We use data from the Census of India, Sample Registration System (SRS), National Family Health Surveys (NFHS), Rapid Household Survey (RHS-RCH) and District Level Household Survey (DLHS-RCH) to examine the socio-economic and demographic profile of Jharkhand. Data from various censuses are employed to study the changes in the socio-economic and demographic profile of Jharkhand since independence. All the districts that existed in the Census of 2001 are constructed backwards since 1961 using the information available in various census publications. The paper provides data for 18 districts of Jharkhand since 1961. The data from SRS, NFHS, RHS-RCH and DLHS-RCH are used to understand the trends in fertility, mortality and health service utilisation indicators. We find some improvement in the socio-economic condition of the people of Jharkhand over the past five decades. Fertility and mortality rates are found to be quite high in the state. The utilisation of health services is found to be very low in the districts of Jharkhand. The improvement in utilisation of health services for the Scheduled Tribes is found to be least among the various caste groups in the state. Wide variations exist in almost all the indicators among the districts of Jharkhand.