Bihar - Demographics

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Bihar See also: Bihari people

Population growth
Census	Pop.		%±
1951	29,085,000		—
1961	34,841,000		19.8%
1971	42,126,000		20.9%
1981	52,303,000		24.2%
1991	64,531,000		23.4%
2001	82,999,000		28.6%
2011	103,805,000		25.1%
Source:Census of India

Bihar was the third most populated state of India with total population of 82,998,509 (43,243,795 male and 39,754,714 female). Nearly 85% of Bihar's population lived in rural areas. Almost 58% of Biharis were below 25 years age, which is the highest in India. The density was 881. The sex ratio was 919 females per 1000 males. Mostly, Biharis belong to Indo-Aryan, Indo-Scythian and Indo-Hephthalites stock, who shares common genetic lineage with Central Asian and Eurasian population along with few Mongolo-Dravidian and Austro-Asiatic people mostly in Chhotanagpur Plateau (now part of Jharkhand). Since ancient times, Bihar has attracted migrants and settlers including Bengalis, Turks from Central Asia, Persians, Afghans and Punjabi Hindu refugees during the Partition of British India in 1947. Bihar has a total literacy rate of 63.82% (75.7% for males and 55.1% for females). As of 2011 census, the density has surpassed 1,000 per square kilometer, India's densest state, but is still lower than West Java or Banten of Indonesia.

Largest cities in Bihar								view talk edit
	City	District	Population			City	District	Population
1	Patna	Patna	2,405,421	Patna Muzzafarpur	8	Arrah	Bhojpur	261,099
2	Gaya	Gaya	463,454		9	Munger	Munger	188,050
3	Bhagalpur	Bhagalpur	398,138		10	Chhapra	Saran	179,190
4	Muzaffarpur	Muzaffarpur	351,838		11	Katihar	Katihar	175,199
5	Biharsarif	Nalanda	296,889		12	Danapur	Patna	131,176
6	Darbhanga	Darbhanga	294,116		13	Sasaram	Rohtas	141,176
7	Purnia	Purnia	280,547		14	Dehri	Rohtas	119,007
Source: Census of India 2011

State symbols of Bihar

Animal	Gaur
Bird	India roller
Flower	Kanchnar
Tree	Peepal