Himachal Pradesh — Census 2027

Completed

Houselisting window (Phase 1)

Jun 16 – Jul 15, 2026

Self-enumeration window

Jun 1–15, 2026

Population enumeration (Phase 2)

Sep 1–30, 2026

Snow-bound area — enumerated before winter

Reference date

October 1, 2026

00:00 hrs — the “census moment”

68,64,602

2011 population

12

districts

Shimla

capital

SNOW-BOUND (partially). Governor launched the self-enumeration drive Jun 1; drive ran Jun 1-15, HLO field operations Jun 16-Jul 15, 2026. Designated snow-bound non-synchronous areas hold population enumeration Sep 1-30, 2026 (revision Oct 1-5), reference date 00:00 hrs 2026-10-01, snow-bound self-enum Aug 17-31; the rest of the state follows the 2027-03-01 reference date.

Himachal Pradesh is taking part in Census 2027 — India's 16th census and its first fully digital one — like every state in the country, across two phases: the Houselisting & Housing Census (Phase 1, April–September 2026) and Population Enumeration (Phase 2).

Houselisting in Himachal Pradesh

In Himachal Pradesh, its 30-day houselisting window ran 2026-06-16 to 2026-07-15, preceded by an online self-enumeration window from 2026-06-01 to 2026-06-15 on se.census.gov.in. During houselisting, enumerators visited every building to record 33 notified questions on housing conditions, household amenities and assets — from drinking-water source and toilet access to internet connectivity and vehicle ownership. Households that completed self-enumeration online received a Self-Enumeration ID (SE ID) to share with the visiting enumerator instead of answering questions again.

Early enumeration — snow-bound area

Himachal Pradesh is one of the snow-bound, non-synchronous areas of Census 2027 (with Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand). Because winter cuts off access, its Population Enumeration happens early: self-enumeration ran August 17–31, 2026, field enumeration runs September 1–30, 2026, and its reference date is 00:00 hrs, October 1, 2026 — five months ahead of the rest of India.

Himachal Pradesh in numbers

At the 2011 census Himachal Pradesh recorded a population of 6,864,602. The state currently has 12 districts, with Shimla as its capital. Official 2027 figures will be published by the Registrar General after enumeration — this page will link them the day they release, and until then we never publish projections.

Himachal Pradesh census FAQ

When is the census in Himachal Pradesh?

Houselisting ran 2026-06-16 to 2026-07-15 (self-enumeration 2026-06-01 to 2026-06-15). Population Enumeration follows in September 2026 (snow-bound schedule).

What is the census reference date for Himachal Pradesh?

00:00 hrs on October 1, 2026 — the early snow-bound reference date. The population count describes Himachal Pradesh exactly at that moment.

When will Himachal Pradesh's Census 2027 population be known?

No official date is announced. Because Census 2027 is digital end-to-end, provisional totals are expected substantially faster than 2011's paper-based tabulation. Subscribe on this page to be emailed the day figures release.

Is self-enumeration still open in Himachal Pradesh?

Phase 2 self-enumeration for snow-bound areas ran August 17–31, 2026 and has closed; field enumeration runs September 1–30, 2026. A fresh self-enumeration window opens before Phase 2 in February 2027.

Get notified when Himachal Pradesh enters Phase 2

Phase 2 begins February 2027. One email per milestone — schedule changes, phase starts, official data releases. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

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