City in Madhya Pradesh

Gwalior Population 2026

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

10,54,420 within city limits (Gwalior (M Corp.)); the Gwalior urban agglomeration had 11,02,884; the Gwalior district had 20,32,036.

City, metro area and district compared

Metro area (UA) · 1 March 2026

≈ 14.5 lakh Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection 1 March 2026 How this is made →

14,50,000 1.45 million 1 March 2026

The Gwalior metro area is estimated at ≈14.5 lakh on 1 March 2026, and the city within its municipal limits at ≈13.9 lakh. Census 2011 counted 11,02,884 in the urban agglomeration and 10,54,420 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

Gwalior (municipal limits)

Census 2011: 10,54,420
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 13.9 lakh

Metro area (UA)

Gwalior urban agglomeration

Census 2011: 11,02,884
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 14.5 lakh

District

Gwalior district

Census 2011: 20,32,036
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 25.71 lakh

Key figures

City 2026: ≈ 13.9 lakh 13,90,000 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →
City · Census 2011: 10.54 lakh 10,54,420 Census 2011 Final count, Census of India 2011 (ORGI) How this is made →
Metro area (UA) · 2011: 11.03 lakh 11,02,884
Metro area (UA) · 2026: ≈ 14.5 lakh 14,50,000 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →
Sex ratio: 879 Madhya Pradesh: 931
Child sex ratio (0–6): 835 Madhya Pradesh: 918
Literacy rate: 84.2% Male 89.7% · Female 78.0%
Households: 1.99 lakh 5.3 people per household
Area: 173.7km² Census 2011 (A-4)
Density: 6,071per km² 2011
Growth 2001–11: +27.5% City
Work participation: 31.0% 2011

Population over time

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

Metro area (UA)
City
Census
Estimate

16 L 2026

› Show the numbers as a table

Year	Metro area (UA)	City
1951	2,41,577	2,41,577
1961	3,00,587	3,00,587
1971	4,06,140	4,06,140
1981	5,55,862	5,39,015
1991	7,17,780	6,90,765
2001	8,65,548	8,27,026
2011	11,02,884	10,54,420
2016 *	12,30,000	11,70,000
2021 *	13,40,000	12,90,000
2026 *	14,50,000	13,90,000
2031 *	15,50,000	14,80,000
2036 *	16,30,000	15,60,000

* Estimate

What the Gwalior metro area includes

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

Gwalior 10,54,420
Morar Cantonment 48,464

What the numbers say

The city accounts for 51.9% of the population of the district it lies in.
Within comparable limits, the city grew 27.5% between 2001 and 2011.
Literacy in the city was 84.2% in 2011, against 69.3% for Madhya Pradesh.
There were 879 females per 1,000 males, fewer than in the state (931), typical of cities that draw male migrants for work.
By 2011 population it ranks 53rd among the 150+ cities on this site and 4th in Madhya Pradesh.
Our 2026 estimate for the metro area is ≈14.5 lakh, on 2011 boundaries; it is not an official figure.

Cities of similar size

Census 2027 status

Results pending

Phase I: houselisting

Done (1 May 2026 – 30 May 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 Gwalior, they will appear on this page, at this address. Census 2027 explained →

Frequently asked questions

What is the population of Gwalior in 2026?

There is no official figure after Census 2011. Our estimate for 1 March 2026 is ≈13.9 lakh within the 2011 city limits and ≈14.5 lakh for the metro area (urban agglomeration). Both are labelled estimates (method M1).

What was the population of Gwalior in Census 2011?

10,54,420 within city limits (Gwalior (M Corp.)); the Gwalior urban agglomeration had 11,02,884; the Gwalior district had 20,32,036.

Why do sources give such different numbers for Gwalior?

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 Gwalior?

84.2% in Census 2011 (men 89.7%, women 78.0%). The sex ratio was 879 females per 1,000 males.

Sources and method

Data updated: 4 October 2026 · Report a correction