.
- Urbanisation remains modest, and most residents still live in rural areas.
- Literacy has improved, but the gap between male and female literacy rates is still very wide.
Population of Maharajganj
| Population Detail |
2011 Value |
2001 Value |
| Total Population |
26,84,703 |
21,73,878 |
| Male Population |
13,81,754 |
11,24,290 |
| Female Population |
13,02,949 |
10,49,588 |
| Decadal Growth (2001–2011) |
23.50% |
— |
| Population Density |
around 910 persons/sq km |
about 736 persons/sq km |
Historical Population Data
| Census Year |
Population |
Decadal Growth |
| 1901 | 9,80,000 | — |
| 1911 | 10,20,000 | 4.08% |
| 1921 | 9,80,000 | -3.92% |
| 1931 | 10,90,000 | 11.22% |
| 1941 | 12,10,000 | 18.35% |
| 1951 | 13,10,000 | 8.26% |
| 1961 | 15,20,000 | 16.03% |
| 1971 | 17,90,000 | 17.76% |
| 1981 | 20,20,000 | 12.85% |
| 1991 | 20,90,000 | 3.47% |
| 2001 | 21,73,878 | 4.04% |
| 2011 | 26,84,703 | 23.50% |
Population Projections
| Year |
Estimated Population |
| 2025 |
32,50,000 |
| 2026 |
32,80,000 |
| 2027 |
33,10,000 |
Literacy Rate in Maharajganj
| Literacy Detail |
2011 Rate |
2001 Rate |
| Overall Literacy |
62.76% |
about 49–50% |
| Male Literacy |
75.85% |
around 61–62% |
| Female Literacy |
48.92% |
around 36–37% |
- Overall literacy in Maharajganj rose significantly between 2001 and 2011.
- Male literacy is far ahead of female literacy, indicating a strong gender disparity in education.
- Literacy levels tend to be higher in urban areas compared with rural parts of the district.
Sex Ratio and Child Population
| Category |
Figure |
| Overall Sex Ratio (females per 1000 males) |
943 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6 years) |
about 921–924 |
| Total Child Population (0–6 years) |
4,16,000 (approx.) |
| Male Children (0–6 years) |
2,16,000 (approx.) |
| Female Children (0–6 years) |
2,00,000 (approx.) |
| Children (0–6) as % of Total Population |
about 15.5% |
Religion-wise Population
| Religion |
Population |
Share of Total |
| Hindu |
21,97,000 |
81.83% |
| Muslim |
4,59,000 |
17.08% |
| Christian |
3,500 |
0.13% |
| Sikh |
1,300 |
0.05% |
| Buddhist |
16,100 |
0.60% |
| Jain |
300 |
0.01% |
| Other Religions |
300 |
0.01% |
| Religion Not Stated |
7,400 |
0.28% |
Maharajganj district is predominantly Hindu, with Hindus forming nearly 82% of the population. Muslims are the principal minority community, accounting for just over 17% of residents. Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, followers of other faiths and those who did not state a religion together make up only a small share of the district’s people.
SC and ST Population
| Caste Group |
Population |
Percentage of Total |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) |
about 5,80,000 |
about 21.6% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) |
about 2,000 |
about 0.1% |
Urban and Rural Population
| Region |
Population |
Share of District |
| Rural Population |
22,66,000 (approx.) |
about 84.4% |
| Urban Population |
4,18,703 (approx.) |
about 15.6% |
| Household Detail |
Count |
| Total Households |
4,21,701 |
Workforce and Occupation
| Workforce Category |
Number of People |
| Total Workers |
about 10,10,000 |
| Male Workers |
about 6,40,000 |
| Female Workers |
about 3,70,000 |
| Main Workers |
about 7,20,000 |
| Marginal Workers |
about 2,90,000 |
| Non-Workers |
about 16,70,000 |
Administrative Divisions
| Administrative Unit |
Count |
| Tehsils / Sub-districts |
4 |
| Inhabited Villages |
1,265 |
| Total Towns |
9 |
Towns and Cities
| Town / City |
Remark |
| Maharajganj |
District headquarters and main urban centre |
Language Spoken
| Language |
Percentage / Remark |
| Hindi |
98.98% |
| Urdu |
0.90% |
Households
| Household Detail |
Count |
| Total Households |
4,21,701 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the population of Maharajganj district? — Maharajganj district has a population of 26,84,703 as per the 2011 Census.
- What is the sex ratio in Maharajganj? — The sex ratio in Maharajganj is 943 females for every 1,000 males.
- How many children (0–6 years) live in Maharajganj? — There are roughly 4,16,000 children in the 0–6 age group, forming about 15.5% of the population.
- What is the literacy rate of Maharajganj? — The overall literacy rate is 62.76%, with male literacy at 75.85% and female literacy at 48.92%.
- What share of Maharajganj’s population lives in rural areas? — Around 84% of the people live in rural areas and about 16% in urban areas.
- Which religion is followed by most people in Maharajganj? — Hinduism is the majority religion, followed by about 81.83% of the population.
- How many villages and towns are there in Maharajganj? — Maharajganj has 1,265 inhabited villages and 9 towns.
- How many households are there in Maharajganj? — The district has 4,21,701 households according to the 2011 Census.