Demographics

As of 2001[update] India census[2], Sawantwadi had a population of 22,871. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Sawantwadi has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 79%. In Sawantwadi, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

According to the 1851 census, the total population was 150,065 souls (males 76,956, females 73,109) or 166.73 to the square mile. Of the whole number 144,112 or 96 per cent were Hindus, and 3986 or 2.5 per cent Musalmans, that is at the rate of thirty-seven Hindus to one Musalman. There were, besides, 1959 native Christians and eight Jews.

The 1872 census showed a population of 190,814 souls or 212.02 to the square mile, an increase in twenty-one years of 40,749 souls or 27.15 per cent. Of the 1872 population 182,688[This number includes about 450 strangers who happened to be within the state limits during the census night.] or 95.64 per cent were Hindus, 4152 or 2.18 per cent Musalmans, 3954 or 2.08 per cent native Christians, and twenty ' Others'. Of the whole number 48.9 per cent were returned as males and 51.1 per cent as females.

The 1872 returns, arranged according to religion, show that of the Hindus 142 or 0.07 per cent were Madhvachari Vaishnavs, 13,345 or 7.30. per cent Shaivs, 199 or 0.10 per cent Shravaks, and 169,002 or 92.50 per cent worshippers of gods and spirits without belonging to any particular sect. Except one Shia, all the Musalmans were Sunnis. The three Parsis were Shahanshais. Of the Christians, 3945 were Catholics and nine Protestants, including six Episcopalians two Presbyterians, and one native Christian. Under the head 'Others' seventeen persons remained unclassified.