City in Maharashtra

Bhiwandi Population 2026

Q: What was the population of Bhiwandi in Census 2011?

7,09,665 within city limits (Bhiwandi Nizampur (M Corp.)); the Bhiwandi urban agglomeration had 7,35,681; the Thane district had 80,54,409.

City, metro area and district compared

Metro area (UA) · 1 March 2026

≈ 8.6 lakh Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection 1 March 2026 How this is made →

8,60,000 860,000 1 March 2026

The Bhiwandi metro area is estimated at ≈8.6 lakh on 1 March 2026, and the city within its municipal limits at ≈8.3 lakh. Census 2011 counted 7,35,681 in the urban agglomeration and 7,09,665 in the city.

Estimates: method M1 on 2011 boundaries, not official figures. Census: ORGI.

Which number do you mean?

Three areas share the name. Quoting the district figure as the “city population” is the most common mistake.

City

Bhiwandi (municipal limits)

Census 2011: 7,09,665
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 8.3 lakh

Metro area (UA)

Bhiwandi urban agglomeration

Census 2011: 7,35,681
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 8.6 lakh

District

Thane district

Census 2011: 80,54,409
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 1.04 crore

Key figures

City 2026: ≈ 8.3 lakh 8,30,000 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →
City · Census 2011: 7.1 lakh 7,09,665 Census 2011 Final count, Census of India 2011 (ORGI) How this is made →
Metro area (UA) · 2011: 7.36 lakh 7,35,681
Metro area (UA) · 2026: ≈ 8.6 lakh 8,60,000 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →
Sex ratio: 709 Maharashtra: 929
Child sex ratio (0–6): 944 Maharashtra: 894
Literacy rate: 79.5% Male 82.0% · Female 75.7%
Households: 1.4 lakh 5.1 people per household
Area: 26.4km² Census 2011 (A-4)
Density: 26,871per km² 2011
Growth 2001–11: +18.5% City
Work participation: 40.8% 2011

Population over time

Census counts within the limits of each year, then our estimates on 2011 boundaries.

Metro area (UA)
City
Census
Estimate

9.2 L 2026

› Show the numbers as a table

Year	Metro area (UA)	City
1951	25,764	25,764
1961	47,630	47,630
1971	79,576	79,576
1981	1,70,599	1,70,599
1991	3,92,214	3,79,070
2001	6,21,427	5,98,741
2011	7,35,681	7,09,665
2016 *	7,80,000	7,60,000
2021 *	8,30,000	8,00,000
2026 *	8,60,000	8,30,000
2031 *	8,90,000	8,60,000
2036 *	9,20,000	8,90,000

* Estimate

What the Bhiwandi metro area includes

Constituent units of the urban agglomeration, Census 2011. CT = census town; OG = outgrowth.

Bhiwandi 7,09,665
Khoni CT 26,016

What the numbers say

The city accounts for 8.8% of the population of the district it lies in.
Within comparable limits, the city grew 18.5% between 2001 and 2011.
Literacy in the city was 79.5% in 2011, against 82.3% for Maharashtra.
There were 709 females per 1,000 males, fewer than in the state (929), typical of cities that draw male migrants for work.
By 2011 population it ranks 73rd among the 150+ cities on this site and 13th in Maharashtra.
Our 2026 estimate for the metro area is ≈8.6 lakh, on 2011 boundaries; it is not an official figure.

Cities of similar size

Census 2027 status

Results pending

Phase I: houselisting

Done (16 May 2026 – 14 June 2026)
Phase II: counting people

February 2027 (reference date 1 March 2027)
Results

Not yet released. In 2011, first figures came about a month after counting ended.

When the Registrar General publishes Census 2027 figures for Bhiwandi, they will appear on this page, at this address. Census 2027 explained →

Frequently asked questions

What is the population of Bhiwandi in 2026?

There is no official figure after Census 2011. Our estimate for 1 March 2026 is ≈8.3 lakh within the 2011 city limits and ≈8.6 lakh for the metro area (urban agglomeration). Both are labelled estimates (method M1).

What was the population of Bhiwandi in Census 2011?

7,09,665 within city limits (Bhiwandi Nizampur (M Corp.)); the Bhiwandi urban agglomeration had 7,35,681; the Thane district had 80,54,409.

Why do sources give such different numbers for Bhiwandi?

They measure different areas. The municipal body covers the city proper; the urban agglomeration adds the contiguous towns and outgrowths around it; the district adds rural areas too. Quoting the district figure as the "city population" is the most common mistake.

What is the literacy rate of Bhiwandi?

79.5% in Census 2011 (men 82.0%, women 75.7%). The sex ratio was 709 females per 1,000 males.

Sources and method

Data updated: 4 October 2026 · Report a correction