Census operations in India started during the Maurya dynasty.
Systematized during 1865-1872.
Conducted uninterrupted since 1881.
Importance of Census
Credible Source: Indian Census is the most credible source for information on various aspects.
Data Coverage: Demography, Economic Activity, Literacy, Education, Housing, Urbanization, Fertility, Mortality, etc.
Historical Significance: Census 2011 is the 15th National Census.
Primary Data Source: Provides primary data at the village, town, and ward levels.
Planning and Policies: Used for planning and formulating policies by Central and State Governments.
Wide Usage: Utilized by National and International Agencies, scholars, business people, industrialists, and more.
Parliamentary, Assembly, Panchayats, and Local Bodies: Constituencies and representation are determined based on demographic data from the Census.
Serves as the basis for reviewing the country’s progress over the past decade.
Essential for monitoring ongoing Government Schemes.
Crucial for planning the future of the country.
Census of India 2011-Key Facts
1. Population facts
Total population:1.21 billion (2011 census)
Represents a 17.7% increase from the previous decade.
Growth of females exceeded that of males.
Increase in Population:
Males: 90.97 million increase.
Females: 90.99 million increase.
Female growth rate: 18.3%
Male growth rate: 17.1%
Population Growth Rate:
India’s population grew by 17.7% during 2001-11.
Contrast to 21.5% growth in the previous decade.
Decadal Growth in Major States:
Highest growth recorded in Bihar (25.4%).
14 states and Union Territories experienced growth above 20%.
Rural Population (Census 2011):
833.5 million individuals reside in rural areas.
This constitutes more than two-thirds of the total population.
Urban Population (Census 2011):
377.1 million individuals live in urban areas.
The urban proportion has increased from 17.3% (1951) to 31.2% (2011).
Urban Proportion Trends:
Urban proportion in Empowered Action Group (EAG) states:21.1%
Urban proportion in non-EAG states:39.7%
Highest Proportion of Urban Population:
NCT Delhi:97.5%
Top five states with a significant share of urban population:
Goa:62.2%
Mizoram:52.1%
Tamil Nadu:48.4%
Kerala:47.7%
Maharashtra:45.2%
2. Literacy Rate- Census of India 2011
Literacy Rate in India – 2011:
Increased by 8% to reach 73% compared to 64.8% (2001).
Male Literacy Rate (2011):
Stands at 80.9%.
A 5.6% increase from the previous census.
Female Literacy Rate (2011):
Stands at 64.6%.
An increase of 10.9% from 2001.
Highest Increase in Literacy Rate (2001-11):
Dadra and Nagar Haveli: 18.6 points (from 57.6% to 76.2%)
Bihar: 14.8 points (from 47.0% to 61.8%)
Tripura: 14.0 points (from 73.2% to 87.2%)
Female Literacy Improvement:
Higher than males in all states and UTs, except Mizoram (same for both males and females).
Urban-Rural Literacy Gap (Census 2011):
Gap steadily declining in every census.
In Census 2011, the gap stands at 16.3 points.
Top 5 States and UTs with Highest Literacy Rates:
Kerala:94%
Lakshadweep:91.8%
Mizoram:91.3%
Goa:88.7%
Tripura:87.2%
Bottom 5 States and UTs in Literacy Rates:
Bihar:61.8%
Arunachal Pradesh:65.4%
Rajasthan:66.1%
Jharkhand:66.4%
Andhra Pradesh:67%
3. Population Density facts
Population Density Trend: Increased from 325 (2001) to 382 (2011) per sq km.
States with Highest Population Density:
Bihar:1106
Surpassed West Bengal (2001) which was in the first position.
Union Territories with Highest Population Density (2011):
Delhi:11,320
Followed by Chandigarh (9,258).
States with Lowest Population Density (2011):
Arunachal Pradesh:17
Same for both 2001 and 2011 Census.
4. Sex ratio
Overall Sex Ratio (2011):
Stands at 940 females against 1000 males.
10% more than the last census (933).
State Variations:
Haryana: Worst male-female ratio, with 879 females per 1000 males.
Jammu and Kashmir:889 females.
Punjab:895 females.
Other worst-performing states: Uttar Pradesh (912), Bihar (918).
Top Performing States (2011):
Kerala:1,084 females.
Tamil Nadu:996 females.
Andhra Pradesh:993 females.
Chhattisgarh:991 females.
Odisha:979 females.
Worst Performing States (Sex Ratio 0-6)
Haryana:834 females.
Punjab:846 females.
Jammu and Kashmir:862 females.
Rajasthan:888 females.
Gujarat:890 females.
Best Performing States (Sex Ratio 0-6)
Chhattisgarh:969 females.
Kerala:964 females.
Assam:962 females.
West Bengal:956 females.
Jharkhand:948 females.
Karnataka:948 females.
5. Child Population – Census 2011
Child Population (0-6 Years):
Increased by 0.4% to 164.5 million in 2011 from 163.8 million in 2001.
Decline in Child Population:
In 17 states and UTs, the child population has declined in 2011 compared to 2001.
Sex Ratio (0-6) Decline:
Decline of 8% in the sex ratio of the 0-6 age group.
In 2011, child sex ratio (0-6) is 919 females against 1000 males, compared to 927 females in 2001.
Gender Disparities (0-6 Age Group):
Male child population increased, while female child population decreased during 2001-11.
Eight states with a child population proportion of more than 15%: Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Meghalaya.
6. Marriage Age – Census 2011
The median marriage age for men increased from 22.6 (2001) to 23.5 (2011).
The median marriage age for women increased from 18.2 (2001) to 19.2
7. Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) Data
Number of Ethnic Groups:
1,241 individual ethnic groups notified as SCs.
705 individual ethnic groups notified as STs.
Changes in SC/ST Lists:
There have been changes in the list of SCs/STs in states and UTs during the last decade.
SC Population:
201.4 million, marking a 20% increase from the last census.
ST Population:
104.3 million in 2011, indicating a 23.7% increase from 2001.
8. Religious Demographics – Census 2011
Overall Population:
Hindus: 79.8% (966.3 million)
Muslims: 14.23% (172.2 million)
“No Religion” Category: 2.87 million (0.24% of India’s population)
First-time Category:
The 2011 census included a category for “No Religion” for the first time.
National Minority Status: Six religions in India have been awarded “National Minority” status-Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, and Parsis
Decade-by-Decade Religious Composition:
The religious composition of India has been recorded in each decade leading up to the 2011 census.
