# Birbhum District, West Bengal – Sub-districts, Towns, Villages & Population

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/

District · West Bengal 

# Birbhum district

Birbhum is a district of West Bengal, 14th of 19 districts there. At the 2011 Census it had **3,502,404 people** in 20 sub-districts, 20 towns and 2,458 villages; 13% lived in towns. The largest town is [Bolpur](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/area-not-under-any-sub-district/bolpur/) (80,210).

- 3,502,404people (2011)
- 20sub-districts
- 20towns
- 70.7%literacy

## Who lives in Birbhum?

Birbhum had **3,502,404 people** at the 2011 Census — 3.8% of West Bengal's population and 14th of 19 districts of West Bengal by population. There were 956 women for every 1,000 men (close to the West Bengal figure of 950; 7th of 19 districts of West Bengal). Among children under 7 the ratio was 959 girls per 1,000 boys (the West Bengal figure is 956). An average household had 4.3 people, against 4.5 across West Bengal.

## How literate is Birbhum?

70.7% of people aged 7 and over could read and write in 2011 (below West Bengal's 76.3%), 14th of 19 districts of West Bengal. Men were at 76.9% and women at 64.1% — a gap of 12.8 points (it is 11.2 points across West Bengal). Among its sub-districts, literacy is highest in [Area not under any Sub-district](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/area-not-under-any-sub-district/) (83.3%) and lowest in [Murarai - I](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/murarai-i/) (55.7%).

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 Birbhum do for a living?

38.0% of people worked in 2011 (women: 17.6%). Of all workers, 14% farmed their own land, 26% were farm labourers, 3% worked in household industry and 25% in other work such as services, trade and factories; 31% were marginal workers with less than six months' work. Farming employs 41% of workers here, against 29% across West Bengal. The most farm-dependent of its sub-districts is [Nanoor](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/nanoor/) (55% of workers in farming) and the least is [Area not under any Sub-district](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/area-not-under-any-sub-district/) (4% of workers in farming).

**********

**■** Cultivators 14 (14%) · **■** Farm labourers 26 (26%) · **■** Household industry 3 (3%) · **■** Other work 25 (25%) · **■** Marginal 31 (31%)

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 Birbhum

12.8% of people lived in towns and cities (below West Bengal's 31.9%), 13th of 19 districts of West Bengal. The Census counted 20 towns: 6 statutory towns with a municipality and 14 census towns — places urban in character but still governed as villages. The largest is [Bolpur](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/area-not-under-any-sub-district/bolpur/) with 80,210 people, home to 18% 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 Birbhum

Birbhum had 2,458 census villages, 2,243 of them inhabited. The average inhabited village had 1,361 people; 65 villages had 5,000 people or more. The largest: [Margram](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/rampurhat-ii/margram/) (30,055), [Mitrapur](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/murarai-ii/mitrapur/) (15,452), [Jeshtha Bhabanipur](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/nalhati-ii/jeshtha-bhabanipur/) (15,154), [Bara](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/nalhati-ii/bara/) (14,450) and [Kaytha](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/nalhati-i/kaytha/) (13,154).

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

## Birbhum district in history

The 11th edition of the *Encyclopaedia Britannica* (1911) described Birbhum district as follows. Its wording reflects its time; spellings are as printed.

> BIRBHUM, a district of British India in the Burdwan division of Bengal, situated in the Gangetic plain and partly on the hills, being bounded on the south by the river Ajai. The administrative headquarters are at Suri, which is the only town in the district. The area comprises 1752 sq. m. The eastern portion of the district is the ordinary alluvial plain of the Gangetic delta; the western part consists of undulating beds of laterite resting on a rock basis, and covered with small scrub jungle. The Ajai, Bakheswar and Mor or Maurakshi, are the principal rivers of the district, but they are merely hill streams and only navigable in the rains. In 1901 the population was 902,280, showing an increase of 13% in the decade. The principal industry is the spinning and weaving of silk, chiefly from tussur or jungle silkworms. There are also several lac factories. The loop-line of the East Indian railway runs through the district, with a junction at Nalhati for Murshidabad. In the course of the century it was conquered by the Pathans and formed part of the Pathan kingdom of Bengal. At the beginning of the 18th century it appears as a kind of military fief held under the nawab of Murshidabad by one Asadullah Pathan, whose family had probably been its chieftains since the fall of the Pathan dynasty of Bengal in 1600.

Source: [Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition (1911) — public domain; transcription via Wikisource](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica).

Boundaries in 1901 may differ from today's; sentences describing castes or communities are omitted.

## Population of Birbhum compared with West Bengal

■ Birbhum · ■ West Bengal

Literacy (age 7+) ****70.7%**

**76.3%

Sex ratio (F per 1,000 M) ****956**

**950

Child sex ratio (0–6) ****959**

**956

Working population ****38.0%**

**38.1%

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

## Homes and amenities in Birbhum

Of every 100 households in Birbhum in 2011, 41 had electricity, 24 a toilet at home and 7 cooked with LPG; 32 had a mobile phone, 7 a two-wheeler and 1 a car.

■ Birbhum · ■ 

Electricity for lighting ****41%**

Toilet within the home ****24%**

No toilet (open defecation) ****75%**

Tap water ****16%**

Drinking water within premises ****17%**

Cooking with LPG / PNG ****7%**

Cooking with firewood / dung / crop residue ****79%**

Use banking services ****46%**

Television ****24%**

Mobile phone ****32%**

Computer with internet ****1%**

Two-wheeler ****7%**

Car / jeep / van ****1%**

None of these assets ****34%**

Own their home ****94%**

Source: [Census of India 2011, Houselisting and Housing Census – households by amenities and assets (HH-14)](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## Sub-districts of Birbhum

Sub-district People Villages Towns 

[Murarai - I](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/murarai-i/) 190,802 80 3 

[Murarai - II](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/murarai-ii/) 222,033 71 1 

[Nalhati - I](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/nalhati-i/) 204,818 94 0 

[Nalhati - II](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/nalhati-ii/) 127,785 48 0 

[Rampurhat - I](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/rampurhat-i/) 188,435 119 0 

[Rampurhat - II](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/rampurhat-ii/) 187,823 94 1 

[Mayureswar - I](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/mayureswar-i/) 159,782 113 1 

[Mayureswar - II](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/mayureswar-ii/) 127,661 131 0 

[Mohammad Bazar](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/mohammad-bazar/) 164,570 158 0 

[Rajnagar](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/rajnagar/) 77,979 98 1 

[Suri - I](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/suri-i/) 111,377 112 2 

[Suri - II](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/suri-ii/) 87,405 95 0 

[Sainthia](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/sainthia/) 195,349 230 1 

[Labpur](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/labpur/) 201,901 179 1 

[Nanoor](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/nanoor/) 218,654 137 1 

[Bolpur Sriniketan](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/bolpur-sriniketan/) 202,553 169 1 

[Illambazar](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/illambazar/) 168,709 133 1 

[Dubrajpur](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/dubrajpur/) 181,437 227 0 

[Khoyrasol](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/khoyrasol/) 153,248 170 0 

[Area not under any Sub-district](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/birbhum/area-not-under-any-sub-district/) 330,083 0 6 

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 in Birbhum

- Bolpur · 80,210
- Suri · 67,864
- Rampurhat · 57,833
- Sainthia · 44,601
- Nalhati · 41,534
- Dubrajpur · 38,041
- Rajnagar · 13,965
- Surul · 12,160
- Ambhua · 10,477
- Karidhya · 10,466
- Fatehpur · 10,176
- Kashimnagar · 9,796
- Ahmadpur · 9,242
- Bishnupur · 8,118
- Ilambazar · 7,125
- Barua Gopalpur · 6,614
- Murarai · 5,770
- Labhpur · 5,419
- Parota · 5,267
- Kalipur · 4,770

## Largest villages in Birbhum

- Margram · 30,055
- Mitrapur · 15,452
- Jeshtha Bhabanipur · 15,154
- Bara · 14,450
- Kaytha · 13,154
- Paikar · 12,250
- Mayureswar · 11,142
- Danrka · 10,897
- Barra · 10,798
- Rudranagar · 10,756
- Paikpara · 9,993
- Balia Mrityunjoypur · 9,717
- Dhitora · 9,081
- Ayas · 8,906
- Kathia · 8,465
- Chandidas Nanur · 8,399
- Rajgram · 8,378
- Dumurgram · 8,335
- Dunigram · 8,282
- Chauhata · 7,969

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

## Quick answers

- How many sub-districts are in Birbhum?20: Murarai - I, Murarai - II, Nalhati - I, Nalhati - II, Rampurhat - I, Rampurhat - II, Mayureswar - I, Mayureswar - II, Mohammad Bazar, Rajnagar, Suri - I, Suri - II…
- What is the population of Birbhum district?3,502,404 (Census 2011)
- Which is the largest town in Birbhum?Bolpur