Mohali, officially known as Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (SAS Nagar), is a rapidly growing city in Punjab, India. It lies southwest of Chandigarh and forms a contiguous urban area with Chandigarh, separated only by the Punjab–UT boundary.
Over the past two decades, Mohali has emerged as a major IT and commercial hub in Punjab, attracting professionals, businesses, and real estate development.
As per Census 2011, the population of Mohali city was 146,213 (1.46 lakh). Due to rapid urbanization and expansion of the Tricity region (Chandigarh–Mohali–Panchkula), the estimated population of Mohali in 2026 is around 5 lakh.
👉 Projected Population of Mohali (2026): ~5 lakh
Mohali Demography (Census 2011)
| Mohali City | Census 2011 |
|---|---|
| Total Population | 146,213 (1.46 lakh) |
| Male Population | 76,507 |
| Female Population | 69,706 |
| Children (0–6 years) | 13,820 |
| Sex Ratio | 911 |
| Child Sex Ratio | 887 |
Key Takeaways
Average Literacy Rate: 91.96%
Male Literacy: 93.67%
Female Literacy: 90.08%
Total Literates: 121,742
Sex Ratio: 911 females per 1000 males
Children (0–6 years): 13,820 (10.33% of total population)
Mohali has one of the highest literacy rates in Punjab, reflecting its strong educational and urban infrastructure base.
Mohali Historical Population
Mohali has witnessed extremely rapid growth since the 1980s due to its proximity to Chandigarh and planned urban development. Between 2001 and 2011, the city recorded a growth rate of 18.41%. Growth accelerated further after 2011 due to real estate and IT expansion.
Let’s look at population & percentage change from 19o1 to 2021.
| Year | Population | Actual Change | % Change |
| 1981 | 32,351 | – | – |
| 1991 | 78,457 | 46,106 | 142.52% |
| 2001 | 123,484 | 45,027 | 57.39% |
| 2011 | 146,213 | 22,729 | 18.41% |
| 2021 (estimate) | 350,000 | 203,787 | 139.37% |
Sources: Census 2011
SAS Nagar District Population
Mohali district, officially known as Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district or SAS Nagar district, is one of the twenty-two districts of Punjab. As per the census 2011, the SAS Nagar District population is 994,628 (9.94 Lakh)
Estimated population in 2026 ~ 15 lakh.
| SAS Nagar | Census 2011 |
| Population | 994,628 |
| Male | 529,253 |
| Female | 465,375 |
| Average Literacy (%) | 83.80 % |
| Sex ratio | 879 |
| Child Sex ratio | 841 |
Religion in SAS Nagar District (Census 2011)
The district has a nearly equal proportion of Sikhs and Hindus.
| Religion | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Sikhism | 48.15% |
| Hinduism | 47.88% |
| Islam | 2.96% |
| Christianity | 0.54% |
| Others / Not Stated | 0.46% |
Mohali district is religiously balanced between Sikh and Hindu populations, reflecting its urban and mixed demographic profile.
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