According to the 2011 census Howrah district has a population of 4,850,029, roughly equal to the nation of Singapore or the US state of Alabama. This gives it a ranking of 23rd in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 3,306 inhabitants per square kilometre (8,560/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 13.31%. Howrah has a sex ratio of 935 females for every 1000 males and a literacy rate of 83.85%.

Total area in Howrah District is 1467 square km. Total population is 4,273,099 as per census 2001 records. 57.91% of the population live in Howrah Sadar subdivision and rest 42.09% live in Uluberia subdivision. Population Density: 2913 per square km.