Every year, July 11 is observed as World Population Day. At the time of India’s independence in 1951, Ahmedabad’s population stood at 8.37 lakh. By 2025, it is estimated to have reached 85.53 lakh, marking a tenfold increase over 75 years. According to a report by the International Institute for Population Sciences, the city’s population is projected to surpass 91 lakh by 2031. The same report predicts that Ahmedabad will have the second-worst sex ratio in Gujarat, at 887 females per 1,000 males, following Surat’s 772. Historical data shows Ahmedabad’s population was just 80,000 in 1817 and grew to 11.49 lakh by 1961, as per census records.
The sex ratio in Ahmedabad has been declining over the decades. In 1991, there were 897 females per 1,000 males. This figure dropped to 892 in 2001, rose slightly to 904 in 2011, but fell again to 892 in 2021. By 2025, the sex ratio is estimated at 889 females per 1,000 males, with projections indicating it will dip further to 887 by 2031, making it the second-lowest in Gujarat.
Population density in Ahmedabad has also surged. In 1991, the city’s density was 567 people per square kilometer. Based on projections from the Population Institute, this figure is expected to reach 1,055 people per square kilometer in 2025, across the city’s 8,000 square kilometer area.