In this guide
Maharashtra's population is larger than that of most countries in the world. Nearly half of it lives in towns and cities — and a large share of that urban population is concentrated in a single metropolitan region around Mumbai. At the same time, districts such as Gadchiroli and Nandurbar remain overwhelmingly rural and tribal. Population geography, in other words, is another way of seeing Maharashtra's regional contrasts.
The Census 2011 picture
The most recent completed Census is 2011. The next Census has been scheduled with a reference date in 2027, so for now, 2011 figures remain the official baseline.
| Indicator | Maharashtra (Census 2011) | India (Census 2011) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | About 11.24 crore — second after Uttar Pradesh | About 121 crore |
| Share of India's population | About 9.3 per cent | — |
| Density | About 365 persons per sq km | 382 |
| Sex ratio | 929 females per 1,000 males | 943 |
| Child sex ratio (0–6) | 894 | 919 |
| Literacy | About 82.3 per cent | About 73 per cent |
| Male / female literacy | About 88.4 / 75.9 per cent | About 80.9 / 64.6 per cent |
| Urban population | About 45.2 per cent | About 31.2 per cent |
| Scheduled Castes | About 11.8 per cent | 16.6 per cent |
| Scheduled Tribes | About 9.4 per cent | 8.6 per cent |
District extremes (Census 2011)
| Indicator | Highest | Lowest |
|---|---|---|
| Population | Thane (then including Palghar — the most populous district in India in 2011) | Sindhudurg |
| Density | The Mumbai districts | Gadchiroli |
| Sex ratio | Ratnagiri (well above 1,000) | Mumbai City |
| Literacy | Mumbai Suburban | Nandurbar |
Ratnagiri's high sex ratio reflects male out-migration to Mumbai for work — a classic example of how migration shapes demography.
Scheduled Tribes
Maharashtra has one of the largest tribal populations in India. Tribal communities are concentrated in:
- the Sahyadri and north Konkan — Palghar, Thane, Nashik, Pune (Ambegaon, Junnar), Ahilyanagar (Akole);
- the Satpura hills — Nandurbar, Dhule, Jalgaon, Amravati (Melghat);
- eastern Vidarbha — Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Gondia, Yavatmal.
Major tribes include the Bhil, Gond, Koli (including Mahadev Koli), Warli, Korku, Kokna, Thakar and Pawara.
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
Maharashtra has three PVTGs:
- Katkari (Kathodi);
- Kolam;
- Madia Gond.
Warli painting, from the Palghar–Thane region, is a well-known tribal art form with a GI tag.
Migration
- Into Maharashtra: Mumbai, Pune and other cities attract migrants from across India, especially Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
- Within Maharashtra: from Marathwada, Vidarbha and the Konkan to Mumbai, Pune, Nashik and the sugar belt.
- Seasonal migration: a large number of sugarcane harvest workers (oos-todni kamgar) migrate every year from drought-prone Marathwada (especially Beed) to the sugar belt of western Maharashtra and Karnataka. This migration raises concerns about children's education, women's health and labour conditions.
Urbanisation
How urban is Maharashtra?
With about 45 per cent of its population urban in 2011, Maharashtra is among the most urbanised large states, after Tamil Nadu and Kerala (among major states). Much of this is concentrated in:
- the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) — Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan–Dombivli, Vasai–Virar, Bhiwandi and others;
- the Pune region;
- Nagpur, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Solapur.
Metropolitan planning bodies
| Body | Region |
|---|---|
| MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, 1975) | Mumbai Metropolitan Region |
| PMRDA (Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority, 2015) | Pune region |
| NMRDA | Nagpur region |
| CIDCO (City and Industrial Development Corporation, 1970) | Navi Mumbai and other new towns |
Navi Mumbai, planned by CIDCO from 1970, was one of the largest planned new towns in the world.
Urban challenges
| Challenge | Examples |
|---|---|
| Housing and slums | A large share of Mumbai's population lives in slums; Dharavi is one of Asia's largest; the Dharavi redevelopment project |
| Transport | Crowded suburban railways; road congestion; new metro lines and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu) |
| Water and sanitation | Supply from distant dams; sewage treatment |
| Flooding | Mumbai floods of 26 July 2005; urban flooding in Pune |
| Air pollution | Mumbai, Pune, Chandrapur, Nagpur |
| Governance | Fragmented responsibilities across municipal bodies and parastatals |
See also our guide on municipal corporations and councils in Maharashtra.
Demographic trends
- Fertility: Maharashtra's total fertility rate has fallen below replacement level, according to recent National Family Health Surveys.
- Ageing: the share of elderly people is rising.
- Urban–rural gap: in literacy, health and incomes.
- Regional gap: tribal districts lag on most human development indicators.
Practice
Prelims-style:
- What was Maharashtra's sex ratio in Census 2011?
- Which district had the highest sex ratio, and why?
- Name the three PVTGs of Maharashtra.
- Which body planned Navi Mumbai?
- Which district of Maharashtra was the most populous in India in 2011?
Mains-style:
- "Maharashtra's urbanisation is concentrated rather than spread." Examine the causes and consequences.
- Discuss the problems of seasonal migrant sugarcane workers in Maharashtra and suggest solutions.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Maharashtra Public Service Commission website .
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