City in Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow Population 2026

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

28,17,105 within city limits (Lucknow (M Corp.)); the Lucknow urban agglomeration had 29,02,920; the Lucknow district had 45,89,838.

City, metro area and district compared

Metro area (UA) · 1 March 2026

≈ 38.1 lakh Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection 1 March 2026 How this is made →

38,10,000 3.81 million 1 March 2026

The Lucknow metro area is estimated at ≈38.1 lakh on 1 March 2026, and the city within its municipal limits at ≈36.9 lakh. Census 2011 counted 29,02,920 in the urban agglomeration and 28,17,105 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

Lucknow (municipal limits)

Census 2011: 28,17,105
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 36.9 lakh

Metro area (UA)

Lucknow urban agglomeration

Census 2011: 29,02,920
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 38.1 lakh

District

Lucknow district

Census 2011: 45,89,838
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 57.65 lakh

Key figures

City 2026: ≈ 36.9 lakh 36,90,000 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →
City · Census 2011: 28.17 lakh 28,17,105 Census 2011 Final count, Census of India 2011 (ORGI) How this is made →
Metro area (UA) · 2011: 29.03 lakh 29,02,920
Metro area (UA) · 2026: ≈ 38.1 lakh 38,10,000 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →
Sex ratio: 928 Uttar Pradesh: 912
Child sex ratio (0–6): 904 Uttar Pradesh: 902
Literacy rate: 82.5% Male 86.0% · Female 78.7%
Households: 5.38 lakh 5.2 people per household
Area: 348.8km² Census 2011 (A-4)
Density: 8,077per km² 2011
Growth 2001–11: +28.9% City
Work participation: 33.5% 2011

Population over time

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

Metro area (UA)
City
Census
Estimate

42 L 2026

› Show the numbers as a table

Year	Metro area (UA)	City
1951	4,96,861	4,59,484
1961	6,55,673	6,15,523
1971	8,13,982	7,74,644
1981	10,07,604	9,47,990
1991	16,69,204	16,19,115
2001	22,45,509	21,85,927
2011	29,02,920	28,17,105
2016 *	32,40,000	31,40,000
2021 *	35,50,000	34,40,000
2026 *	38,10,000	36,90,000
2031 *	40,10,000	38,80,000
2036 *	41,70,000	40,30,000

* Estimate

What the Lucknow metro area includes

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

Lucknow 28,17,105
Lucknow Cantonment 63,003
Kali Pashchim CT 12,157
Sarsawan CT 10,655

What the numbers say

The city accounts for 61.4% of the population of the district it lies in.
Within comparable limits, the city grew 28.9% between 2001 and 2011.
Literacy in the city was 82.5% in 2011, against 67.7% for Uttar Pradesh.
There were 928 females per 1,000 males, more than in the state (912).
By 2011 population it ranks 12th among the 150+ cities on this site and 2nd in Uttar Pradesh.
Our 2026 estimate for the metro area is ≈38.1 lakh, on 2011 boundaries; it is not an official figure.

Cities of similar size

Census 2027 status

Results pending

Phase I: houselisting

Done (22 May 2026 – 20 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 Lucknow, they will appear on this page, at this address. Census 2027 explained →

Frequently asked questions

What is the population of Lucknow in 2026?

There is no official figure after Census 2011. Our estimate for 1 March 2026 is ≈36.9 lakh within the 2011 city limits and ≈38.1 lakh for the metro area (urban agglomeration). Both are labelled estimates (method M1).

What was the population of Lucknow in Census 2011?

28,17,105 within city limits (Lucknow (M Corp.)); the Lucknow urban agglomeration had 29,02,920; the Lucknow district had 45,89,838.

Why do sources give such different numbers for Lucknow?

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 Lucknow?

82.5% in Census 2011 (men 86.0%, women 78.7%). The sex ratio was 928 females per 1,000 males.

Sources and method

Data updated: 4 October 2026 · Report a correction