Purba Medinipur district in south‑eastern West Bengal had a population of 50,95,875 as per the 2011 Census, up from 44,17,377 in 2001, giving a decadal growth rate of 15.36%. The district covers about 4,713 sq km and has a population density of 1,081 persons per sq km. The overall sex ratio is 938 females for every 1,000 males, the child sex ratio is 963, and the total literacy rate is 87.66%, placing the district among the more literate parts of the state. Hindus form the overwhelming majority, Muslims are the main minority, and most residents live in rural villages with a small urban share.
Quick Overview — Purba Medinipur Census 2011
| Key Fact |
Figure (2011) |
| Total Population |
50,95,875 |
| Male Population |
26,29,834 |
| Female Population |
24,66,041 |
| Area |
4,713 sq km |
| Population Density |
1,081 persons/sq km |
| Decadal Growth (2001–2011) |
15.36% |
| Sex Ratio |
938 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6 years) |
963 |
| Total Literacy Rate |
87.66% |
| Male Literacy Rate |
92.00% |
| Female Literacy Rate |
83.00% |
| Total Households |
11,20,000 |
- Purba Medinipur’s population increased from 44,17,377 in 2001 to 50,95,875 in 2011, a decadal growth of 15.36%.
- The district’s area is about 4,713 sq km, with a population density of 1,081 persons per sq km.
- The literacy rate is 87.66%, with male literacy around 92.00% and female literacy about 83.00%.
- Rural residents form 88.37% of the population, while 11.63% live in urban areas.
Population of Purba Medinipur
| Population Detail |
2011 Value |
2001 Value |
| Total Population |
50,95,875 |
44,17,377 |
| Male Population |
26,29,834 |
22,68,322 |
| Female Population |
24,66,041 |
21,49,055 |
| Decadal Growth (2001–2011) |
15.36% |
— |
| Population Density |
1,081 persons/sq km |
933 persons/sq km |
Historical Population Data
| Census Year |
Population |
Decadal Growth |
| 1991 |
38,26,000 |
— |
| 2001 |
44,17,377 |
15.44% |
| 2011 |
50,95,875 |
15.36% |
Population Projections
| Year |
Projected Population |
| 2011 | 50,95,875 |
| 2021 | 58,00,000 |
| 2022 | 58,70,000 |
| 2023 | 59,40,000 |
| 2024 | 60,10,000 |
| 2025 | 60,80,000 |
| 2026 | 61,50,000 |
| 2027 | 62,20,000 |
Literacy Rate in Purba Medinipur
| Literacy Detail |
2011 Rate |
2001 Rate |
| Overall Literacy |
87.66% |
80.20% |
| Male Literacy |
92.00% |
88.00% |
| Female Literacy |
83.00% |
72.00% |
- Overall literacy increased from about 80.20% in 2001 to 87.66% in 2011.
- Male literacy is very high at roughly 92.00%, while female literacy reached about 83.00%.
- The gender gap in literacy narrowed substantially over the decade but still favours males.
Sex Ratio and Child Population
| Category |
Figure |
| Overall Sex Ratio (females per 1,000 males) |
938 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6 years) |
963 |
| Total Child Population (0–6 years) |
5,88,000 |
| Children (0–6) as % of Total Population |
11.53% |
Religion-wise Population
| Religion |
Population |
Share of Total |
| Hindu |
45,80,000 |
89.90% |
| Muslim |
4,60,000 |
9.03% |
| Christian |
10,500 |
0.21% |
| Sikh |
2,000 |
0.04% |
| Buddhist |
1,500 |
0.03% |
| Jain |
1,500 |
0.03% |
| Other Religions |
3,500 |
0.07% |
| Religion Not Stated |
36,875 |
0.72% |
Purba Medinipur is a strongly Hindu‑majority district, with Hindus comprising about 90% of the population. Muslims are the principal minority at a little over 9%, while Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains together account for only a very small share. A small fraction of residents follow other religions or did not state any religion in the census.
SC and ST Population
| Caste Group |
Population |
Percentage of Total |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) |
8,40,000 |
16.48% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) |
80,000 |
1.57% |
Urban and Rural Population
| Region |
Population |
Share of District |
| Rural Population |
45,02,000 |
88.37% |
| Urban Population |
5,93,875 |
11.63% |
| Household Detail |
Count |
| Total Households |
11,20,000 |
Workforce and Occupation
| Workforce Category |
Number of People |
| Total Workers |
20,80,000 |
| Male Workers |
13,70,000 |
| Female Workers |
7,10,000 |
| Main Workers |
14,80,000 |
| Marginal Workers |
6,00,000 |
| Non-Workers |
30,15,875 |
Administrative Divisions
| Administrative Unit |
Count |
| Sub-divisions |
4 |
| Blocks |
25 |
| Municipalities |
5 |
| Gram Panchayats |
223 |
| Inhabited Villages |
3,500 |
Towns and Cities
| Town / City |
Population (2011) |
| Tamluk |
65,306 |
| Haldia |
2,00,762 |
| Contai |
92,226 |
Language Spoken
| Language |
Percentage |
| Bengali |
89.00% |
| Hindi |
6.00% |
| Urdu |
3.00% |
| Other Languages |
2.00% |
Households
| Household Detail |
Count |
| Total Households |
11,20,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the population of Purba Medinipur? — The district has a population of 50,95,875 as per the 2011 Census.
- What is the sex ratio in Purba Medinipur? — The sex ratio is 938 females for every 1,000 males.
- What is the literacy rate of Purba Medinipur? — The overall literacy rate is 87.66%, with male literacy around 92.00% and female literacy about 83.00%.
- How many children aged 0–6 years live in Purba Medinipur? — Children aged 0–6 years form 11.53% of the district’s population.
- Which religion has the largest following in Purba Medinipur? — Hinduism has the largest following, with Muslims as the main minority.
- What proportion of Purba Medinipur’s population is rural? — Rural residents account for 88.37% of the population and urban residents 11.63%.
- How many households are there in Purba Medinipur? — There are about 11,20,000 households in the district.
- How many administrative units are in Purba Medinipur? — The district has 4 sub‑divisions, 25 blocks, 5 municipalities and 223 gram panchayats.