Jharkhand · Districts
District-wise population of Jharkhand
Jharkhand has 24 districts today. Ranchi is the most populous, estimated at ≈36.48 lakh in 2026. Census 2011 figures are shown on each district's current boundaries, so districts created after 2011 have comparable numbers too.
| # | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ranchi | ≈ 36.48 lakh | 29,14,253 | +24.0% | 949 | 76.1% | 43.1% | 572 |
| 2 | Dhanbad | ≈ 31.13 lakh | 26,84,487 | +12.0% | 909 | 74.5% | 58.1% | 1,316 |
| 3 | Giridih | ≈ 31.41 lakh | 24,45,474 | +28.4% | 944 | 63.1% | 8.5% | 493 |
| 4 | East Singhbhum | ≈ 27.26 lakh | 22,93,919 | +15.7% | 949 | 75.5% | 55.6% | 644 |
| 5 | Bokaro | ≈ 24.56 lakh | 20,62,330 | +16.0% | 922 | 72.0% | 47.7% | 715 |
| 6 | Palamu | ≈ 24.6 lakh | 19,39,869 | +26.2% | 928 | 63.6% | 11.7% | 442 |
| 7 | Hazaribagh | ≈ 21.95 lakh | 17,34,495 | +25.8% | 947 | 69.8% | 15.9% | 488 |
| 8 | West Singhbhum | ≈ 18.55 lakh | 15,02,338 | +21.8% | 1005 | 58.6% | 14.5% | 208 |
| 9 | Deoghar | ≈ 19.13 lakh | 14,92,073 | +28.0% | 925 | 64.9% | 17.3% | 602 |
| 10 | Garhwa | ≈ 16.93 lakh | 13,22,784 | +27.8% | 935 | 60.3% | 5.3% | 323 |
| 11 | Dumka | ≈ 16.08 lakh | 13,21,442 | +19.4% | 977 | 61.0% | 6.8% | 351 |
| 12 | Godda | ≈ 16.58 lakh | 13,13,551 | +25.4% | 938 | 56.4% | 4.9% | 580 |
| 13 | Sahebganj | ≈ 14.4 lakh | 11,50,567 | +24.0% | 952 | 52.0% | 13.9% | 558 |
| 14 | Seraikela Kharsawan | ≈ 13.45 lakh | 10,65,056 | +25.5% | 956 | 67.7% | 24.3% | 401 |
| 15 | Chatra | ≈ 13.45 lakh | 10,42,886 | +29.1% | 953 | 60.2% | 6.0% | 280 |
| 16 | Gumla | ≈ 12.77 lakh | 10,25,213 | +23.2% | 993 | 65.7% | 6.4% | 191 |
| 17 | Ramgarh | ≈ 11.09 lakh | 9,49,443 | +13.1% | 921 | 73.2% | 44.1% | 708 |
| 18 | Pakur | ≈ 11.57 lakh | 9,00,422 | +28.3% | 989 | 48.8% | 7.5% | 497 |
| 19 | Jamtara | ≈ 9.73 lakh | 7,91,042 | +21.1% | 954 | 64.6% | 9.6% | 437 |
| 20 | Latehar | ≈ 9.41 lakh | 7,26,978 | +29.6% | 967 | 59.5% | 7.1% | 169 |
| 21 | Koderma | ≈ 9.42 lakh | 7,16,259 | +32.4% | 950 | 66.8% | 19.7% | 282 |
| 22 | Simdega | ≈ 7.17 lakh | 5,99,578 | +16.6% | 997 | 68.0% | 7.2% | 159 |
| 23 | Khunti | ≈ 6.59 lakh | 5,31,885 | +22.3% | 997 | 63.9% | 8.5% | 210 |
| 24 | Lohardaga | ≈ 5.87 lakh | 4,61,790 | +26.7% | 985 | 67.6% | 12.4% | 307 |
* 2026: our estimates (method M1), constrained to the official Jharkhand projection. ≈ density uses an area apportioned from 2011 sub-districts.
Districts of Jharkhand by population, 2026
- Ranchi 36.48 lakh
- Dhanbad 31.13 lakh
- Giridih 31.41 lakh
- East Singhbhum 27.26 lakh
- Bokaro 24.56 lakh
- Palamu 24.6 lakh
- Hazaribagh 21.95 lakh
- West Singhbhum 18.55 lakh
- Deoghar 19.13 lakh
- Garhwa 16.93 lakh
- Dumka 16.08 lakh
- Godda 16.58 lakh
- Sahebganj 14.4 lakh
- Seraikela Kharsawan 13.45 lakh
- Chatra 13.45 lakh
- Gumla 12.77 lakh
- Ramgarh 11.09 lakh
- Pakur 11.57 lakh
- Jamtara 9.73 lakh
- Latehar 9.41 lakh
- Koderma 9.42 lakh
- Simdega 7.17 lakh
- Khunti 6.59 lakh
- Lohardaga 5.87 lakh
Frequently asked questions
How many districts are there in Jharkhand?
24, according to the Local Government Directory (24 listed). Census 2011 had fewer in several states; this page shows every current district.
Which district of Jharkhand has the highest population?
Ranchi, with 29,14,253 people in Census 2011 and an estimated ≈36.48 lakh in 2026. The smallest is Lohardaga (4,61,790 in 2011).
Sources and method
- Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (ORGI)
- Census 2011 village and town population figures (ORGI)
- How 2011 figures are rebuilt on today’s district boundaries
- Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections 2011–2036 (July 2020)
- Our estimation method M1 (formulas and checks)
- Local Government Directory (current district boundaries)
Data updated: · Report a correction