Pilibhit district in north‑eastern Uttar Pradesh had a population of 20,31,007 as per the 2011 Census, up from 16,45,183 in 2001, giving a decadal growth rate of 23.45%. The district covers 3,686 sq km and has a population density of 551 persons per sq km. The overall sex ratio is 895 females for every 1,000 males, while the child sex ratio is slightly lower than the state average. The overall literacy rate is 61.47%, with male literacy at about 71.70% and female literacy at about 50.64%. Hindus form a clear majority, Muslims are the principal minority, and just under one‑fifth of the population lives in urban areas.
Quick Overview — Pilibhit Census 2011
| Key Fact |
Figure (2011) |
| Total Population |
20,31,007 |
| Male Population |
10,72,002 |
| Female Population |
9,59,005 |
| Area |
3,686 sq km |
| Population Density |
551 persons/sq km |
| Sex Ratio |
895 |
| Overall Literacy Rate |
61.47% |
| Male Literacy Rate |
71.70% |
| Female Literacy Rate |
50.64% |
| Urban Population Share |
about 17.30% |
| Rural Population Share |
about 82.70% |
| Total Households |
3,62,573 |
- Pilibhit’s population grew by about 23.45% between 2001 and 2011, reaching just over 20.3 lakh people.
- The district is moderately dense, with around 550 residents per square kilometre.
- The sex ratio of 895 remains below parity, reflecting a persistent gender imbalance.
- Literacy has crossed 61%, but female literacy still lags significantly behind male literacy.
Population of Pilibhit
| Population Detail |
2011 Value |
2001 Value |
| Total Population |
20,31,007 |
16,45,183 |
| Male Population |
10,72,002 |
8,76,368 |
| Female Population |
9,59,005 |
7,68,815 |
| Decadal Growth (2001–2011) |
23.45% |
— |
| Population Density |
551 persons/sq km |
458 persons/sq km |
Historical Population Data
| Census Year |
Population |
Decadal Growth |
| 1901 | about 7,50,000 | — |
| 1911 | about 8,00,000 | 6.67% |
| 1921 | about 7,70,000 | -3.75% |
| 1931 | about 8,80,000 | 14.29% |
| 1941 | about 10,00,000 | 13.64% |
| 1951 | about 11,20,000 | 12.00% |
| 1961 | about 12,80,000 | 14.29% |
| 1971 | about 14,40,000 | 12.50% |
| 1981 | about 15,90,000 | 10.42% |
| 1991 | about 16,20,000 | 1.89% |
| 2001 | 16,45,183 | 1.56% |
| 2011 | 20,31,007 | 23.45% |
Population Projections
| Year |
Estimated Population |
| 2025 |
24,80,000 |
| 2026 |
25,10,000 |
| 2027 |
25,40,000 |
Literacy Rate in Pilibhit
| Literacy Detail |
2011 Rate |
2001 Rate |
| Overall Literacy |
61.47% |
51.00% (approx.) |
| Male Literacy |
71.70% |
61.00% (approx.) |
| Female Literacy |
50.64% |
40.00% (approx.) |
- Pilibhit’s literacy rate improved by around 10 percentage points between 2001 and 2011.
- Male literacy crossed 70%, while female literacy moved just above 50%, leaving a sizable gender gap.
- Urban areas of Pilibhit generally show higher literacy than the rural parts of the district.
Sex Ratio and Child Population
| Category |
Figure |
| Overall Sex Ratio (females per 1000 males) |
895 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6 years) |
about 900 (approx.) |
| Total Child Population (0–6 years) |
about 3,40,000 |
| Male Children (0–6 years) |
about 1,80,000 |
| Female Children (0–6 years) |
about 1,60,000 |
| Children (0–6) as % of Total Population |
around 16–17% |
Religion-wise Population
| Religion |
Population |
Share of Total |
| Hindu |
about 14,49,000 |
71.34% |
| Muslim |
about 4,89,000 |
24.11% |
| Christian |
about 3,500 |
0.17% |
| Sikh |
about 84,000 |
4.17% |
| Buddhist |
about 400 |
0.02% |
| Jain |
about 200 |
0.01% |
| Other Religions |
about 0 |
0.00% |
| Religion Not Stated |
about 3,500 |
0.17% |
Pilibhit is a Hindu‑majority district, with more than 71% of residents identifying as Hindu. Muslims form a substantial minority at just over 24%, while Sikhs account for a little over 4% of the population, reflecting a visible Sikh presence. Christians, Buddhists, Jains and others together make up only a very small share, and a tiny fraction of people did not state their religion.
SC and ST Population
| Caste Group |
Population |
Percentage of Total |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) |
about 3,50,000 |
around 17% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) |
very small |
around 0.1% |
Urban and Rural Population
| Region |
Population |
Share of District |
| Rural Population |
about 16,78,000 |
about 82.70% |
| Urban Population |
about 3,53,000 |
about 17.30% |
| Household Detail |
Count |
| Total Households |
3,62,573 |
Workforce and Occupation
| Workforce Category |
Number of People |
| Total Workers |
about 7,80,000 |
| Male Workers |
about 4,90,000 |
| Female Workers |
about 2,90,000 |
| Main Workers |
about 5,40,000 |
| Marginal Workers |
about 2,40,000 |
| Non-Workers |
about 12,50,000 |
Administrative Divisions
| Administrative Unit |
Count |
| Tehsils / Sub-districts |
3 |
| Total Villages |
1,295 |
| Gram Panchayats |
about 800 (approx.) |
| Towns |
several, including Pilibhit, Bisalpur and others |
Towns and Cities
| Town / City |
Remark |
| Pilibhit |
District headquarters and largest urban centre |
| Bisalpur |
Important town adding to the district’s urban population |
| Other smaller towns |
Additional Nagar Palika / Nagar Panchayat areas in the district |
Language Spoken
| Language |
Percentage / Remark |
| Hindi |
principal language and main medium of communication |
| Urdu |
used among sections of the Muslim population |
| Local dialects |
regional variants of Hindi spoken in rural areas |
Households
| Household Detail |
Count |
| Total Households |
3,62,573 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the population of Pilibhit district? — Pilibhit district has a population of 20,31,007 as per the 2011 Census.
- What is the sex ratio in Pilibhit? — The sex ratio in Pilibhit is 895 females for every 1,000 males.
- What is the literacy rate of Pilibhit? — The overall literacy rate is 61.47%, with male literacy at 71.70% and female literacy at 50.64%.
- How much of Pilibhit’s population lives in urban areas? — Around 17.30% of the population lives in urban areas and about 82.70% in rural areas.
- Which religion is followed by most people in Pilibhit? — Hinduism is the majority religion, followed by about 71.34% of residents, with Muslims as the main minority.
- How many tehsils are there in Pilibhit district? — Pilibhit district has 3 tehsils or sub‑districts.
- How many villages are there in Pilibhit? — There are 1,295 villages in Pilibhit district according to the 2011 Census.
- How many households are there in Pilibhit? — The district has 3,62,573 households as per the 2011 data.