According to the 2023 Bihar Caste Census, Bihar had a total population of 130,725,310, nearly 83% of it rural. It was also India's most densely populated state, with 1,388 persons per square kilometre. 82% of Bihar's population practiced Hinduism, while 17.7% followed Islam.

As of 2011, the sex ratio was 1112 females per 1000 males. Almost 50% of Bihar's population was below 25 years age as of new report of 2026, which is yet again highest in India. At 17%, Bihar has one of the lowest urbanisation rate in India.

Most of Bihar's population belongs to a collection of ethnic groups speaking indic languages, the most prominent ones being Bhojpuri, Maithili and Magahi. It also attracted Punjabi Hindu refugees during the Partition of British India in 1947. Bihar has a total literacy rate of 70.70% (79.70% for males and 60.5 % 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. As of 2026, Bihar has highest fertility rate of 2.7 in comparison to the other states of India but it had declined very rapidly in last 15 years. According to new NFHS - 6 report Population of people under 15 is 35.6 % of total population.

Population

+Population by age group (2001)Age Group Total Male Female0–4 11,006,072 5,623,280 5,382,7925–9 12,804,302 6,705,263 6,099,03910–14 11,063,777 5,970,201 5,093,57615–19 7,190,188 4,028,643 3,161,54520–24 6,323,193 3,180,063 3,143,13025–29 5,908,308 2,894,706 3,013,60230–34 5,549,787 2,713,871 2,835,91635–39 5,077,935 2,576,089 2,501,84640–44 4,153,203 2,213,770 1,939,43345–49 3,461,664 1,778,368 1,683,29650–54 2,711,041 1,543,620 1,167,42155–59 2,069,940 990,011 1,079,92960–64 2,103,909 1,120,743 983,16665–69 1,354,937 683,656 671,28170–74 1,029,921 571,438 458,48375–79 446,860 233,961 212,89980+ 565,647 312,207 253,440Age not stated 177,825 103,905 73,920All ages 82,998,509 43,243,795 39,754,714

Religion

+ Religion in BiharReligion 2001 20112022 surveyPopulat.(%)Populat.(%)Populat.(%) Hinduism 69,076,919 83.22 86,078,68682.69107,100,00081.99 Islam 13,722,048 16.53 17,557,80916.8723,100,00017.70 Christianity 53,137 0.06 129,2470.1275,2380.05 Buddhism 18,818 0.06 25,4530.02111,0000.08 Sikhism 20,780 0.03 23,7790.0214,7530.01 Jainism 16,085 0.02 18,9140.0212,5230.009 Other 52,905 0.06 13,4370.0116,6000.13 Not stated n/an/a 252,1270.242,146 Total 82,998,509 100% 104,099,452100%130,725,310100% As per the 2022 Bihar Caste-Based Survey, Hinduism is practised by 81.99% and Islam is followed by 17.70%.

Caste and ethnic groups

As per Bihar government’s 2022 Bihar Caste-Based Survey report, released on 2 October 2023, showed that extremely backward classes (EBCs) account for 36.01 percent of the 130.7 million population of the state. BCs, EBCs together account for 63% of total population of Bihar. Caste Groups of Bihar Caste Groups Population (%) BC 27.12% EBC 36.01% Dalits (SCs) 19.65% Forward caste 15.52% Adivasis (STs) 1.68%

Caste Population Percentage Yadav Kushwaha (Koeri) Kurmi Brahmin Teli Mallah (Nishad) Nonia Kanu Bania Bhumihar Rajput Dushadh Musahar Kayastha Ravidas Tanti Nai

As per, 2011 Census of India, Scheduled Castes constitute 16% of Bihar's 104 million population. The census identified 21 of 23 Dalit sub-castes as Mahadalits. 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). Paswan caste was initially left out of the Mahadalit category. Adivasis (Scheduled Tribes) constitute around 1.3% of Bihar population. Tribals include Gond, Santhal and Tharu communities in Bihar. Extremely Backward Class (EBCs) are also sometimes referred to as Most Backward Class(MBCs). There are 130-odd EBC castes in Bihar.

Languages

Hindi and Urdu are the official languages of the state.

Maithili language is the only language of Bihar which is one of the 22 Scheduled language of India.

Bhojpuri, Magahi, and Surjapuri are counted under Hindi. Proponents have called for Bhojpuri, Magahi, Bajjika and Angika to receive the same status.

Education

+ Education in Bihar (2001) 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

Bihar has a total literacy rate of 70.9%. Overall Male and Female literacy rate is 79.7% and 60.5% respectively. 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. . Total number of literates in Bihar is 3,16,75,607 which consists of 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

Districts

+ Districtwise Demographics (2001)Districts of BiharPopulationGrowth rateSex ratioPopulation densityTotal 2001Males 2001Females 20011981–911991–20011991200119912001West Champaran 3,043,044 1,600,853 1,442,191 18.30 30.40 877 901 446 582East Champaran 3,933,636 2,072,350 1,861,286 25.46 29.27 883 898 767 991Sheohar 514,288 271,261 243,027 27.34 36.16 876 896 853 1,161Sitamarhi 2,669,887 1,410,149 1,259,738 23.13 32.58 884 893 915 1,214Madhubani 3,570,651 1,837,361 1,733,290 21.76 26.08 932 943 809 1,020Supaul 1,745,069 908,855 836,214 23.45 29.95 904 920 557 724Araria 2,124,831 1,108,924 1,015,907 26.69 31.84 907 916 569 751Kishanganj 1,294,063 666,910 627,153 22.20 31.50 933 940 522 687Purnia 2,540,788 1,325,794 1,214,994 23.76 35.23 903 916 582 787Katihar 2,389,533 1,244,943 1,144,590 27.77 30.91 909 919 597 782Madhepura 1,524,596 796,272 728,324 22.16 29.45 885 915 659 853Saharsa 1,506,418 788,585 717,833 25.54 33.03 884 910 665 885Darbhanga 3,285,473 1,716,640 1,568,833 25.04 30.85 911 914 1,102 1,442Muzaffarpur 3,743,836 1,941,480 1,802,356 25.30 26.74 904 928 931 1,180Gopalganj 2,149,343 1,072,151 1,077,192 25.12 26.11 968 1,005 838 1,057Siwan district 2,708,840 1,332,218 1,376,622 22.04 24.78 1,017 1,033 978 1,221Saran 3,251,474 1,654,428 1,597,046 23.44 26.37 963 965 974 1,231Vaishali 2,712,389 1,412,276 1,300,113 29.08 26.39 921 921 1,054 1,332Samastipur 3,413,413 1,771,249 1,642,164 28.35 25.63 926 927 936 1,175Begusarai 2,342,989 1,226,057 1,116,932 24.61 29.11 898 911 946 1,222Khagaria 1,276,677 675,501 601,176 28.44 29.32 868 890 664 859Bhagalpur 2,430,331 1,294,192 1,136,139 20.67 27.24 864 878 743 946Banka 1,608,778 843,061 765,717 24.44 24.47 893 908 428 533Munger 1,135,499 604,662 530,837 17.79 20.34 856 878 665 800Lakhisarai 801,173 416,727 384,446 21.08 23.94 880 923 526 652Sheikhpura 525,137 273,468 251,669 19.84 24.96 896 920 610 762Nalanda 2,368,327 1,236,467 1,131,860 21.73 18.64 898 915 848 1,006Patna 4,709,851 2,514,949 2,194,902 19.84 30.17 867 873 1,130 1,471Bhojpur 2,233,415 1,175,333 1,058,082 20.26 24.58 904 900 725 903Buxar 1,403,462 738,239 665,223 18.63 29.03 884 901 670 864Kaimur 1,284,575 673,556 611,019 24.20 30.64 884 907 292 382Rohtas 2,448,762 1,282,655 1,166,107 21.77 27.71 894 909 498 636Jehanabad 1,511,406 783,960 727,446 19.43 28.64 919 928 749 963Aurangabad 2,004,960 1,035,757 969,203 24.49 30.19 915 936 466 607Gaya 3,464,983 1,789,231 1,675,752 23.92 30.03 922 937 536 696Nawada 1,809,425 928,638 880,787 23.70 33.08 936 948 545 726Jamui 1,397,474 728,812 668,662 21.90 32.90 903 917 339 451

Miscellaneous statistics , Bihar had 212,015 international migrants and 1,619,031 inter-state migrants.

See also

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

References Notes

Citations