According to the 2011 Census of India, the Mokokchung municipal area had a population of 35,913, though current estimates place it higher due to urban migration. The population is relatively youthful, with a balanced gender ratio that is among the healthiest in the state.
The city is predominantly inhabited by the Ao Naga tribe, with smaller communities of other Naga tribes (such as the Sema and Lotha) as well as non-Naga residents who work in business and government. Mokokchung boasts an exceptionally high literacy rate—often recorded above 96%—making it one of the most literate cities in India. Christianity is the dominant religion, with the vast majority being affiliated with the Baptist denomination, a legacy of the early American missionaries. Nagamese (a Creole used as a lingua franca) and English are widely spoken alongside the native Ao language.