Sonbhadra district in south‑eastern Uttar Pradesh had a population of 18,62,559 as per the 2011 Census, up from 14,63,519 in 2001, recording a strong decadal growth rate of 27.27%. The district covers 6,905 sq km and has a relatively low population density of 270 persons per sq km, reflecting its large forested and hilly terrain. The overall sex ratio is 918 females for every 1,000 males, while the child sex ratio (0–6 years) stands at 925, both slightly better than the state average. The overall literacy rate is 64.03%, with male literacy at 74.92% and female literacy at 52.14%, indicating a significant gender gap in education. Hindus form an overwhelming majority, Muslims are the main minority community, and roughly 17% of the population lives in urban areas.
Quick Overview — Sonbhadra Census 2011
| Key Fact |
Figure (2011) |
| Total Population |
18,62,559 |
| Male Population |
9,71,344 |
| Female Population |
8,91,215 |
| Area |
6,905 sq km |
| Population Density |
270 persons/sq km |
| Decadal Growth (2001–2011) |
27.27% |
| Sex Ratio |
918 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6) |
925 |
| Overall Literacy Rate |
64.03% |
| Male Literacy Rate |
74.92% |
| Female Literacy Rate |
52.14% |
| Urban Population Share |
about 16.9% |
- Sonbhadra’s population increased by over one‑quarter between 2001 and 2011, reaching more than 18.6 lakh residents.
- Despite covering a very large area, the district’s population density is only 270 persons per sq km.
- The sex ratio of 918 and child sex ratio of 925 are slightly higher than the Uttar Pradesh averages.
- Literacy improved strongly over the decade, but female literacy still trails male literacy by more than 20 percentage points.
Population of Sonbhadra
| Population Detail |
2011 Value |
2001 Value |
| Total Population |
18,62,559 |
14,63,519 |
| Male Population |
9,71,344 |
7,70,897 |
| Female Population |
8,91,215 |
6,92,622 |
| Decadal Growth (2001–2011) |
27.27% |
36.28% |
| Population Density |
270 persons/sq km |
215 persons/sq km |
Historical Population Data
| Census Year |
Population |
Decadal Growth |
| 1901 | about 5,50,000 | — |
| 1911 | about 5,90,000 | 7.27% |
| 1921 | about 5,70,000 | -3.39% |
| 1931 | about 6,40,000 | 12.28% |
| 1941 | about 7,30,000 | 14.06% |
| 1951 | about 8,20,000 | 12.33% |
| 1961 | about 9,30,000 | 13.41% |
| 1971 | about 10,90,000 | 17.20% |
| 1981 | about 12,40,000 | 13.76% |
| 1991 | about 13,60,000 | 9.68% |
| 2001 | 14,63,519 | 7.59% |
| 2011 | 18,62,559 | 27.27% |
Population Projections
| Year |
Estimated Population |
| 2025 |
22,50,000 |
| 2026 |
22,90,000 |
| 2027 |
23,30,000 |
Literacy Rate in Sonbhadra
| Literacy Detail |
2011 Rate |
2001 Rate |
| Overall Literacy |
64.03% |
49.22% |
| Male Literacy |
74.92% |
62.95% |
| Female Literacy |
52.14% |
33.70% |
- Sonbhadra’s overall literacy rate increased by almost 15 percentage points between 2001 and 2011.
- Female literacy recorded especially rapid gains, rising from about 34% to over 52% in a decade.
- Despite improvements, a wide gender gap of around 23 percentage points in literacy still persists.
Sex Ratio and Child Population
| Category |
Figure |
| Overall Sex Ratio (females per 1000 males) |
918 |
| Child Sex Ratio (0–6 years) |
925 |
| Total Child Population (0–6 years) |
3,23,092 |
| Male Children (0–6 years) |
about 1,68,000 |
| Female Children (0–6 years) |
about 1,55,000 |
| Children (0–6) as % of Total Population |
about 17.3% |
Religion-wise Population
| Religion |
Population |
Share of Total |
| Hindu |
about 17,38,000 |
93.35% |
| Muslim |
about 1,04,000 |
5.56% |
| Christian |
about 3,900 |
0.21% |
| Sikh |
about 1,700 |
0.09% |
| Buddhist |
about 1,700 |
0.09% |
| Jain |
about 600 |
0.03% |
| Other Religions |
about 1,900 |
0.10% |
| Religion Not Stated |
about 10,400 |
0.56% |
Sonbhadra is a predominantly Hindu district, with more than 93% of its residents identifying as Hindu. Muslims form a small minority at just over 5%, while Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains each account for fractions of a percent. Only a tiny share of the population follows other faiths or did not state their religion in the census.
SC and ST Population
| Caste Group |
Population |
Percentage of Total |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) |
about 4,20,000 |
around 22–23% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) |
about 3,10,000 |
around 16–17% |
Urban and Rural Population
| Region |
Population |
Share of District |
| Rural Population |
about 15,48,000 |
about 83.1% |
| Urban Population |
about 3,15,000 |
about 16.9% |
| Household Detail |
Count |
| Total Households |
3,33,174 |
Workforce and Occupation
| Workforce Category |
Number of People |
| Total Workers |
about 8,40,000 |
| Male Workers |
about 5,20,000 |
| Female Workers |
about 3,20,000 |
| Main Workers |
about 5,70,000 |
| Marginal Workers |
about 2,70,000 |
| Non-Workers |
about 10,20,000 |
Administrative Divisions
| Administrative Unit |
Count |
| Tehsils / Sub-districts |
3 |
| Villages |
about 1,391–1,427 |
| Urban Towns (total) |
18 |
| Households |
3,33,174 |
Towns and Cities
| Town / City |
Remark |
| Robertsganj |
District headquarters and major urban centre |
| Obra, Renukoot, Shaktinagar and others |
Industrial and power‑plant towns contributing significantly to the urban population |
Language Spoken
| Language |
Percentage / Remark |
| Hindi |
principal language and main medium of communication |
| Bhojpuri / Eastern Hindi dialects |
widely spoken in rural and mining belts of the district |
| Other local languages |
used by smaller communities, including tribal groups |
Households
| Household Detail |
Count |
| Total Households |
3,33,174 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the population of Sonbhadra district? — Sonbhadra district has a population of 18,62,559 as per the 2011 Census.
- What is the sex ratio in Sonbhadra? — The sex ratio in Sonbhadra is 918 females for every 1,000 males.
- What is the literacy rate of Sonbhadra? — The overall literacy rate is 64.03%, with male literacy at 74.92% and female literacy at 52.14%.
- How much of Sonbhadra’s population lives in urban areas? — Around 16.9% of the population lives in urban areas and about 83.1% in rural areas.
- Which religion is followed by most people in Sonbhadra? — Hinduism is followed by about 93.35% of residents, with Muslims forming about 5.56%.
- What is the child population in Sonbhadra? — There are 3,23,092 children in the 0–6 age group, forming about 17.3% of the total population.
- How many tehsils are there in Sonbhadra district? — Sonbhadra district has 3 tehsils.
- How many households are there in Sonbhadra? — The district has 3,33,174 households according to the 2011 Census.