The major highlights of the Census 2011 (Provisional figures) are as under:
The population of the country as per the provisional figures of Census 2011 is
1210.19 million of which 623.72 million (51.54%) are males and 586.46 million
(48.46%) are females.
*The population of India has increased by more than 181 million during the
decade 2001-2011.
*Percentage growth in 2001-2011 is 17.64; males 17.19 and females 18.12.
*2001-2011 is the first decade (with the exception of 1911-1921) which has
actually added lesser population compared to the previous decade.
*Uttar Pradesh (199.5 million) is the most populous State in the country
followed by Maharashtra with 112 million.
*Population (0-6 years) 2001-2011 registered minus (-)3.08 percent growth with
minus (-)2.42 for males and -3.80 for females.
*The proportion of Child Population in the age group of 0-6 years to total
population is 13.1 percent while the corresponding figure in 2001 was 15.9
percent. The decline has been to the extent of 2.8 points.
*Overall sex ratio at the national level has increased by 7 points to reach 940
at Census 2011 as against 933 in Census 2001. This is the highest sex ratio
recorded since Census 1971 and a shade lower than 1961. Increase in sex ratio is
observed in 29 States/UTs.
*Three major States (J&K, Bihar & Gujarat) have shown decline in sex ratio as
compared to Census 2001.
*Kerala with 1084 has the highest sex ratio followed by Puducherry with 1038,
Daman & Diu has the lowest sex ratio of 618.
*Child sex ratio (0-6 years) is 914. Increasing trend in the child sex ratio (0-6)
seen in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Mizoram and
A&N Islands. In all remaining 27 States/UTs, the child sex ratio show decline
over Census 2001.
*Mizoram has the highest child sex ratio (0-6 years) of 971 followed by
Meghalaya with 970. Haryana is at the bottom with ratio of 830 followed by
Punjab with 846.
*Literacy rate has gone up from 64.83 per cent in 2001 to 74.04 per cent in
2011 showing an increase of 9.21 percentage points.
*Percentage growth in literacy during 2001-2011 is 38.82; males : 31.98% &
females : 49.10%.
*Literates constitute 74 per cent of the total population aged seven and above
and illiterates form 26 per cent.
The Indian Census is the most credible source of information on Demography (Population
characteristics), Economic Activity, Literacy & Education, Housing & Household Amenities,
Urbanization, Fertility and Mortality, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Language,
Religion, Migration, Disability and many other socio-cultural and demographic data since
1872.
Census 2011 is the 15th National Census of the country. This is the only source of primary
data at village, town and ward level.
That is why the slogan of Census 2011 is “Our Census, Our Future”.
Some of the salient features of the data released are as below: -
a) Population:
• India’s total population stands at 1.21 billion, which is 17.64 per cent more than the last
decade, and growth of females was higher than that of males.
• There was an increase of 90.97 million males and increase of 90.99 million females. The
growth rate of females was 18.3 per cent which is higher than males — 17.1 per cent.
• India’s population grew by 17.64 per cent during 2001-11, against 21.5 per cent in the
previous decade. Among the major states, highest decadal growth in population has been
recorded in Bihar (25.4 per cent) while 14 states and Union Territories have recorded
population growth above 20 per cent.
Least Populous state: Sikkim
Most Populous UT: Delhi
Least Populous UT: Lakshadweep
Lowest decadal growth rate: Nagaland
Highest decadal growth rate: Daman & Diu
b) Rural and Urban population
• Urban proportion has gone up from 17.3 per cent in 1951 to 31.2 per cent in 2011.
Empowered Action Group (EAG) states have lower urban proportion (21.1 per cent) in
comparison to non EAG states (39.7 per cent).
• Highest proportion of urban population is in NCT Delhi (97.5 per cent). Top five states in
share of urban population are Goa (62.2 per cent), Mizoram (52.1 per cent), Tamil Nadu
(48.4 per cent), Kerala (47.7 per cent) and Maharashtra (45.2 per cent).
c) Literacy:
d) Density:
• The density of population in the country has also increased from 325 in 2001 to 382 in 2011
in per sq km. Among the major states, Bihar occupies the first position with a density of
1106, surpassing West Bengal which occupied the first position during 2001.
• Delhi (11,320) turns out to be the most densely inhabited followed by Chandigarh (9,258),
among all states and UTs, both in 2001 and 2011 Census. The minimum population density
works out in Arunachal Pradesh (17) for both 2001 and 2011 Census.
e) Sex Ratio:
f) Child population:
In 2011, the child sex ratio (0-6) stands at 914 female against 1000 male in comparison to
927 females in 2001.
• State/ UT having highest Child Sex Ratio: Mizoram & ANI
g) SC/ST data:
• According to the Census, Scheduled Castes are notified in 31 states and UTs and Scheduled
Tribes in 30 states. There are altogether 1,241 individual ethnic groups, etc. notified as SCs in
different states and UTs.
• The number of individual ethnic groups, etc. notified as STs is 705. There has been some
changes in the List of Scs/STs in states and UTs during the last decade.
• The SC population in India now stands at 201.4 million, which is 20 per cent more than the
last census.
• The ST population stands at 104.3 million in 2011 – 23.7 per cent more than 2001.
