Slum Population in India State Wise: Census 2021

Quick Overview – Slum Population Census 2011

• Total slum population: 65.5 million (5.41% of India’s population, 17.4% of urban dwellers).
• Slum households: 13.92 million in 2613 towns/cities across 31 states/UTs.
• Largest slum populations: Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh.
• Most slum towns: Tamil Nadu (507), Madhya Pradesh (303), Uttar Pradesh (293), Karnataka (206), Maharashtra (189), Andhra Pradesh (125), West Bengal (122), Rajasthan (107), Gujarat (103).
• Highest slum population: Maharashtra (11.8 million, 10.54% state), Andhra Pradesh (10.2 million, 12.04%), West Bengal (6.4 million), Uttar Pradesh (6.2 million).
• Best slum literacy: Kerala (93.11%), Mizoram (98.11%), Puducherry (81.39%).
• Best sex-ratio: Mizoram (1022), Puducherry (1051), Tamil Nadu (1009). Lowest: Chandigarh (784).
• No/lowest slum population: Manipur, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep.

Historic & Urban Distribution Trends

• Slum population 2001: 42.6 million; 2011: 65.5 million (+53.8%).
• Small towns (<20,000 pop): 27.2% have slums. Medium towns (20,000–100,000): 24.3%.
• Urban pull: slums form by rapid migration, lack of affordable housing, and insufficient social infrastructure.
• High positive correlation between level of urbanization and slum concentration.

State/UT-wise Census 2011 Slum Data

State/UT	Slum Population	% of State Pop	Male	Female	Sex Ratio	Literacy %
India	65,494,604	5.41	33,968,203	31,526,401	929	77.72
Maharashtra	11,848,423	10.54	6,328,217	5,520,206	873	84.55
Andhra Pradesh	10,186,934	12.04	5,103,377	5,083,557	997	75.32
Tamil Nadu	5,798,459	8.04	2,886,993	2,911,466	1009	82.06
West Bengal	6,418,594	7.03	3,321,700	3,096,894	933	81.38
Uttar Pradesh	6,239,965	3.12	3,298,339	2,941,626	892	68.98
Madhya Pradesh	5,688,993	7.83	2,957,524	2,731,469	924	77.25
Karnataka	3,291,434	5.39	1,650,724	1,640,710	994	75.63
Chhattisgarh	1,898,931	7.43	966,623	932,308	965	80.36
Rajasthan	2,068,000	3.02	1,078,991	989,009	917	69.79
Delhi	1,785,390	10.63	974,329	811,061	833	75.16
Gujarat	1,680,095	2.78	912,571	767,524	842	70.49
Haryana	1,662,305	6.56	887,947	774,358	873	75.87
Punjab	1,460,518	5.26	776,388	684,130	882	74.18
Bihar	1,237,682	1.19	649,475	588,207	906	68.15
Jammu & Kashmir	662,062	5.28	342,422	319,640	934	68.02
Uttarakhand	487,741	4.84	257,624	230,117	894	76.88
Jharkhand	372,999	1.13	192,908	180,091	934	75.51
Kerala	202,048	0.60	97,429	104,619	1074	93.11
Assam	197,266	0.63	101,424	95,842	945	81.57
Puducherry	144,573	11.58	70,491	74,082	1051	81.39
Tripura	139,780	3.80	70,143	69,637	993	90.71
Chandigarh	95,135	9.01	53,340	41,795	784	66.38
Nagaland	82,324	4.16	42,651	39,673	931	88.85
Mizoram	78,561	7.16	38,861	39,700	1022	98.11
Himachal Pradesh	61,312	0.89	32,555	28,757	884	87.74
Meghalaya	57,418	1.94	28,737	28,681	999	89.02
Sikkim	31,378	5.14	16,216	15,162	936	88.13
Goa	26,247	1.8	13,826	12,421	899	82.44
Arunachal Pradesh	15,562	1.12	8,029	7,533	939	69.39
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	14,172	3.72	7,386	6,786	919	82.8

Socio-Economic Facts & Classifications

• Three types of slums: Notified, Recognized, and Identified, per census definitions (300+ people or 60+ households, poor infrastructure, overcrowding, etc).
• Major drivers: migration, affordable housing shortage, planned/unplanned city expansion, urban employment hubs.
• Policy interventions: Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U), National Urban Renewal Mission, targeted census blocks.
• Average literacy rate among slum dwellers: 77.7%.