As of 2011[update] India census, Nawada had population of 2,216,653 of which male and female were 1,145,123 and 1,071,530 respectively. There was change of 22.49 percent in the population compared to population as per 2001. In the previous census of India 2001, Nawada District recorded increase of 33.08 percent to its population compared to 1991.
The initial provisional data suggest a density of 889 in 2011 compared to 726 of 2001. Total area under Nawada district is of about 2,494 km2. Average literacy rate of Nawada in 2011 were 61.63 compared to 46.83 of 2001. If things are looked out at gender wise, male and female literacy were 71.40 and 51.09 respectively. For 2001 census, same figures stood at 60.58 and 32.17 in Nawada District. Total literate in Nawada District were 1,139,832 of which male and female were 685,513 and 454,319 respectively. In 2001, Nawada District had 679,135 in its total region. With regards to Sex Ratio in Nawada, it stood at 936 per 1000 male compared to 2001 census figure of 946. The average national sex ratio in India is 940 as per latest reports of Census 2011 Directorate. In census enumeration, data regarding child under 0-6 age were also collected for all districts including Nawada. There were total 367,231 children under age of 0-6 against 359,410 of 2001 census. Of total 367,231 male and female were 184,990 and 182,241 respectively. Child Sex Ratio as per census 2011 was 985 compared to 978 of census 2001. In 2011, Children under 0-6 formed 16.57 percent of Nawada District compared to 19.86 percent of 2001. There was net change of -3.29 percent in this compared to previous census of India. Nawada District population constituted 2.14 percent of total Bihar population. In 2001 census, this figure for Nawada District was at 2.14 percent of Bihar population.