Demographics of Bihar

Demographic data on the Indian state

At the 2011 Census, Bihar was the third most populous state of India with total population of 104,099,452, nearly 89% of it rural. It was also India's most densely populated state, with 1,106 persons per square kilometre. The sex ratio was 918 females per 1000 males.[1] Almost 58% of Bihar's population was below 25 years age, which is the highest in India. At 11.3%, Bihar has the second-lowest urbanisation rate in India after Himachal Pradesh.[2]

Most of Bihar's population belongs to a collection of ethnic groups speaking indic languages. It also attracted Punjabi Hindu refugees during the Partition of British India in 1947.[3] Bihar has a total literacy rate of 63.82% (73.39% for males and 53.33% for females), recording a growth of 20% in female literacy over the preceding decade. According to the 2011 census, 82.7% of Bihar's population practised Hinduism, while 16.9% followed Islam.[4] Bihar has highest fertility rate of 3.41 in comparison to the other states of India.[5]

## Population[edit]

Population by Age group (2001)[6]

Age Group | Total | Male | Female
0–4 | 11006072 | 5623280 | 5382792
5–9 | 12804302 | 6705263 | 6099039
10–14 | 11063777 | 5970201 | 5093576
15–19 | 7190188 | 4028643 | 3161545
20–24 | 6323193 | 3180063 | 3143130
25–29 | 5908308 | 2894706 | 3013602
30–34 | 5549787 | 2713871 | 2835916
35–39 | 5077935 | 2576089 | 2501846
40–44 | 4153203 | 2213770 | 1939433
45–49 | 3461664 | 1778368 | 1683296
50–54 | 2711041 | 1543620 | 1167421
55–59 | 2069940 | 990011 | 1079929
60–64 | 2103909 | 1120743 | 983166
65–69 | 1354937 | 683656 | 671281
70–74 | 1029921 | 571438 | 458483
75–79 | 446860 | 233961 | 212899
80+ | 565647 | 312207 | 253440
Age not stated | 177825 | 103905 | 73920
All ages | 82998509 | 43243795 | 39754714

## Religion[edit]

Main article: Religion in Bihar

Religions in Bihar 2011

Hinduism (82.7%)

Islam (16.9%)

Others (0.4%)

Religion in Bihar  Religion | 2001[7] | 2011[8]

|
|

Hinduism | 69,076,919 | 86,078,686
Islam | 13,722,048 | 17,557,809
Christianity | 53,137 | 129,247
Buddhism | 18,818 | 25,453
Sikhism | 20,780 | 23,779
Jainism | 16,085 | 18,914
Other | 52,905 | 13,437
Not stated | n/a[a] | 252,127
Total | 82,998,509 | 104,099,452
Religion in Bihar (%)  Religion | 2001[7] | 2011[8]

|
|

Hinduism | 83.22 | 82.69
Islam | 16.53 | 16.87
Christianity | 0.06 | 0.12
Buddhism | 0.02 | 0.02
Sikhism | 0.03 | 0.02
Jainism | 0.02 | 0.02
Other | 0.06 | 0.01
Not stated | n/a[b] | 0.24

As per recently released Bihar caste-based survey 2022, Hinduism is practised by 81.99% and Islam is followed by 17.70%.[9]

## Caste and ethnic groups[edit]

Main article: Bihar caste-based survey 2022

As per Bihar government’s Bihar caste-based survey 2022 report, released on 2 October 2023, showed that extremely backward classes (EBCs) account for 36.01 percent of the 13.07 crore population of the state.[10][11] OBCs, EBCs together account for 63% of total population of Bihar.[12][13]

Caste Groups of Bihar[14][15]

Caste Groups | Population[16] (%)
OBC | 27.12%
EBC | 36.01%
Dalits(SCs) | 19.65%
Forward caste | 15.52%
Adivasis(STs) | 1.68%

Caste | Population | Percentage

|
|

Yadav | 18,650,119 | 14.2666%
Kushwaha (Koeri) | 5,506,113 | 4.212%
Kurmi | 3,762,969 | 2.8785%
Brahmin | 4,781,280 | 3.6575%
Teli | 3,677,491 | 2.8131%
Mallah (Nishad) | 3,410,093 | 2.6086%
Nonia | 2,498,474 | 1.9112%
Kanu | 2,892,761 | 2.2129%
Bania | 3,026,912 | 2.3155%
Bhumihar | 3,750,886 | 2.8693%
Rajput | 4,510,733 | 3.4505%
Dushadh | 6,943,000 | 5.3111%
Musahar | 4,035,787 | 3.0872%
Kayastha | 785,771 | 0.6011%
Ravidas | 6,869,664 | 5.255%

* As per, 2011 Census of India , Scheduled Castes constitute 16% of Bihar's 104 million population.[17] The census identified 21 of 23 Dalit sub-castes as Mahadalits.[18] Mahadalit community consists of the following sub castes - Bantar, Bauri, Bhogta, Bhuiya, Chaupal, Dabgar, Dom (Dhangad), Ghasi, Halalkhor, Hari (Mehtar, Bhangi), Kanjar, Kurariar, Lalbegi, Musahar, Nat, Pan (Swasi), Rajwar, Turi, Dhobi, Pasi, Chamar and Paswan (Dusadh).[19] Paswan caste was initially left out of the Mahadalit category.[20][21][22] Adivasis (Scheduled Tribes) constitute around 1.3% of Bihar population.[23][24] Tribals include Gond, Santhal and Tharu communities in Bihar.[25][26]
* Extremely Backward Class (EBCs) are also sometimes referred to as Most Backward Class(MBCs). There are 130-odd EBC castes in Bihar.[27][28][29]

## Languages[edit]

Main article: Languages of Bihar

See also: Maithili language, Bhojpuri language, Angika, Magahi, Magadhi Prakrit, and Hindi in Bihar

Languages of Bihar (2011)[30]

Hindi (25.54%)

Bhojpuri (24.86%)

Maithili (12.55%)

Magahi (10.87%)

Urdu (8.42%)

Surjapuri (1.78%)

Others (15.98%)

Hindi and Urdu are the official languages of the state, whilst the majority of the people speak one of the Bihari languages – Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Maithili or Angika. Maithili is also one of the recognised regional languages of India as per the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Proponents have called Bhojpuri, Magahi, Bajjika and Angika to receive the same status.[31][32][33]

## Education[edit]

Education in Bihar (2001)[34] Level | Persons | Male | Female

|
|
|

Literate without educational | 1,715,049 | 1,109,731 | 605,318
Below Primary | 7,890,329 | 4,754,137 | 3,136,192
Primary | 8,334,709 | 5,130,917 | 3,203,792
Middle | 4,390,226 | 3,012,151 | 1,378,075
Secondary | 4,751,560 | 3,439,918 | 1,311,642
Higher Secondary | 1,826,093 | 1,385,282 | 440,811
Technical Diploma | 24,989 | 20,088 | 4,901
Non-technical Diploma | 48,532 | 40,458 | 8,074
Graduate & above | 2,109,415 | 1,737,651 | 371,764
Unclassified | 18,675 | 14,043 | 4,632

Main articles: Education in Bihar and Literacy In Bihar

Bihar has a total literacy rate of 69.83%. Overall Male and Female literacy rate is 70.32% and 53.57% respectively.[35] Total Rural literacy rate is 43.9%. In rural areas of Bihar, Male and Female literacy rate is 57.1 and 29.6 respectively. Total Urban literacy rate is 71.9. In urban areas of Bihar, Male and Female literacy rate is 79.9 and 62.6 respectively. .[36] Total number of literates in Bihar is 3,16,75,607 which consists 2,09,78,955 Male and 1,06,96,652 Female. Patna has highest Literacy Rate of 63.82% followed by Rohtas (62.36%) and Munger (60.11%). Kishanganj has lowest Literacy Rate of 31.02% followed by Araria (34.94%) and Katihar (35.29%).

## Economics[edit]

Main article: Economy of Bihar

## Districts[edit]

Districtwise Demographics (2001)[37] Districts of Bihar | Total Population
2001
| Male Population
2001
| Female Population
2001
| Growth Rate
1981–91
| Growth Rate
1991-01
| Sex Ratio
1991
| Sex Ratio
2001
| Population density
1991
| Population density
2001

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

West Champaran | 3,043,044 | 1,600,853 | 1,442,191 | 18.30 | 30.40 | 877 | 901 | 446 | 582
East Champaran | 3,933,636 | 2,072,350 | 1,861,286 | 25.46 | 29.27 | 883 | 898 | 767 | 991
Sheohar | 514,288 | 271,261 | 243,027 | 27.34 | 36.16 | 876 | 896 | 853 | 1,161
Sitamarhi | 2,669,887 | 1,410,149 | 1,259,738 | 23.13 | 32.58 | 884 | 893 | 915 | 1,214
Madhubani | 3,570,651 | 1,837,361 | 1,733,290 | 21.76 | 26.08 | 932 | 943 | 809 | 1,020
Supaul | 1,745,069 | 908,855 | 836,214 | 23.45 | 29.95 | 904 | 920 | 557 | 724
Araria | 2,124,831 | 1,108,924 | 1,015,907 | 26.69 | 31.84 | 907 | 916 | 569 | 751
Kishanganj | 1,294,063 | 666,910 | 627,153 | 22.20 | 31.50 | 933 | 940 | 522 | 687
Purnia | 2,540,788 | 1,325,794 | 1,214,994 | 23.76 | 35.23 | 903 | 916 | 582 | 787
Katihar | 2,389,533 | 1,244,943 | 1,144,590 | 27.77 | 30.91 | 909 | 919 | 597 | 782
Madhepura | 1,524,596 | 796,272 | 728,324 | 22.16 | 29.45 | 885 | 915 | 659 | 853
Saharsa | 1,506,418 | 788,585 | 717,833 | 25.54 | 33.03 | 884 | 910 | 665 | 885
Darbhanga | 3,285,473 | 1,716,640 | 1,568,833 | 25.04 | 30.85 | 911 | 914 | 1,102 | 1,442
Muzaffarpur | 3,743,836 | 1,941,480 | 1,802,356 | 25.30 | 26.74 | 904 | 928 | 931 | 1,180
Gopalganj | 2,149,343 | 1,072,151 | 1,077,192 | 25.12 | 26.11 | 968 | 1,005 | 838 | 1,057
Siwan district | 2,708,840 | 1,332,218 | 1,376,622 | 22.04 | 24.78 | 1,017 | 1,033 | 978 | 1,221
Saran | 3,251,474 | 1,654,428 | 1,597,046 | 23.44 | 26.37 | 963 | 965 | 974 | 1,231
Vaishali | 2,712,389 | 1,412,276 | 1,300,113 | 29.08 | 26.39 | 921 | 921 | 1,054 | 1,332
Samastipur | 3,413,413 | 1,771,249 | 1,642,164 | 28.35 | 25.63 | 926 | 927 | 936 | 1,175
Begusarai | 2,342,989 | 1,226,057 | 1,116,932 | 24.61 | 29.11 | 898 | 911 | 946 | 1,222
Khagaria | 1,276,677 | 675,501 | 601,176 | 28.44 | 29.32 | 868 | 890 | 664 | 859
Bhagalpur | 2,430,331 | 1,294,192 | 1,136,139 | 20.67 | 27.24 | 864 | 878 | 743 | 946
Banka | 1,608,778 | 843,061 | 765,717 | 24.44 | 24.47 | 893 | 908 | 428 | 533
Munger | 1,135,499 | 604,662 | 530,837 | 17.79 | 20.34 | 856 | 878 | 665 | 800
Lakhisarai | 801,173 | 416,727 | 384,446 | 21.08 | 23.94 | 880 | 923 | 526 | 652
Sheikhpura | 525,137 | 273,468 | 251,669 | 19.84 | 24.96 | 896 | 920 | 610 | 762
Nalanda | 2,368,327 | 1,236,467 | 1,131,860 | 21.73 | 18.64 | 898 | 915 | 848 | 1,006
Patna | 4,709,851 | 2,514,949 | 2,194,902 | 19.84 | 30.17 | 867 | 873 | 1,130 | 1,471
Bhojpur | 2,233,415 | 1,175,333 | 1,058,082 | 20.26 | 24.58 | 904 | 900 | 725 | 903
Buxar | 1,403,462 | 738,239 | 665,223 | 18.63 | 29.03 | 884 | 901 | 670 | 864
Kaimur | 1,284,575 | 673,556 | 611,019 | 24.20 | 30.64 | 884 | 907 | 292 | 382
Rohtas | 2,448,762 | 1,282,655 | 1,166,107 | 21.77 | 27.71 | 894 | 909 | 498 | 636
Jehanabad | 1,511,406 | 783,960 | 727,446 | 19.43 | 28.64 | 919 | 928 | 749 | 963
Aurangabad | 2,004,960 | 1,035,757 | 969,203 | 24.49 | 30.19 | 915 | 936 | 466 | 607
Gaya | 3,464,983 | 1,789,231 | 1,675,752 | 23.92 | 30.03 | 922 | 937 | 536 | 696
Nawada | 1,809,425 | 928,638 | 880,787 | 23.70 | 33.08 | 936 | 948 | 545 | 726
Jamui | 1,397,474 | 728,812 | 668,662 | 21.90 | 32.90 | 903 | 917 | 339 | 451

## Miscellaneous statistics[edit]

As of 2001[update], Bihar had 212,015 international migrants[38] and 1,619,031 inter-state migrants.[39]

## See also[edit]

* India portal

* Bihar caste-based survey 2023
* Demographics of India
* Demographics of Asia

## References[edit]

Notes

1. ^ The 2001 Census did not record a figure for people who did not specify their religion
2. ^ The 2001 Census did not record a figure for people who did not specify their religion

Citations

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4. ^ Singh, Vijaita (25 August 2015). "Bihar elections among factors in religious data of Census 2011 release". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2017 - via www.TheHindu.com.
5. ^ Daniyal, Shoaib (28 August 2021). "Why is Madras High Court questioning the 'one man, one vote' principle for India's Parliament?". scroll.in. Archived from the original on 4 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
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8. ^ a b "Indian Census 2011". Census Department, Government of India. Archived from the original on 13 September 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
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14. ^ Tewary, Amarnath (2 October 2023). "Bihar caste survey OBCs, EBCs comprise more than 63% of State's population". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
15. ^ "Bihar Caste Survey Report: बिहार में 1 प्रतिशत से अधिक आबादी वाली कितनी हैं जातियां? देखें पूरी लिस्ट". Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
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19. ^ "News, Breaking News, Latest News, News Headlines, Live News, Today News CNN-News18". News18. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
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26. ^ "Stage set for tribal all-woman battalion". Archived from the original on 30 November 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
27. ^ "Nitish Kumar's gambit: temple fund, 2 EBCs added to SC/ST list". 7 September 2015. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
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33. ^ "38 भाषाओं को संवैधानिक दर्जा देने की मांग पर निश्चित मानदंड तैयार नहीं हुआ". thewirehindi.com. 19 July 2017. Archived from the original on 9 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
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39. ^ "Census of India – Inter state migration". Censusindia.gov.in. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2014.

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