A post claiming that Aadhaar saturation percentages in Muslim-dominated districts of Bihar are unusually high compared to those in Hindu-majority districts is going viral on social media platforms (here, here, and here). The post reads: “While Bihar’s average Aadhaar saturation stands at 94%, the numbers from Muslim-dominated districts are shocking. Kishanganj (68% Muslim population) – 126% Aadhaar saturation, Katihar (44% Muslim population) – 123% Aadhaar saturation, Araria (43% Muslim population) – 123% Aadhaar saturation, Purnia (38% Muslim population) – 121% Aadhaar saturation. That means over 120 Aadhaar cards for every 100 people.” Through this article, let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Aadhaar saturation percentages in Muslim-dominated districts of Bihar are unusually high compared to other districts.
Fact: According to information available on UIDAI’s website, high Aadhaar saturation percentages are observed in both Hindu- and Muslim-majority districts across Bihar and other states in India. The claim that Aadhaar saturation percentages in Muslim-dominated districts of Bihar are unusually high is misleading, as selective data is being shared to create a false narrative ahead of the 2025 assembly elections in Bihar. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
While the saturation percentages mentioned in the post are correct, these four districts in Bihar are not the only ones with high Aadhaar saturation. According to information available on UIDAI’s website, high Aadhaar saturation percentages are observed in both Hindu- and Muslim-majority districts across Bihar and other states in India.
Do only these four Muslim-dominated districts in Bihar mentioned in the post have high Aadhaar saturation percentages?
No. According to data available on the UIDAI website, districts in Bihar with a Hindu majority population also have high Aadhaar saturation percentages. Except for Jehanabad district (97%), all other districts in Bihar have Aadhaar saturation percentages exceeding 100%.
As per the 2011 Census data, Arwal district had a total population of 7,00,843, of which 6,34,099 individuals belonged to the Hindu community. This indicates that Arwal has a Hindu population of around 90%. It is worth noting that the district has an Aadhaar saturation rate of 103%. Similarly, other Hindu-majority districts such as Sitamarhi and Begusarai also report high Aadhaar saturation percentages.
Furthermore, out of Bihar’s 38 districts, all except Kishanganj have a Muslim population of less than 50% of the total population. In these 37 districts, Hindus constitute the majority, and all of them except Jehanabad district have Aadhaar saturation rates above 100%.
Only the districts in Bihar have high Aadhaar saturation percentages?
No. Several districts across India, regardless of whether they are Hindu- or Muslim-majority, have high Aadhaar saturation percentages.
According to the 2011 Census data, Maharashtra’s Raigarh district had a total population of 2,634,200, of which 2,239,370 individuals belonged to the Hindu community. This indicates that Raigarh has a Hindu population of around 85%. It is worth noting that the district has an Aadhaar saturation rate of 114%. Similarly, Aadhaar saturation rates are high in several districts across India, regardless of whether they have a Hindu or Muslim majority population (here, here).
Why is the Aadhaar saturation percentage higher than 100%?
This is because Aadhaar saturation is calculated based on the population data from the 2011 Census — the latest official data published by the Government of India. According to the 2011 Census, India’s population was nearly 121.09 crore. However, the population has increased significantly since then and is now estimated to be over 142 crore — an increase of approximately 16%. As a result, a large portion of the population born or added after 2011 has also enrolled for Aadhaar.
As the denominator used to calculate Aadhaar saturation percentages is based on outdated population figures rather than the current population, saturation rates in several districts exceed 100%.
For example, consider Madhya Pradesh’s Indore district, which had issued 38,62,471 Aadhaar cards as of 17 July 2025, and shows an Aadhaar saturation percentage of 118%. According to the 2011 Census, Indore’s population was 32,76,697. When we calculate the number of Aadhaar cards issued relative to the population, the percentage comes to approximately 118%.
Similarly, Maharashtra’s Raigarh district had issued 30,14,524 Aadhaar cards as of 17 July 2025, and shows an Aadhaar saturation percentage of 114%. According to the 2011 Census, Indore’s population was 26,34,200. When we calculate the number of Aadhaar cards issued relative to the population, the percentage comes to approximately 114%.
These discrepancies arise because the denominator (population) is based on outdated census data, while the Aadhaar enrolment includes the expanded population post-2011. According to UIDAI’s website, as of 17 July 2025, a total of 1,425,508,646 Aadhaar cards have been generated.
To sum it up, the claim that Aadhaar saturation percentages in Muslim-dominated districts of Bihar are unusually high is misleading, as selective data is being shared to create a false narrative ahead of the assembly elections in Bihar.
