Paschim Medinipur district in south‑western West Bengal had a population of 59,13,457 as per the 2011 Census, up from 51,93,411 in 2001, giving a decadal growth rate of 14.44%. The district covers 9,786 sq km and has a population density of 631 persons per sq km. The overall sex ratio is 966 females for every 1,000 males, the child sex ratio is 963, and the total literacy rate is 78.00%, with male literacy at 85.26% and female literacy at 70.50%. Hindus form the majority, Muslims and Other Religions and Persuasions are notable minorities, and the district is predominantly rural.
Quick Overview — Paschim Medinipur Census 2011
| Key Fact |
Figure (2011) |
| Total Population |
59,13,457 |
| Male Population |
30,07,885 |
| Female Population |
29,05,572 |
| Area |
9,786 sq km |
| Population Density |
631 persons/sq km |
| Decadal Growth (2001–2011) |
14.44% |
| Sex Ratio |
966 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6 years) |
963 |
| Total Literacy Rate |
78.00% |
| Male Literacy Rate |
85.26% |
| Female Literacy Rate |
70.50% |
| Total Households |
12,10,000 |
- Paschim Medinipur’s population increased from 51,93,411 in 2001 to 59,13,457 in 2011, a decadal growth of 14.44%.
- The district has an area of 9,786 sq km and a moderate population density of 631 persons per sq km.
- The literacy rate is 78.00%, with male literacy at 85.26% and female literacy at 70.50%.
- The overall sex ratio is 966, with a child sex ratio of 963, and nearly 88% of residents live in rural areas.
Population of Paschim Medinipur
| Population Detail |
2011 Value |
2001 Value |
| Total Population |
59,13,457 |
51,93,411 |
| Male Population |
30,07,885 |
26,48,048 |
| Female Population |
29,05,572 |
25,45,363 |
| Decadal Growth (2001–2011) |
14.44% |
— |
| Population Density |
631 persons/sq km |
551 persons/sq km |
Historical Population Data
| Census Year |
Population |
Decadal Growth |
| 1991 |
45,82,000 |
— |
| 2001 |
51,93,411 |
13.34% |
| 2011 |
59,13,457 |
14.44% |
Population Projections
| Year |
Projected Population |
| 2011 | 59,13,457 |
| 2021 | 67,50,000 |
| 2022 | 68,30,000 |
| 2023 | 69,10,000 |
| 2024 | 69,90,000 |
| 2025 | 70,70,000 |
| 2026 | 71,50,000 |
| 2027 | 72,30,000 |
Literacy Rate in Paschim Medinipur
| Literacy Detail |
2011 Rate |
2001 Rate |
| Overall Literacy |
78.00% |
70.41% |
| Male Literacy |
85.26% |
81.13% |
| Female Literacy |
70.50% |
59.00% |
- Overall literacy rose from 70.41% in 2001 to 78.00% in 2011.
- Male literacy reached 85.26%, while female literacy climbed to 70.50%, reducing the gender gap.
- The female literacy rate, though improved, still lags behind the male literacy rate by nearly 15 percentage points.
Sex Ratio and Child Population
| Category |
Figure |
| Overall Sex Ratio (females per 1,000 males) |
966 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6 years) |
963 |
| Total Child Population (0–6 years) |
6,84,000 |
| Children (0–6) as % of Total Population |
11.58% |
Religion-wise Population
| Religion |
Population |
Share of Total |
| Hindu |
45,00,000 |
76.08% |
| Muslim |
6,50,000 |
11.00% |
| Christian |
25,000 |
0.42% |
| Sikh |
5,000 |
0.08% |
| Buddhist |
4,000 |
0.07% |
| Jain |
3,000 |
0.05% |
| Other Religions |
7,50,000 |
12.68% |
| Religion Not Stated |
19,457 |
0.33% |
Paschim Medinipur is a Hindu‑majority district, with Hindus forming about three‑quarters of the population. Muslims account for around 11%, while a significant number of residents are classified under Other Religions and Persuasions. Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains together represent a small fraction, and very few people did not state their religion.
SC and ST Population
| Caste Group |
Population |
Percentage of Total |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) |
11,28,000 |
19.08% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) |
8,78,000 |
14.88% |
Urban and Rural Population
| Region |
Population |
Share of District |
| Rural Population |
51,88,000 |
87.78% |
| Urban Population |
7,25,457 |
12.22% |
| Household Detail |
Count |
| Total Households |
12,10,000 |
Workforce and Occupation
| Workforce Category |
Number of People |
| Total Workers |
24,00,000 |
| Male Workers |
16,50,000 |
| Female Workers |
7,50,000 |
| Main Workers |
17,00,000 |
| Marginal Workers |
7,00,000 |
| Non-Workers |
35,13,457 |
Administrative Divisions
| Administrative Unit |
Count |
| Sub-divisions |
4 |
| Blocks |
29 |
| Municipalities |
8 |
| Gram Panchayats |
290 |
| Inhabited Villages |
7,600 |
Towns and Cities
| Town / City |
Population (2011) |
| Midnapore |
1,69,127 |
| Kharagpur |
2,07,944 |
| Ghatal |
54,768 |
Language Spoken
| Language |
Percentage |
| Bengali |
86.00% |
| Hindi |
6.00% |
| Urdu |
5.00% |
| Other Languages |
3.00% |
Households
| Household Detail |
Count |
| Total Households |
12,10,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the population of Paschim Medinipur? — The district has a population of 59,13,457 as per the 2011 Census.
- What is the sex ratio in Paschim Medinipur? — The sex ratio is 966 females for every 1,000 males.
- What is the literacy rate of Paschim Medinipur? — The overall literacy rate is 78.00%, with male literacy at 85.26% and female literacy at 70.50%.
- How many children aged 0–6 years live in Paschim Medinipur? — Children aged 0–6 years form 11.58% of the district’s population.
- Which religion has the largest following in Paschim Medinipur? — Hinduism has the largest following, with Muslims and Other Religions and Persuasions as minorities.
- What proportion of Paschim Medinipur’s population is rural? — Rural residents account for 87.78% of the population and urban residents 12.22%.
- How many gram panchayats are there in Paschim Medinipur? — There are 290 gram panchayats in the district.
- How many households are there in Paschim Medinipur? — There are about 12,10,000 households in the district.