Module 1: Urban Development Overview & Demographic Trends (Table 5.8.1 & Fig 5.8.1)

According to Census 2011, only 11.3 percent of the population of Bihar lives in urban areas, making it the least urbanized state in India. Promoting urbanization is a major challenge for the state government because the present economic growth momentum cannot be sustained without planned urban expansion. Urbanization contributes to sustainable growth by enhancing productivity and facilitating innovation, but it also brings challenges such as surging demand for affordable housing, integrated transit networks, civic utilities, and urban employment.

National Comparison (Census 2011):

While the national urbanization average stands at 31.2 percent, Bihar lags significantly at 11.3 percent. Bihar contributes 8.6 percent of India's total population, but hosts only 3.1 percent of its urban population.

Table 5.8.1: Trend of Urban Population Growth in Bihar (1961–2011)

During 2001–2011, the urban population grew at an annual rate of 3.1 percent, adding 31 lakh persons to urban areas.

Figure 5.8.1: Comparative Urbanization Level (%): Bihar vs India

• 1961: Bihar 7.41% | India 17.84%
• 1971: Bihar 7.70% | India 19.75%
• 1981: Bihar 9.59% | India 22.89%
• 1991: Bihar 10.43% | India 25.50%
• 2001: Bihar 10.05% | India 27.82%
• 2011: Bihar 11.29% | India 31.16%

Two Drivers of Urban Population Growth in Bihar: (1) High fertility rates within urban centers, and (2) Reclassification of previously rural habitations into statutory or census towns.