West Bengal is the state with the second highest population density in India. The state is dotted with several large and medium cities and towns. Historically, the main source of income of the people of West Bengal has been farming, and, as a consequence, the state previously had a large rural population skew. At the turn of the 20th century, however, the role of industry in West Bengal increased substantially, leading to a population move into urban areas.
In 1947, when India gained independence, the erstwhile British Indian province of Bengal was divided into two parts: the eastern region formed East Pakistan, which became Bangladesh in 1971, and the western part joined India as the state of West Bengal. Scores of refugees from the eastern part came to West Bengal, leading to the start of new urban areas, and contributing to the congestion of already established cities like Kolkata.
Current scenario According to the 2011 Census of India, 128 cities and towns in West Bengal are classified into the following categories:
Municipal Corporations (West Bengal, India) Sl. No.City NameFounderYear of EstablishmentGDP Per Capita (2024)Population (2011) District1Kolkata Municipal Corporation British Empire (1758–1947) of England (Europe)1876$4,400Kolkata and South 24 Parganas2Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy (1948–1962) (First Chief Minister of West Bengal)2015$6,000North 24 Parganas3Howrah Municipal CorporationMughal Empire (1526–1757) of Uzbekistan (Central Asia)1984$3,000Howrah4Chandannagar Municipal Corporation-French Empire (1534–1951) of France (Europe)1994$2,400Hooghly5Asansol Municipal CorporationBritish Empire (1758–1947) of England (Europe)1994$3,400West Burdwan6Durgapur Municipal CorporationDr. Bidhan Chandra Roy (1948–1962) (First Chief Minister of West Bengal)1994$3,600West Burdwan7Siliguri Municipal CorporationBritish Empire (1758–1947) of England (Europe)1994$3,500Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri
Proposed Municipal Corporations Baharampur, Murshidabad district Barasat, North 24 Parganas district Bardhaman, Purba Bardhaman district Barrackpore, North 24 Parganas district Darjeeling, Darjeeling district Dum Dum, North 24 Parganas district Kharagpur, Paschim Medinipur district Maheshtala, South 24 Parganas district Malda, Malda district Serampore, Hooghly district
Municipalities Sl. No.Town/City Name1Alipurduar2Arambag3Ashoknagar Kalyangarh4Baduria5Baharampur6Baidyabati7Bally8Balurghat9Bangaon10Bankura11Bansberia12Baranagar13Barasat14Bardhaman15Barrackpore16Baruipur17Basirhat18Beldanga19Bhadreswar20Bhatpara21Birnagar22Bishnupur23Bolpur24Budge Budge25Buniadpur26Chakdaha27Champdani28Chandrakona29Contai30Dainhat31Dalkhola32Dankuni33Darjeeling34Dhulian35Dhupguri36Diamond Harbour37Dinhata38Domkal39Dubrajpur40Dum Dum41Egra42English Bazar43Falakata44Gangarampur45Garulia46Gayespur47Ghatal48Gobardanga49Guskara50Habra51Haldia52Haldibari53Halisahar54Haringhata55Hugli-Chuchura56Islampur57Jalpaiguri58Jangipur59Jaynagar Majilpur60Jhalda61Jhargram62Jiaganj Azimganj63Kaliaganj64Kalimpong65Kalna66Kalyani67Kamarhati68Kanchrapara69Kandi70Katwa71Kharagpur72Kharar73Khardaha74Koch Bihar75Konnagar76Krishnanagar77Kshirpai78Kurseong79Madhyamgram80Maheshtala81Mainaguri82Mal83Mathabhanga84Mekliganj85Memari86Midnapore87Murshidabad88Nabadwip89Naihati90Nalhati91New Barrackpur92North Barrackpur93North Dumdum94Old Malda95Panskura96Panihati97Pujali98Purulia99Raghunathpur100Raiganj101Rajpur Sonarpur102Ramjibanpur103Rampurhat104Ranaghat105Rishra106Sainthia107Santipur108Serampore109Sonamukhi110South Dumdum111Suri112Taki113Tamluk114Tarakeswar115Titagarh116Tufanganj117Uluberia118Uttarpara Kotrung
Notified area Sl. No.Name1Cooper's Camp2Mirik3Taherpur
Major cities Rank Name DistrictTypePopulation 2011MaleFemalePopulation below 5 yrsLiteracy rate1KolkataKolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas UA14,112,5367,319,682 6,792,854 1,063,394 88.33 2AsansolPaschim BardhamanUA1,243,008647,831595,177132,56080.003SiliguriDarjeeling, JalpaiguriUA701,489359,750341,73972,25282.054DurgapurPaschim BardhamanUA581,409301,700279,70951,93087.705BardhamanPurba BardhamanUA347,016177,055169,96125,06988.626English BazarMaldaUA324,237175,073149,16444,18681.327BaharampurMurshidabadUA305,609156,489149,12023,18288.388HabraNorth 24 ParganasUA304,584154,861149,72323,02391.039KharagpurPaschim MedinipurUA293,719150,487143,23225,13085.6110ShantipurNadiaUA288,718147,299141,41924,00682.6711DankuniHooghlyUA249,840128,139121,70122,95685.6912DhulianMurshidabadUA239,022119,151119,87145,48360.0613RanaghatNadiaUA235,583119,578116,00518,57586.1014HaldiaPurba MedinipurCity200,762104,85295,91021,12289.0615RaiganjUttar DinajpurUA199,758104,96694,79222,02881.7116KrishnanagarNadiaUA181,18291,58389,59913,66388.0917NabadwipNadiaUA175,47490,81084,66413,04984.5718MedinipurPaschim MedinipurCity169,12785,36283,76514,36590.0119JalpaiguriJalpaiguriUA169,01385,22683,78714,52286.0320BalurghatDakshin DinajpurUA164,59382,46682,12710,34991.6621BasirhatNorth 24 ParganasUA144,89173,49171,40012,57886.8822BankuraBankuraCity138,03670,73467,30210,76087.2723ChakdahaNadiaUA132,85567,13565,7209,82990.9524DarjeelingDarjeelingUA132,01665,83966,1777,38293.1725AlipurduarAlipurduarUA127,34264,89862,44410,54589.1626PuruliaPuruliaUA126,89465,33461,56012,11681.5327JangipurMurshidabadUA122,87562,73460,14116,29975.7128BangaonNorth 24 ParganasCity110,66856,41654,2528,45290.2529Cooch BeharCooch BeharUA106,76053,80352,9577,91091.75
List of Urban areas (District-wise) There are there are total 121 municipalities and 7 municipal corporations in West Bengal. DistrictHeadquartersMunicipal CorporationsMunicipalitiesCensus TownsSpecial Urban UnitsTotal Number of Municipalities AlipurduarAlipurduar -Alipurduar, FalakataAlipurduar Railway Junction, Bholar Dabri, Chechakhata, Jaygaon, Paschim Jitpur, Sobhaganj, Uttar Kamakhyaguri, Uttar Latabari -2BankuraBankura -Bankura, Bishnupur, SonamukhiBarjora, Beliatore, Khatra -3BirbhumSuri -Bolpur, Dubrajpur, Nalhati, Rampurhat, Sainthia, Suri Ahmadpur, Labhpur -6Cooch BeharCooch Behar -Dinhata, Cooch Behar, Haldibari, Mathabhanga, Mekliganj, TufanganjBhangri Pratham Khanda, Guriahati, Khagrabari, Kharimala Khagrabari -6Dakshin DinajpurBalurghat -Balurghat, Gangarampur, Buniadpur - -3DarjeelingDarjeelingSiliguriDarjeeling, Kurseong, MirikBairatisal, Cart Road, Pattabong Tea Garden, Uttar Bagdogra -3HooghlyChinsurahChandannagarArambag, Bansberia, Baidyabati, Bhadreswar, Champdani, Dankuni, Hooghly-Chinsurah, Konnagar, Rishra, Serampore, Tarakeswar, Uttarpara KotrungAmodghata, Badhagachhi, Bamunari, Barijhati, Begampur, Chak Bansberia, Chikrand, Dakshin Rajyadharpur, Dharmapur, Kanaipur, Kharsarai, Kodalia, Kulihanda, Madhusudanpur, Mrigala, Monoharpur, Nabagram Colony, Pairagachha, Pandua, Purba Tajpur, Raghunathpur, Rishra, Shankhanagar, Simla, Singur, Garalgachha, Krishnapur, Raghunathpur -12HowrahHowrahHowrahBally, UluberiaAndul, Ankurhati, Argari, Bagnan, Balaram Pota, Bally (Jagachha), Bankra, Banupur, Beldubi, Bhandardaha, Bikihakola, Bipra Noapara, Chakapara, Chamrail, Dakshin Jhapardaha, Dhuilya, Domjur, Eksara, Gabberia, Hatgachha, Jagadishpur, Jala Kendua, Jhorhat, Kalara, Kantlia, Kesabpur, Khalia, Khalor, Khantora, Mahiari, Makardaha, Manikpur, Mansinhapur, Nalpur, Natibpur, Naupala, Nibra, Panchla, Panchpara, Paniara, Podara, Raghudebbati, Ramchandrapur, Sahapur, Salap, Sankrail, Santoshpur, Sarenga, Tentulkuli, Uttar Pirpur -2Jalpaiguri Jalpaiguri -Dhupguri, Jalpaiguri, Mainaguri, Mal Banarhat Tea Garden, Gairkata -4JhargramJhargram -Jhargram - -1KalimpongKalimpong -Kalimpong - -1KolkataKolkataKolkata - - - -MaldaMalda City -English Bazar, Old MaldaAiho, Kachu Pukur, Kendua, Gazole, Chanchal, Kaliachak, Sujapur, Manikchak, Ratua, Harish Chandrapur, Bamongola, Habibpur -2MurshidabadBaharampur –Baharampur, Beldanga, Dhulian, Domkal, Jangipur, Jiaganj Azimganj, Kandi, MurshidabadAnup Nagar, Aurangabad, Chachanda, Charka, Dafahat, Dhusaripara, Sagardighi, Farrakka Barrage Township, Fatellapur, Ghorsala, Goaljan, Gora Bazar, Harharia Chak, Jagtaj, Jot Kamal, Kankuria, Kasimbazar, Khodarampur, Paschim Punropara, Sahajadpur, Salar, Serpur, Srikantabati, Uttar Mahammadpur -8NadiaKrishnanagar -Birnagar, Chakdaha, Gayespur, Haringhata, Kalyani, Krishnanagar, Taherpur, Nabadwip, Ranaghat, Santipur, Cooper's CampAistala, Bablari Dewanganj, Baruihuda, Char Brahmanagar, Char Maijdia, Darappur, Jagadanandapur, Karimpur, Kshidirpur, Madanpur, Badkulla, Nasra, Parbbatipur, Phulia, Satigachha -11North 24 ParganasBarasatBidhannagarAshoknagar Kalyangarh, Baduria, Bangaon, Baranagar, Barasat, Barrackpore, Basirhat, Bhatpara, Dum Dum, Gobardanga, Habra, Halisahar, Garulia, Kamarhati, Kanchrapara, Khardaha, Madhyamgram, Naihati, New Barrackpur, North Barrackpur, North Dumdum, Panihati, South Dumdum, Taki, Titagarh Bamangachhi, Bara Bamonia, Chandpur, Dhakuria, Dhanyakuria, Garshyamnagar, Guma, Ichhapur Defence Estate, Jafarpur, Jetia, Kaugachhi, Maslandapur, Muragachha, Nebadhai Duttapukur, Nokpul, Patulia, Raigachhi, Ruiya, Sadpur, Sonatikiri, Talbandha, ThakurnagarBarrackpur Cantonment, New Town25AsansolAsansol, Durgapur -Amkula, Andal, Bahula, Ballavpur, Banshra, Baska, Belebathan, Bhanowara, Bilpahari, Chak Bankola, Chapui, Chelad, Chhora, Chittaranjan, Dalurband, Debipur, Dhandadihi, Dignala, Haripur, Harishpur, Hindusthan Cables Town, Jemari, Jemari (J.K. Nagar Township), Kajora, Kanksa, Kenda, Kendra Khottamdi, Khandra, Konardihi, Kunustara, Mahira, Mandarbani, Murgathaul, Nabgram, Palashban, Pangachhiya (B), Parashkol, Parasia, Prayagpur, Raghunathchak, Ramnagar, Ratibati, Sankarpur, Sarpi, Siduli, Sirsha, Ukhra - -Paschim MedinipurMedinipur -Chandrakona, Ghatal, Kharagpur, Kharar, Khirpai, Medinipur, Ramjibanpur Balichak, Deuli, Durllabhganj, Kharagpur Railway Settlement -7Purba BardhamanBardhaman -Bardhaman, Dainhat, Guskara, Kalna, Katwa, MemariDhatrigram, Gopinathpur, Hatsimla, Panuhat, Patuli, Srirampur, Sukdal, Uttar Goara -6Purba MedinipurTamluk -Contai, Egra, Haldia, Panskura, TamlukBahirgram, Dakshin Baguan, Goasafat, Kakdihi, Kolaghat -5PuruliaPurulia -Jhalda, Purulia, RaghunathpurManbazar, Adra, Arra, Balarampur, Barabazar, Chapari, Hijuli, Nabagram, Par Beliya, Santaldih -3South 24 ParganasAlipore -Baruipur, Budge Budge, Diamond Harbour, Jaynagar Majilpur, Maheshtala, Pujali, Rajpur SonarpurAbhirampur, Alipur, Amtala, Asuti, Baharu, Balarampur, Barkalikapur, Basanti, Benjanhari Acharial, Bhangar Raghunathpur, Bhasa, Bidyadharpur, Bilandapur, Birlapur, Bishnupur, Bora Gagangohalia, Bowali, Buita, Chak Alampur, Chak Baria, Chak Enayetnagar, Chak Kashipur, Champahati, Chanddandaha, Chata Kalikapur, Dakshin Raypur, Danga, Daulatpur, Ganye Gangadharpur, Garia, Gaur Daha, Gobindapur, Hanspukuria, Hariharpur, Kalikapur, Kalikapur Barasat, Kalua, Kanganbaria, Kanyanagar, Khodar Bazar, Komarhat, Kriparampur, Magrahat, Mallikpur, Maricha, Mathurapur, Nadabhanga, Nahazari, Naridana, Nimpith, Nischintapur, Panchghara, Patharberia, Petua, Poali, Radhanagar, Ramchandrapur, Ramchandrapur, Rameswarpur, Ramkrishnapur, Raynagar, Sahebpur, Salipur, Samali, Solgohalia, Tulshighata, Uttar Durgapur, Uttar Kalas, Uttar Raypur, Uttarparanij -7Uttar DinajpurRaiganj -Dalkhola, Islampur, Kaliaganj, RaiganjKas ba, Nachhratpur Katabari -4
See also List of cities in West Bengal by population List of metropolitan area in West Bengal
Notes
References