City in Jharkhand

Dhanbad Population 2026

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

11,62,472 within city limits (Dhanbad (M Corp.)); the Dhanbad urban agglomeration had 11,96,214; the Dhanbad district had 26,84,487.

City, metro area and district compared

Metro area (UA) · 1 March 2026

≈ 13.5 lakh Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection 1 March 2026 How this is made →

13,50,000 1.35 million 1 March 2026

The Dhanbad metro area is estimated at ≈13.5 lakh on 1 March 2026, and the city within its municipal limits at ≈13.2 lakh. Census 2011 counted 11,96,214 in the urban agglomeration and 11,62,472 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

Dhanbad (municipal limits)

Census 2011: 11,62,472
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 13.2 lakh

Metro area (UA)

Dhanbad urban agglomeration

Census 2011: 11,96,214
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 13.5 lakh

District

Dhanbad district

Census 2011: 26,84,487
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 31.13 lakh

Key figures

City 2026: ≈ 13.2 lakh 13,20,000 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →
City · Census 2011: 11.62 lakh 11,62,472 Census 2011 Final count, Census of India 2011 (ORGI) How this is made →
Metro area (UA) · 2011: 11.96 lakh 11,96,214
Metro area (UA) · 2026: ≈ 13.5 lakh 13,50,000 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →
Sex ratio: 891 Jharkhand: 948
Child sex ratio (0–6): 903 Jharkhand: 948
Literacy rate: 79.5% Male 86.1% · Female 72.0%
Households: 2.21 lakh 5.3 people per household
Area: 207.0km² Census 2011 (A-4)
Density: 5,616per km² 2011
Growth 2001–11: +12.7% City
Work participation: 27.5% 2011

Population over time

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

Metro area (UA)
City
Census
Estimate

14 L 2026

› Show the numbers as a table

Year	Metro area (UA)	City
1951	73,602	73,602
1961	2,23,843	2,23,843
1971	4,56,276	4,56,276
1981	6,89,460	6,84,366
1991	8,28,301	8,09,439
2001	10,65,327	10,31,523
2011	11,96,214	11,62,472
2016 *	12,50,000	12,20,000
2021 *	13,10,000	12,70,000
2026 *	13,50,000	13,20,000
2031 *	14,00,000	13,60,000
2036 *	14,30,000	14,00,000

* Estimate

What the Dhanbad metro area includes

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

Dhanbad 11,62,472
Baua Kalan CT 9,489
Nagri Kalan CT 9,410
Malkera CT 8,232
Pondarkanali CT 6,611

What the numbers say

The city accounts for 43.3% of the population of the district it lies in.
Within comparable limits, the city grew 12.7% between 2001 and 2011.
Literacy in the city was 79.5% in 2011, against 66.4% for Jharkhand.
There were 891 females per 1,000 males, fewer than in the state (948), typical of cities that draw male migrants for work.
By 2011 population it ranks 45th among the 150+ cities on this site and 2nd in Jharkhand.
Our 2026 estimate for the metro area is ≈13.5 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 Dhanbad, they will appear on this page, at this address. Census 2027 explained →

Frequently asked questions

What is the population of Dhanbad in 2026?

There is no official figure after Census 2011. Our estimate for 1 March 2026 is ≈13.2 lakh within the 2011 city limits and ≈13.5 lakh for the metro area (urban agglomeration). Both are labelled estimates (method M1).

What was the population of Dhanbad in Census 2011?

11,62,472 within city limits (Dhanbad (M Corp.)); the Dhanbad urban agglomeration had 11,96,214; the Dhanbad district had 26,84,487.

Why do sources give such different numbers for Dhanbad?

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 Dhanbad?

79.5% in Census 2011 (men 86.1%, women 72.0%). The sex ratio was 891 females per 1,000 males.

Sources and method

Data updated: 4 October 2026 · Report a correction