City in Assam

Guwahati Population 2026

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

9,57,352 within city limits (Guwahati (M Corp.)); the Guwahati urban agglomeration had 9,62,334; the Kamrup Metropolitan district had 12,07,942.

City, metro area and district compared

Metro area (UA) · 1 March 2026

≈ 11.4 lakh Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection 1 March 2026 How this is made →

11,40,000 1.14 million 1 March 2026

The Guwahati metro area is estimated at ≈11.4 lakh on 1 March 2026, and the city within its municipal limits at ≈11.4 lakh. Census 2011 counted 9,62,334 in the urban agglomeration and 9,57,352 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

Guwahati (municipal limits)

Census 2011: 9,57,352
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 11.4 lakh

Metro area (UA)

Guwahati urban agglomeration

Census 2011: 9,62,334
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 11.4 lakh

District

Kamrup Metropolitan district

Census 2011: 12,07,942
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 14.31 lakh

Key figures

City 2026: ≈ 11.4 lakh 11,40,000 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →
City · Census 2011: 9.57 lakh 9,57,352 Census 2011 Final count, Census of India 2011 (ORGI) How this is made →
Metro area (UA) · 2011: 9.62 lakh 9,62,334
Metro area (UA) · 2026: ≈ 11.4 lakh 11,40,000 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →
Sex ratio: 933 Assam: 958
Child sex ratio (0–6): 940 Assam: 962
Literacy rate: 91.5% Male 94.2% · Female 88.5%
Households: 2.3 lakh 4.2 people per household
Area: 219.1km² Census 2011 (A-4)
Density: 4,370per km² 2011
Growth 2001–11: +18.2% City
Work participation: 39.0% 2011

#62 / 160
among cities on this site
#1 / 1
in Assam

Population over time

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

Metro area (UA)
City
Census
Estimate

12 L 2026

› Show the numbers as a table

Year	Metro area (UA)	City
1951	43,615	43,615
1961	1,36,239	1,36,239
1971	2,00,377	2,00,377
1991	5,84,342	5,84,342
2001	8,18,809	8,09,895
2011	9,62,334	9,57,352
2016 *	10,20,000	10,20,000
2021 *	10,80,000	10,80,000
2026 *	11,40,000	11,40,000
2031 *	11,80,000	11,90,000
2036 *	12,20,000	12,30,000

* Estimate

What the numbers say

The city accounts for 79.3% of the population of the district it lies in.
Within comparable limits, the city grew 18.2% between 2001 and 2011.
Literacy in the city was 91.5% in 2011, against 72.2% for Assam.
There were 933 females per 1,000 males, fewer than in the state (958), typical of cities that draw male migrants for work.
By 2011 population it ranks 62nd among the 150+ cities on this site and 1st in Assam.
Our 2026 estimate for the metro area is ≈11.4 lakh, on 2011 boundaries; it is not an official figure.

Cities of similar size

Census 2027 status

Results pending

Phase I: houselisting

Done (17 August 2026 – 15 September 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 Guwahati, they will appear on this page, at this address. Census 2027 explained →

Frequently asked questions

What is the population of Guwahati in 2026?

There is no official figure after Census 2011. Our estimate for 1 March 2026 is ≈11.4 lakh within the 2011 city limits and ≈11.4 lakh for the metro area (urban agglomeration). Both are labelled estimates (method M1).

What was the population of Guwahati in Census 2011?

9,57,352 within city limits (Guwahati (M Corp.)); the Guwahati urban agglomeration had 9,62,334; the Kamrup Metropolitan district had 12,07,942.

Why do sources give such different numbers for Guwahati?

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 Guwahati?

91.5% in Census 2011 (men 94.2%, women 88.5%). The sex ratio was 933 females per 1,000 males.

Sources and method

Data updated: 4 October 2026 · Report a correction