Bihar is India’s third most populous state (103,804,637 people according to 2011 estimates) and the 12th biggest by land area (98,940 km2), with a population density of 1,102 people per square kilometer. The state is heavily populated; the list includes 25 cities with populations of more than 100,000.
Patna is Bihar’s capital and largest city, with a population of 2,049,156 people residing in an area of 135 km2 with a population density of 15,157 people per km2. Here are the top 25 cities in Bihar, along with their population, area, density, and districts. Bihar’s largest cities are listed in order of population.
| Rank | City Name | Population | Area (km²) | Density ( inhabitants/km²) | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patna | 2,049,156 | 135 | 15,157 | Patna |
| 2 | Gaya | 475,987 | 51 | 9,244 | Gaya |
| 3 | Bhagalpur | 412,209 | 30 | 13,366 | Bhagalpur |
| 4 | Muzaffarpur | 396,590 | 26 | 15,005 | Muzaffarpur |
| 5 | Purnia (Purnea) | 312,669 | 60 | 5,188 | Purnia |
| 6 | Darbhanga | 308,011 | 19 | 16,059 | Darbhanga |
| 7 | Bihar (Bihar Sharif) | 297,268 | 23 | 12,649 | Nalanda |
| 8 | Ara (Arrah) | 261,430 | 30 | 8,441 | Bhojpur |
| 9 | Begusarai | 252,008 | 9 | 28,063 | Begusarai |
| 10 | Katihar | 240,838 | 24 | 9,814 | Katihar |
| 11 | Chapra | 213,714 | 16 | 12,601 | Saran |
| 12 | Munger (Monghyr) | 213,303 | 17 | 12,188 | Munger |
| 13 | Saharsa | 156,540 | 21 | 7,408 | Saran |
| 14 | Bettiah | 155,518 | 8 | 19,415 | West Champaran |
| 15 | Hajipur | 147,688 | 19 | 7,519 | Vaishali |
| 16 | Sasaram | 147,408 | 10 | 13,523 | Rohtas |
| 17 | Dehri | 137,231 | 21 | 6,436 | Rohtas |
| 18 | Siwan | 135,066 | 13 | 10,349 | Siwan |
| 19 | Motihari | 126,158 | 16 | 7,702 | East Champaran |
| 20 | Nawada | 118,768 | 5 | 20,909 | Nawada |
| 21 | Bagaha | 112,634 | 46 | 2,405 | West Champaran |
| 22 | Buxar | 110,881 | 5 | 21,488 | Buxar |
| 23 | Sitamarhi | 106,093 | 10 | 10,556 | Sitamarhi |
| 24 | Kishanganj | 105,782 | 30 | 3,512 | Kishanganj |
| 25 | Jamalpur | 105,434 | 10 | 9,899 | Munger |