New Delhi's provisional population has exceeded 2.3 crore, according to initial findings from the first phase of Census 2027. The House Listing Operations, which concluded on June 14, 2026, covered nearly 76 lakh census houses and approximately 55 lakh households across the capital's 13 districts.
Officials involved in the census stressed that these figures are provisional. The definitive population count for Delhi will be finalized only after the second phase, known as Population Enumeration, which is scheduled for February 2027.
Scope of the Initial Census Phase
The first phase of the 16th Indian census focused on preparing an inventory of buildings and houses. It also involved collecting essential information regarding household amenities and assets. A total of 75,98,982 census houses and 54,98,560 households were surveyed through 45,863 House Listing Blocks, with each block typically encompassing around 180 houses.
The provisional data indicates that 2,30,78,796 individuals were ordinarily residing in Delhi during this initial assessment.
District-Wise Population Variations
The provisional data revealed significant disparities in population distribution across Delhi's districts:
- North East: Recorded the highest population at 28,68,949 residents.
- South West: Followed with 25,00,195 residents.
- West: Accounted for 24,42,346 residents.
- South East: Reported 22,70,778 residents.
- East: Had 21,66,251 residents.
- North West: Counted 20,63,964 residents.
- Outer North: Registered 19,15,700 residents.
- North: Recorded 17,02,900 residents.
- Central North: Listed 11,31,599 residents.
- Central: Had 9,60,798 residents.
- Old Delhi: Reported 7,54,478 residents.
- South: Accounted for 20,55,909 residents.
- New Delhi: Registered the lowest population at 2,44,929 residents.
Household Distribution Across Districts
Similar variations were observed in the number of households per district:
- South West: Topped the list with 6,25,453 households.
- North East: Followed with 6,13,828 households.
- West: Recorded 5,89,210 households.
- East: Had 5,47,461 households.
- South East: Accounted for 5,43,412 households.
- South: Registered 534,212 households.
- North West: Counted 4,65,586 households.
- Outer North:: Listed 4,35,631 households.
- North: Reported 3,98,447 households.
- Central North: Had 2,73,669 households.
- Central: Accounted for 2,44,816 households.
- Old Delhi: Registered 1,63,785 households.
- New Delhi: Had the lowest with 63,050 households.
Understanding the Census Phases
The 16th Indian census is structured into two distinct phases:
- House Listing and Housing Census: This initial phase, which commenced on April 1, 2026, and is ongoing until September, focuses on cataloging houses and households and gathering data on their characteristics and amenities.
- Population Enumeration: Scheduled for February 2027, this second phase will involve collecting detailed demographic and socio-economic information from individuals, ultimately determining the final population figures for Delhi and the entire nation.
While the first phase provides a crucial preliminary estimate, officials reiterate that the definitive understanding of Delhi's population dynamics will emerge only upon the completion of the Population Enumeration phase next year.