City in Karnataka

Kalaburagi Population 2026

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

5,33,587 within city limits (Gulbarga (M Corp.)); the Gulbarga urban agglomeration had 5,43,147; the Kalaburagi district had 25,66,326.

City, metro area and district compared · formerly Gulbarga

Metro area (UA) · 1 March 2026

≈ 6.6 lakh Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection 1 March 2026 How this is made →

6,60,000 660,000 1 March 2026

The Kalaburagi metro area is estimated at ≈6.6 lakh on 1 March 2026, and the city within its municipal limits at ≈6.5 lakh. Census 2011 counted 5,43,147 in the urban agglomeration and 5,33,587 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

Kalaburagi (municipal limits)

Census 2011: 5,33,587
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 6.5 lakh

Metro area (UA)

Gulbarga urban agglomeration

Census 2011: 5,43,147
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 6.6 lakh

District

Kalaburagi district

Census 2011: 25,66,326
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 29.35 lakh

Key figures

City 2026: ≈ 6.5 lakh 6,50,000 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →
City · Census 2011: 5.34 lakh 5,33,587 Census 2011 Final count, Census of India 2011 (ORGI) How this is made →
Metro area (UA) · 2011: 5.43 lakh 5,43,147
Metro area (UA) · 2026: ≈ 6.6 lakh 6,60,000 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →
Sex ratio: 964 Karnataka: 973
Child sex ratio (0–6): 930 Karnataka: 948
Literacy rate: 82.3% Male 87.9% · Female 76.6%
Households: 1.01 lakh 5.3 people per household
Area: 54.7km² Census 2011 (A-4)
Density: 9,764per km² 2011
Growth 2001–11: +26.3% City
Work participation: 33.0% 2011

Population over time

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

Metro area (UA)
City
Census
Estimate

7.1 L 2026

› Show the numbers as a table

Year	Metro area (UA)	City
1951	77,189	77,189
1961	97,069	97,069
1971	1,45,588	1,45,588
1981	2,21,325	2,21,325
1991	3,10,920	3,07,124
2001	4,30,265	4,22,569
2011	5,43,147	5,33,587
2016 *	5,90,000	5,80,000
2021 *	6,30,000	6,20,000
2026 *	6,60,000	6,50,000
2031 *	6,90,000	6,70,000
2036 *	7,10,000	6,90,000

* Estimate

What the numbers say

The city accounts for 20.8% of the population of the district it lies in.
Within comparable limits, the city grew 26.3% between 2001 and 2011.
Literacy in the city was 82.3% in 2011, against 75.4% for Karnataka.
By 2011 population it ranks 98th among the 150+ cities on this site and 6th in Karnataka.
Our 2026 estimate for the metro area is ≈6.6 lakh, on 2011 boundaries; it is not an official figure.

Note: Renamed from Gulbarga in 2014.

Cities of similar size

Census 2027 status

Results pending

Phase I: houselisting

Done (16 April 2026 – 15 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 Kalaburagi, they will appear on this page, at this address. Census 2027 explained →

Frequently asked questions

What is the population of Kalaburagi in 2026?

There is no official figure after Census 2011. Our estimate for 1 March 2026 is ≈6.5 lakh within the 2011 city limits and ≈6.6 lakh for the metro area (urban agglomeration). Both are labelled estimates (method M1).

What was the population of Kalaburagi in Census 2011?

5,33,587 within city limits (Gulbarga (M Corp.)); the Gulbarga urban agglomeration had 5,43,147; the Kalaburagi district had 25,66,326.

Why do sources give such different numbers for Kalaburagi?

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 Kalaburagi?

82.3% in Census 2011 (men 87.9%, women 76.6%). The sex ratio was 964 females per 1,000 males.

Sources and method

Data updated: 4 October 2026 · Report a correction