according to the 2011 census of ghaziabad district, it has a population of 4,661,452, roughly equal to the nation of ireland or the us state of south carolina. this gives it a ranking of 28th highest in india (out of a total of 640). the district has a population density of 3,967 inhabitants per square kilometre (10,270/sq mi). its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 41.66%. ghaziabad has a sex ratio of 878 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 85%.