Demographics of Bihar
Demographic data on the Indian state
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As of 2011, the sex ratio was 1112 females per 1000 males. Almost 50% of Bihar's population was below 25 years age as of new report of 2026, which is yet again highest in India. At 17%, Bihar has one of the lowest urbanisation rate in India.
Most of Bihar's population belongs to a collection of ethnic groups speaking indic languages, the most prominent ones being Bhojpuri, Maithili and Magahi. It also attracted Punjabi Hindu refugees during the Partition of British India in 1947. Bihar has a total literacy rate of 70.70% (79.70% for males and 60.5 % for females), recording a growth of 20% in female literacy over the preceding decade. According to the 2011 census, 82.7% of Bihar's population practised Hinduism, while 16.9% followed Islam. As of 2026, Bihar has highest fertility rate of 2.7 in comparison to the other states of India but it had declined very rapidly in last 15 years. According to new NFHS - 6 report Population of people under 15 is 35.6 % of total population.
Population
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Religion
As per the 2022 Bihar Caste-Based Survey, Hinduism is practised by 81.99% and Islam is followed by 17.70%.
Caste and ethnic groups
As per Bihar government’s 2022 Bihar Caste-Based Survey report, released on 2 October 2023, showed that extremely backward classes (EBCs) account for 36.01 percent of the 130.7 million population of the state. BCs, EBCs together account for 63% of total population of Bihar.
- As per, 2011 Census of India, Scheduled Castes constitute 16% of Bihar's 104 million population. The census identified 21 of 23 Dalit sub-castes as Mahadalits. Mahadalit community consists of the following sub castes - Bantar, Bauri, Bhogta, Bhuiya, Chaupal, Dabgar, Dom (Dhangad), Ghasi, Halalkhor, Hari (Mehtar, Bhangi), Kanjar, Kurariar, Lalbegi, Musahar, Nat, Pan (Swasi), Rajwar, Turi, Dhobi, Pasi, Chamar and Paswan (Dusadh). Paswan caste was initially left out of the Mahadalit category. Adivasis (Scheduled Tribes) constitute around 1.3% of Bihar population. Tribals include Gond, Santhal and Tharu communities in Bihar.
- Extremely Backward Class (EBCs) are also sometimes referred to as Most Backward Class(MBCs). There are 130-odd EBC castes in Bihar.
Languages
Hindi and Urdu are the official languages of the state.
Maithili language is the only language of Bihar which is one of the 22 Scheduled language of India.
Bhojpuri, Magahi, and Surjapuri are counted under Hindi. Proponents have called for Bhojpuri, Magahi, Bajjika and Angika to receive the same status.
Education
Bihar has a total literacy rate of 70.9%. Overall Male and Female literacy rate is 79.7% and 60.5% respectively. Total Rural literacy rate is 43.9%. In rural areas of Bihar, Male and Female literacy rate is 57.1 and 29.6 respectively. Total Urban literacy rate is 71.9. In urban areas of Bihar, Male and Female literacy rate is 79.9 and 62.6 respectively. . Total number of literates in Bihar is 3,16,75,607 which consists of 2,09,78,955 Male and 1,06,96,652 Female. Patna has highest Literacy Rate of 63.82% followed by Rohtas (62.36%) and Munger (60.11%). Kishanganj has lowest Literacy Rate of 31.02% followed by Araria (34.94%) and Katihar (35.29%).
Economics
Districts
Miscellaneous statistics
As of 2001, Bihar had 212,015 international migrants and 1,619,031 inter-state migrants.