City in Punjab

Patiala Population 2026

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

4,06,192 within city limits (Patiala (M Corp.)); the Patiala urban agglomeration had 4,46,246; the Patiala district had 18,81,758.

City, metro area and district compared

Metro area (UA) · 1 March 2026

≈ 5.2 lakh Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection 1 March 2026 How this is made →

5,20,000 520,000 1 March 2026

The Patiala metro area is estimated at ≈5.2 lakh on 1 March 2026, and the city within its municipal limits at ≈5.3 lakh. Census 2011 counted 4,46,246 in the urban agglomeration and 4,06,192 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

Patiala (municipal limits)

Census 2011: 4,06,192
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 5.3 lakh

Metro area (UA)

Patiala urban agglomeration

Census 2011: 4,46,246
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 5.2 lakh

District

Patiala district

Census 2011: 18,81,758
2026 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →: ≈ 22.01 lakh

Key figures

City 2026: ≈ 5.3 lakh 5,30,000 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →
City · Census 2011: 4.06 lakh 4,06,192 Census 2011 Final count, Census of India 2011 (ORGI) How this is made →
Metro area (UA) · 2011: 4.46 lakh 4,46,246
Metro area (UA) · 2026: ≈ 5.2 lakh 5,20,000 Estimate Our estimate, method M1, constrained to the official state projection How this is made →
Sex ratio: 884 Punjab: 895
Child sex ratio (0–6): 864 Punjab: 846
Literacy rate: 85.8% Male 88.9% · Female 82.3%
Households: 85.3 thousand 4.8 people per household
Area: 70.0km² Census 2011 (A-4)
Density: 5,803per km² 2011
Growth 2001–11: +32.9% City
Work participation: 36.8% 2011

Population over time

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

Metro area (UA)
City
Census
Estimate

5.6 L 2026

› Show the numbers as a table

Year	Metro area (UA)	City
1951	97,869	97,869
1961	1,25,234	1,25,234
1971	1,51,041	1,51,041
1981	2,06,254	2,06,254
1991	2,53,706	2,52,589
2001	3,23,884	3,05,562
2011	4,46,246	4,06,192
2016 *	4,70,000	4,50,000
2021 *	5,00,000	4,90,000
2026 *	5,20,000	5,30,000
2031 *	5,40,000	5,60,000
2036 *	5,60,000	5,80,000

* Estimate

What the numbers say

The Patiala metro area (urban agglomeration) had 4.46 lakh people in 2011, 1.1 times the 4.06 lakh inside city limits.
The city accounts for 21.6% of the population of the district it lies in.
Within comparable limits, the city grew 32.9% between 2001 and 2011.
Literacy in the city was 85.8% in 2011, against 75.8% for Punjab.
By 2011 population it ranks 119th among the 150+ cities on this site and 4th in Punjab.
Our 2026 estimate for the metro area is ≈5.2 lakh, on 2011 boundaries; it is not an official figure.

Cities of similar size

Census 2027 status

Results pending

Phase I: houselisting

Done (15 May 2026 – 13 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 Patiala, they will appear on this page, at this address. Census 2027 explained →

Frequently asked questions

What is the population of Patiala in 2026?

There is no official figure after Census 2011. Our estimate for 1 March 2026 is ≈5.3 lakh within the 2011 city limits and ≈5.2 lakh for the metro area (urban agglomeration). Both are labelled estimates (method M1).

What was the population of Patiala in Census 2011?

4,06,192 within city limits (Patiala (M Corp.)); the Patiala urban agglomeration had 4,46,246; the Patiala district had 18,81,758.

Why do sources give such different numbers for Patiala?

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 Patiala?

85.8% in Census 2011 (men 88.9%, women 82.3%). The sex ratio was 884 females per 1,000 males.

Sources and method

Data updated: 4 October 2026 · Report a correction