The demonym for residents of Kolkata are Calcuttan and Kolkatan. According to provisional results of the 2011 national census, Kolkata district, which occupies an area of 185 km2 (71 sq mi), had a population of 4,486,679;[113] its population density was 24,252/km2 (62,810/sq mi).[113] This represents a decline of 1.88% during the decade 2001–11. The sex ratio is 899 females per 1000 males—lower than the national average.[114] The ratio is depressed by the influx of working males from surrounding rural areas, from the rest of West Bengal; these men commonly leave their families behind.[115] Kolkata’s literacy rate of 87.14%[114] exceeds the national average of 74%.[116] The final population totals of census 2011 stated the population of city as 4,496,694.[9] The urban agglomeration had a population of 14,112,536 in 2011.

Bengali, the official state language, is the dominant language in Kolkata.[118] English is also used, particularly by the white-collar workforce. Hindi and Urdu are spoken by a sizeable minority.[119][120] Bengali Hindus form the majority of Kolkata’s population; Marwaris, Biharis and Urdu-speaking Muslims compose large minorities.[121] Among Kolkata’s smaller communities are Chinese, Tamils, Nepalis, Pathans/Afghans (locally known as Kabuliwala[122]) Odias, Telugus, Gujaratis, Anglo-Indians, Armenians, Bengali Muslims, Greeks, Tibetans, Maharashtrians, Konkanis, Malayalees, Punjabis and Parsis.[34]: 3  The number of Armenians, Greeks, Jews and other foreign-origin groups declined during the 20th century.[123] The Jewish population of Kolkata was 5,000 during World War II, but declined after Indian independence and the establishment of Israel;[124] by 2013, there were 25 Jews in the city.[125] India’s sole Chinatown is in eastern Kolkata;[123] once home to 20,000 ethnic Chinese, its population dropped to around 2,000 as of 2009[123] as a result of multiple factors including repatriation and denial of Indian citizenship following the 1962 Sino-Indian War, and immigration to foreign countries for better economic opportunities.[126] The Chinese community traditionally worked in the local tanning industry and ran Chinese restaurants.