The Sundargarh district forms the northwestern part of the Odisha state and is the second largest district in the state accounting for 6.23% of the total area. The geographical area of the district is 9,712 km2 (3,750 sq mi). The district spreads from 21°36′N to 22°32′N and from 83°32′E to 85°22′E.[2]
According to the 2011 census Sundargarh district has a population of 2,093,437,[1] roughly equal to the nation of North Macedonia[5] or the US state of New Mexico.[6] This gives it a ranking of 221st in India (out of a total of 640).[1] The district has a population density of 214 inhabitants per square kilometre (550/sq mi).[1] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 13.66%.[1] Sundargarh has a sex ratio of 973 females for every 1000 males,[1] and a literacy rate of 73.34%. 35.26% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 9.16% and 50.75% of the population respectively.[1]
In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Sundargarh one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[8] It is one of the 19 districts in Odisha currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[8]
^US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2011. North Macedonia 2,077,328 July 2011 est.