Population Count In Hyderabad Likely To Exceed 1.5 Crore
The second phase of the census, to be conducted in February 2027
Hyderabad: Preliminary estimates following the first phase of Census operations suggest that the population of the Greater Hyderabad region up to the Outer Ring Road (ORR) could eventually exceed 1.5 crore. In the 2011 Census, the combined population of Hyderabad and the erstwhile Rangareddy district stood at 92 lakh.
Preliminary estimates also indicated that the state's population had crossed the 4.2-crore mark, a significant increase from 3.5 crore in the 2011 Census. The first phase, comprising house listing and housing census, was conducted from May 11 to June 9 across the state.
According to official sources, census staff surveyed nearly 1.2 crore households in Telangana during the exercise, compared to 83 lakh recorded in the 2011 Census. Preliminary online data available till June 9 suggested that the state's population had increased by around 70 lakh over the past 16 years, reflecting an average annual growth rate of about 1.25 per cent.
The survey also provided fresh estimates for the Hyderabad Core Urban Region Economy (CURE), covering areas within the ORR. Officials said the population of the CURE region, comprising the erstwhile Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area and the Secunderabad Cantonment Board, has been counted at 1.42 crore. The first-phase survey identified 35.91 lakh residential units within the region.
As part of the exercise, enumerators surveyed around 35 lakh households within the city limits and recorded details such as the number of family members and basic household information. The count indicated that 1.37 crore people reside within the erstwhile GHMC area.
A separate survey conducted in nearly 90,000 houses under the Secunderabad Cantonment Board estimated the population there at around 2.5 lakh. Combined, the GHMC and Cantonment Board areas account for a population of 1.42 crore and 35.91 lakh residences under the CURE region.
Officials noted that a substantial number of houses remained locked during the survey. Despite repeated visits, including second and third attempts, enumerators were unable to collect information from several households. It is estimated that nearly five per cent of houses remained unsurveyed in CURE region because they were locked, potentially affecting the accuracy of the preliminary population count. Officials maintained that more accurate population figures would emerge during the second phase of the census scheduled for February next year.
The first part of the Census exercise coincided with the merger of suburban areas into the GHMC, following which the Centre initiated the enumeration process by treating the expanded urban agglomeration as a GHMC unit under the CURE framework. As in previous censuses, the Secunderabad Cantonment Board was surveyed separately.
Officials said residents whose houses were not covered during the first phase can inform the nearest municipal office or gram panchayat office. Around 80,000 employees participated in the first phase, collecting and uploading details of every building, house, infrastructure facility, the name of the head of the family and the number of family members.
The second phase of the census, to be conducted in February 2027, will collect detailed personal information, including caste data. The Centre will compile data from both phases before releasing the final census figures. Officials indicated that the official population statistics are likely to be released by the end of 2027 or in early 2028.
