# Meghalaya – Districts List, Cities, Population & Literacy (Census 2011)

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/india/meghalaya/

State · India 

# Meghalaya

Meghalaya is a state of India with its capital at Shillong. At the 2011 Census it was home to **2,966,889 people** — 0.2% of India and 24th of 36 states and union territories — in 7 districts, 22 towns and 6,839 villages. 20% lived in towns, and literacy was 74.4% (above the national 73.0%).

- 2,966,889people (2011)
- 7districts (2011)
- 22towns
- 74.4%literacy

## Who lives in Meghalaya?

Meghalaya had **2,966,889 people** at the 2011 Census — 0.2% of India's population and 24th of 36 states and union territories by population. There were 989 women for every 1,000 men (above the India figure of 943; 6th of 36 states and union territories). Among children under 7 the ratio was 970 girls per 1,000 boys (the India figure is 918). An average household had 5.4 people, against 4.9 across India.

## How literate is Meghalaya?

74.4% of people aged 7 and over could read and write in 2011 (above India's 73.0%), 23rd of 36 states and union territories. Men were at 76.0% and women at 72.9% — a gap of 3.1 points (it is 16.2 points across India). Among its districts, literacy is highest in [East Khasi Hills](https://wherepedia.org/india/meghalaya/east-khasi-hills/) (84.2%) and lowest in [Jaintia Hills](https://wherepedia.org/india/meghalaya/jaintia-hills/) (61.6%).

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## What do people in Meghalaya do for a living?

40.0% of people worked in 2011 (women: 32.7%). Of all workers, 35% farmed their own land, 10% were farm labourers, 1% worked in household industry and 32% in other work such as services, trade and factories; 22% were marginal workers with less than six months' work. Farming employs 44% of workers here, against 38% across India. The most farm-dependent of its districts is [Ribhoi](https://wherepedia.org/india/meghalaya/ribhoi/) (61% of workers in farming) and the least is [East Khasi Hills](https://wherepedia.org/india/meghalaya/east-khasi-hills/) (31% of workers in farming).

**********

**■** Cultivators 35 (35%) · **■** Farm labourers 10 (10%) · **■** Household industry 1 (1%) · **■** Other work 32 (32%) · **■** Marginal 22 (22%)

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## Cities and towns of Meghalaya

20.1% of people lived in towns and cities (below India's 31.1%), 32nd of 36 states and union territories. The Census counted 22 towns: 10 statutory towns with a municipality and 12 census towns — places urban in character but still governed as villages. 1 city has 1 lakh (100,000) people or more. The largest is [Shillong](https://wherepedia.org/india/meghalaya/east-khasi-hills/mylliem/shillong-801544/) with 143,229 people, home to 24% of the urban population.

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## Villages of Meghalaya

Meghalaya had 6,839 census villages, 6,459 of them inhabited. The average inhabited village had 367 people; 7 villages had 5,000 people or more. The largest: [Nongrah](https://wherepedia.org/india/meghalaya/east-khasi-hills/mylliem/nongrah/) (7,316), [Mihmyntdu](https://wherepedia.org/india/meghalaya/jaintia-hills/thadlaskein/mihmyntdu/) (6,979), [Nongbah](https://wherepedia.org/india/meghalaya/jaintia-hills/thadlaskein/nongbah/) (6,965), [Mawryngkneng](https://wherepedia.org/india/meghalaya/east-khasi-hills/mawryngkneng/mawryngkneng/) (6,598) and [Wahiajer](https://wherepedia.org/india/meghalaya/jaintia-hills/thadlaskein/wahiajer/) (6,168).

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## Where is Meghalaya, and what is it like?

The capital is [Shillong](https://wherepedia.org/india/meghalaya/east-khasi-hills/mylliem/shillong-801544/). It covers 22,429 km², so in 2011 there were about 132 people per km². It borders [Assam](https://wherepedia.org/india/assam/). Official languages: English, Garo and Khasi.

Source: [Wikidata (CC0) — capital, area, languages, neighbours; retrieved 2026-10-29](https://www.wikidata.org/).

### Weather and best time to visit

At Shillong, the hottest month is Aug (average 22 °C), the coldest Jan (11 °C), and the wettest Jul (586 mm of rain). The most comfortable months are **February and November to December**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Population of Meghalaya compared with India

■ Meghalaya · ■ India

Literacy (age 7+) ****74.4%**

**73.0%

Sex ratio (F per 1,000 M) ****989**

**943

Child sex ratio (0–6) ****970**

**918

Working population ****40.0%**

**39.8%

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## Districts of Meghalaya

District People Sub-districts Towns Literacy 

[East Khasi Hills](https://wherepedia.org/india/meghalaya/east-khasi-hills/) 825,922 8 13 84.2% 

[West Garo Hills](https://wherepedia.org/india/meghalaya/west-garo-hills/) 643,291 8 1 67.6% 

[Jaintia Hills](https://wherepedia.org/india/meghalaya/jaintia-hills/) 395,124 5 1 61.6% 

[West Khasi Hills](https://wherepedia.org/india/meghalaya/west-khasi-hills/) 383,461 6 2 77.9% 

[East Garo Hills](https://wherepedia.org/india/meghalaya/east-garo-hills/) 317,917 5 2 73.9% 

[Ribhoi](https://wherepedia.org/india/meghalaya/ribhoi/) 258,840 3 2 75.7% 

[South Garo Hills](https://wherepedia.org/india/meghalaya/south-garo-hills/) 142,334 4 1 71.7% 

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

Boundaries and names as at the 2011 Census; districts created since then are not shown separately.

## Largest cities and towns in Meghalaya

- Shillong · 143,229
- Tura · 74,858
- Mawlai · 55,012
- Nongthymmai · 38,004
- Madanriting · 29,194
- Nongstoin · 28,742
- Jowai · 28,430
- Pynthormukhrah · 27,219
- Williamnagar · 24,597
- Resubelpara · 19,595
- Nongpoh · 17,055
- Nongmynsong · 15,017
- Mairang · 14,363
- Baghmara · 13,131
- Shillong · 11,930
- Cherrapunjee · 11,722
- Umpling · 8,529
- Lawsohtun · 8,214
- Umroi · 8,198
- Umlyngka · 7,381

## Quick answers

- What is the capital of Meghalaya?Shillong
- What is the area of Meghalaya?22,429 km²
- Which states border Meghalaya?Assam
- What language is spoken in Meghalaya?English, Garo and Khasi (official)
- When is the best time to visit Meghalaya?February and November to December
- What is the literacy rate of Meghalaya?74.4% (Census 2011)
- What is the sex ratio of Meghalaya?989 women per 1,000 men (Census 2011)
- How many districts are in Meghalaya?7 (Census 2011)
- What is the population of Meghalaya?2,966,889 (Census 2011)
- Which is the most populous district of Meghalaya?East Khasi Hills
- Which is the largest city in Meghalaya?Shillong