Saharanpur district in the northern part of Uttar Pradesh had a population of 34,66,382 as per the 2011 Census, up from 28,96,863 in 2001, reflecting solid growth over the decade. Spread across 3,689 sq km, it has a population density of 940 persons per sq km. The sex ratio stands at 890 females for every 1,000 males, and the overall literacy rate is 70.49%, indicating comparatively better education levels than many other districts in the state. The child sex ratio in the 0–6 age group is 887 girls per 1,000 boys. Hindus form the majority, while Muslims constitute a very large minority, and Hindi is the dominant language with Urdu also widely used. The district is substantially urbanised compared to many eastern Uttar Pradesh districts, with about 30.8% people living in urban areas, and it has 5,97,656 households spread across 16 towns and 1,572 villages.
Quick Overview — Saharanpur Census 2011
| Key Fact |
Figure (2011) |
| Total Population |
34,66,382 |
| Male Population |
18,34,106 |
| Female Population |
16,32,276 |
| Area |
3,689 sq km |
| Population Density |
940 persons/sq km |
| Sex Ratio |
890 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6) |
887 |
| Overall Literacy Rate |
70.49% |
| Male Literacy Rate |
78.28% |
| Female Literacy Rate |
61.96% |
| Urban Population Share |
30.80% |
| Total Households |
5,97,656 |
- Saharanpur’s population grew by about 19.59% between 2001 and 2011, crossing 34.6 lakh residents.
- The district is relatively densely populated, with 940 persons living in each square kilometre.
- Literacy is comparatively high for the region, though a gender gap in literacy levels still exists.
- Nearly one‑third of the population lives in urban areas, making the district more urbanised than many others in Uttar Pradesh.
Population of Saharanpur
| Population Detail |
2011 Value |
2001 Value |
| Total Population |
34,66,382 |
28,96,863 |
| Male Population |
18,34,106 |
15,53,322 |
| Female Population |
16,32,276 |
13,43,541 |
| Decadal Growth (2001–2011) |
19.59% |
— |
| Population Density |
940 persons/sq km |
785 persons/sq km |
Historical Population Data
| Census Year |
Population |
Decadal Growth |
| 1901 | 11,88,295 | — |
| 1911 | 12,26,000 | 3.18% |
| 1921 | 11,84,000 | -3.43% |
| 1931 | 13,12,000 | 10.79% |
| 1941 | 14,65,000 | 11.65% |
| 1951 | 16,37,000 | 11.75% |
| 1961 | 19,20,000 | 17.30% |
| 1971 | 23,01,000 | 19.84% |
| 1981 | 27,69,000 | 20.33% |
| 1991 | 25,86,000 | -6.61% |
| 2001 | 28,96,863 | 12.00% |
| 2011 | 34,66,382 | 19.59% |
Population Projections
| Year |
Estimated Population |
| 2025 |
41,50,000 |
| 2026 |
41,91,757 |
| 2027 |
42,23,051 |
Literacy Rate in Saharanpur
| Literacy Detail |
2011 Rate |
2001 Rate |
| Overall Literacy |
70.49% |
61.22% |
| Male Literacy |
78.28% |
70.91% |
| Female Literacy |
61.96% |
50.47% |
- Overall literacy in Saharanpur rose by more than nine percentage points between 2001 and 2011.
- Female literacy improved strongly, narrowing the gender gap, though male literacy still remains higher.
- Urban areas generally show higher literacy than rural parts of the district, reflecting better access to schools and colleges.
Sex Ratio and Child Population
| Category |
Figure |
| Overall Sex Ratio (females per 1000 males) |
890 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6 years) |
887 |
| Total Child Population (0–6 years) |
5,59,171 |
| Male Children (0–6 years) |
2,96,672 |
| Female Children (0–6 years) |
2,62,499 |
| Children (0–6) as % of Total Population |
16.13% |
Religion-wise Population
| Religion |
Population |
Share of Total |
| Hindu |
19,66,799 |
56.74% |
| Muslim |
14,54,352 |
41.95% |
| Christian |
6,586 |
0.19% |
| Sikh |
18,718 |
0.54% |
| Buddhist |
2,080 |
0.06% |
| Jain |
10,053 |
0.29% |
| Other Religions |
132 |
0.00% |
| Religion Not Stated |
7,662 |
0.23% |
Saharanpur has a Hindu majority, but Muslims also form a very large share of the population at nearly 42%, making the district’s demographic profile distinctly mixed. Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, followers of other religions, and people who did not state their religion together make up a small fraction of the total population.
SC and ST Population
| Caste Group |
Population |
Percentage of Total |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) |
5,29,273 |
15.26% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) |
3,276 |
0.09% |
Urban and Rural Population
| Region |
Population |
Share of District |
| Urban Population |
10,66,526 |
30.80% |
| Rural Population |
23,99,856 |
69.20% |
| Household Detail |
Count |
| Total Households |
5,97,656 |
| Urban Households |
1,82,560 |
| Rural Households |
4,15,096 |
Workforce and Occupation
| Workforce Category |
Number of People |
| Total Workers |
10,75,293 |
| Male Workers |
8,58,273 |
| Female Workers |
2,17,020 |
| Main Workers |
8,31,092 |
| Marginal Workers |
2,44,201 |
| Non-Workers |
23,91,089 |
Administrative Divisions
| Administrative Unit |
Count |
| Tehsils / Sub‑districts |
5 |
| Towns |
16 |
| Villages |
1,572 |
Towns and Cities
| Town / City |
Remark |
| Saharanpur |
District headquarters and largest urban centre |
Language Spoken
| Language |
Remark |
| Hindi |
Dominant official and everyday language |
| Urdu |
Widely used, especially among the Muslim population |
Households
| Household Detail |
Count |
| Total Households |
5,97,656 |
| Urban Households |
1,82,560 |
| Rural Households |
4,15,096 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the population of Saharanpur district? — Saharanpur district has a population of 34,66,382 as per the 2011 Census.
- What is the literacy rate of Saharanpur? — The overall literacy rate in Saharanpur is 70.49%, with male literacy at 78.28% and female literacy at 61.96%.
- What is the sex ratio in Saharanpur district? — The sex ratio in Saharanpur is 890 females for every 1,000 males.
- What is the child sex ratio of Saharanpur? — The child sex ratio in Saharanpur is 887 girls for every 1,000 boys in the 0–6 age group.
- How many villages are there in Saharanpur? — There are 1,572 villages in Saharanpur district according to the 2011 Census directory.
- How urbanised is Saharanpur district? — About 30.80% of Saharanpur’s population lives in urban areas, while 69.20% lives in rural areas.
- Which religions are mainly followed in Saharanpur? — Hinduism is followed by 56.74% of the population and Islam by 41.95% in Saharanpur district.
- What is the area and population density of Saharanpur? — The district covers 3,689 sq km and has a population density of 940 persons per sq km.