Delhi’s population has risen to an estimated 2.3 crore, registering a 37.5 per cent increase in 15 years, according to provisional figures from the first phase of Census 2027. However, the data shows that the number of households has grown much faster than the population, reflecting a major shift in the city’s demographic pattern.
The house-listing phase of Census 2027, completed on June 14, estimates Delhi’s population at 2,30,78,796, compared with 1,67,87,941 in the 2011 Census. During the same period, the number of households rose by nearly 60 per cent, from around 34.36 lakh to 54.99 lakh.
Officials said the faster rise in households reflected changing family structures, with smaller families, nuclear households and single-person residences becoming more common. The average household size in Delhi has fallen to an estimated 4.2 persons.
The data shows North East Delhi as the most populous district, with nearly 28.7 lakh residents, accounting for about 12.5 per cent of the capital’s population. It is followed by South West Delhi with 25 lakh residents and West Delhi with 24.4 lakh. Together, the three districts account for nearly one-third of Delhi’s population.
Despite having the highest population, North East Delhi ranks second in the number of households. South West Delhi leads with more than 6.25 lakh households, narrowly ahead of North East Delhi’s 6.14 lakh. West Delhi has nearly 5.9 lakh households.
The census exercise also highlights the expansion of Delhi’s housing infrastructure. The number of census houses has increased from around 24.5 lakh in 1991 to nearly 76 lakh in 2026, more than tripling in three decades. South West Delhi has the highest number of census houses, followed by North East and West Delhi.
New Delhi district remains the least populated in the capital, with an estimated population of only 2.4 lakh, despite housing major government institutions and administrative offices.
Officials cautioned that direct comparisons with Census 2011 at the district level are difficult because Delhi’s administrative boundaries have changed. The number of districts has increased from nine in 2011 to 13, with several boundaries redrawn over the years.
The figures are provisional and based on the house-listing phase of the census. The final population count will be available after the population enumeration phase in February 2027, with March 1, 2027, as the reference date.
The latest census exercise suggests that Delhi’s growth is being driven not only by population increase but also by changing household patterns, rising housing demand and evolving urban lifestyles.
