India Census 2026: Counting 1.4 Billion People

India has begun a large-scale census effort to count its entire population of approximately 1.4 billion people, an undertaking delayed by the pandemic and administrative challenges.

Census Details

Over the next year, more than three million people will conduct door-to-door surveys across India, encompassing both megacities and remote villages, to tally households and residents and collect data on their social and economic characteristics. The final results are expected next year.

This will be the first census in 16 years, following a delay in 2021. The last official count in 2011 recorded just over 1.2 billion people. The United Nations now estimates India has surpassed China as the world’s most populous nation.

Demographic Shifts

India’s demographics are undergoing significant changes, with more than 40% of its residents currently under the age of 25. The country’s median age was estimated at 28 in 2023, nearly a decade younger than China’s.

This demographic shift represents a potential “demographic dividend,” offering the possibility of accelerated economic growth.

Census Phases and Data Collection

The census will be conducted in two phases, covering all 26 of India’s states and federally administered territories. The first phase will focus on gathering details about household conditions, amenities, and assets.

The second phase, scheduled for February 2027, will collect data on demographics, salary, education, migration, and fertility. Workers will visit nearly 640,000 villages and 10,000 towns.

For the first time, census workers – primarily schoolteachers and government officials – will submit data electronically via a mobile app.

Caste Census

For the first time since 1931, the census will include a count of caste, a 1,000-year-old social hierarchy system. This decision has sparked debate about whether it will uplift disadvantaged groups or further entrench divisions.

The caste system historically determined occupation, residence, and marriage eligibility at birth. While rooted in Hindu scriptures, many non-Hindus in India also identify with certain castes.

India currently has quotas reserving government jobs and school admissions for people from lower castes, and some believe counting these groups is crucial for ensuring political representation and welfare. Critics argue the nation should move away from these labels.

The census will assess basic living conditions by gathering data on housing materials, homeownership, and access to essential amenities like clean drinking water, sanitation, and cooking fuel. Data will also be collected on ownership of internet connections, televisions, radios, smartphones, and vehicles.