15th Census 2011 highlights

Importance of census
Census 2011 will be the 15th National Census of the Country
The Indian Census is the most credible source of information on Demography (Population characterstics), Economic Activity, Literacy and Education, Housing & Household Amenities, Urbanisation, Fertility and Mortality, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Language, Religion, Migration, Disability and many other socio-cultural and demographic data since 1872. . This is the only source of primary data in the village ,town and ward level, It provides valuable information for planning and formulation policies for Central and the State Governments and is widely used by National and International Agencies, Scholars, business people, industrialists, and many more.

The Delimitation/reservation of Constituencies- Parliamentary/Assembly/Panchayats and other Local Bodies is also done on the basis of the demographic data thrown up by the Census. Census is te basis for reviewing the country's progress in the past decade, monitoring the ongoing Schemes of the Government and most importantly, plan for the future. That is why the Slogan is “Our Census - Our Future".

Highlights of 15th census 2011 (provisional figures)

• India's population rose to 1.21 billion people over the last 10 years -- an increase by 181 million. The overall population growth rate is 17.6 in 2011, significantly lower than 2001 when it was 21.15 per cent.
• India is now home to a whopping 17.5 per cent population - compared to China which hosts 19.4 per cent.
• India now has as many people as these countries put together: of the United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Japan.
• Percentage growth in 2001-2011 is 17.64; males are 17.19 and females are18.12. India has 623.7 million males and 586.5 million women. 
• Literacy rate has increased 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 highest population density is in Delhi's north-east district (37,346 per sq km) while the lowest is in Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh (just one per sq km).
• The population of India has increased by more than 181 million during the decade 2001-2011.
• 2001-2011 is the first decade (with the exception of 1911-1921) which has actually added lesser population compared to the previous decade.
• Among the states, Uttar Pradesh (199.5 million) is the most populous State in the country followed by Maharashtra with 112 million. The combined population of UP and Maharashtra is bigger than that of the US.
• The percentage decadal growth rates of the six most populous States have declined during 2001-2011 compared to 1991-2001:

        - Uttar Pradesh (25.85% to 20.09%)
        - Maharashtra (22.73% to 15.99%)
        - Bihar (28.62% to 25.07%)
        - West Bengal (17.77 % to 13.93%)
        - Andhra Pradesh (14.59% to 11.10%)
        - Madhya Pradesh (24.26% to 20.30%)

• During 2001-2011, as many as 25 States/UTs with a share of about 85% of the country’s population registered an annual growth rate of less than 2% as compared to, 15 States/UTs with a share of about 42% during the period 1991-2001.
• 15 States/UTs have grown by less than 1.5 per cent per annum during 2001-2011, while the number of such States/UTs was only 4 during the previous decade.
• Child sex ratio has slipped to its lowest since India's independence. For every 1000 male infants, there are 914 girls.
•  The total number of children in the age-group 0-6 is 158.8 million (-5 million since 2001)
• Population (0-6 years) 2001-2011 registered minus (-)3.08 percent growth with minus (-)2.42 for males and (-)3.80 for females.
• Kerala with 1084 has the highest sex ratio followed by Puducherry with 1038, Daman & Diu has the lowest sex ratio of 618.
• 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.
• Uttar Pradesh (29.7 million), Bihar (18.6 million), Maharashtra (12.8 million), Madhya Pradesh (10.5 million) and Rajasthan (10.5 million) constitute 52% children in the age group of 0-6 years.
• Three major States (J&K, Bihar & Gujarat) have shown decline in sex ratio as compared to 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.
• 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.