State-Wise Demographic Indicators: Population Density, Growth Rate, Sex Ratio and Literacy

Demographic indicators measure the numerical composition, spatial distribution, and vital statistics of human populations across states and union territories. The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner collects and releases these figures through decennial census operations in India. The primary parameters include population density, decadal growth rate, sex ratio, child sex ratio, and literacy rates.

Population Density Patterns

High and Low Density States

• Bihar records the highest population density among all Indian states with 1,106 persons per square kilometer.
• West Bengal ranks second among states with a density of 1,028 persons per square kilometer.
• Kerala ranks third among states with 860 persons per square kilometer, followed by Uttar Pradesh at 829 persons per square kilometer.
• Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest population density among all Indian states at 17 persons per square kilometer.
• Mizoram records the second-lowest density among states with 52 persons per square kilometer, followed by Sikkim at 86 persons per square kilometer.

Union Territory Density Variations

• The National Capital Territory of Delhi has the highest population density among all states and union territories at 11,320 persons per square kilometer.
• Chandigarh records the second-highest density among union territories with 9,258 persons per square kilometer, followed by Puducherry at 2,547 persons per square kilometer.
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands has the lowest density among all union territories at 46 persons per square kilometer.
• Dibang Valley district in Arunachal Pradesh records the lowest population density among all Indian districts at 1 person per square kilometer.
• North East Delhi district records the highest population density among all districts at 36,155 persons per square kilometer.

Decadal Population Growth Rates

State-Level Growth Variations

• Meghalaya recorded the highest decadal population growth rate among states at 27.95 percent during 2001 to 2011.
• Arunachal Pradesh recorded the second-highest growth rate among states at 26.03 percent, followed by Bihar at 25.42 percent.
• Nagaland is the only state in India that recorded a negative decadal population growth rate of -0.58 percent.
• Kerala recorded the lowest positive decadal population growth rate among major states at 4.91 percent, followed by Goa at 8.23 percent.
• Andhra Pradesh recorded a decadal growth rate of 10.98 percent, while Tamil Nadu recorded 15.61 percent.

Union Territory and District Growth Extremes

• Dadra and Nagar Haveli recorded the highest decadal growth rate among all states and union territories at 55.88 percent, followed by Daman and Diu at 53.74 percent.
• Lakshadweep recorded the lowest growth rate among union territories at 6.30 percent.
• Kurung Kumey district in Arunachal Pradesh registered the highest decadal population growth rate among all districts in India at 111.01 percent.
• Longleng district in Nagaland recorded the lowest decadal population growth rate in the country at -58.39 percent.

Sex Ratio and Child Sex Ratio Dynamics

Overall Sex Ratio

• Kerala has the highest overall sex ratio in India with 1,084 females per 1,000 males.
• Tamil Nadu ranks second among major states with 996 females per 1,000 males, followed by Andhra Pradesh at 993 and Chhattisgarh at 991.
• Haryana records the lowest overall sex ratio among all Indian states with 879 females per 1,000 males, followed by Jammu and Kashmir at 889.
• Puducherry records the highest sex ratio among union territories with 1,037 females per 1,000 males.
• Daman and Diu records the lowest sex ratio among all states and union territories at 618 females per 1,000 males.
• Mahe district in Puducherry has the highest sex ratio among all Indian districts at 1,184 females per 1,000 males.
• Daman district records the lowest sex ratio among all districts at 534 females per 1,000 males.

Child Sex Ratio (0 to 6 Years)

• Arunachal Pradesh records the highest child sex ratio among states at 972 girls per 1,000 boys.
• Mizoram and Meghalaya share the second-highest child sex ratio among states at 970 girls per 1,000 boys each.
• Haryana records the lowest child sex ratio among all states at 834 girls per 1,000 boys, followed by Punjab at 846.
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands has the highest child sex ratio among union territories at 968.
• Delhi records the lowest child sex ratio among union territories at 871.
• Lahul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh and Tawang district in Arunachal Pradesh share the highest child sex ratio among districts at 1,005 girls per 1,000 boys.
• Jhajjar district in Haryana records the lowest child sex ratio among all districts at 782 girls per 1,000 boys.

Literacy Rates and Gender Disparities

State and Union Territory Literacy Rates

• Kerala has the highest literacy rate in India at 94.00 percent, with male literacy at 96.11 percent and female literacy at 92.07 percent.
• Mizoram ranks second among states with an overall literacy rate of 91.33 percent, followed by Goa at 88.70 percent and Tripura at 87.22 percent.
• Bihar records the lowest overall literacy rate in India at 61.80 percent, with male literacy at 71.20 percent and female literacy at 51.50 percent.
• Arunachal Pradesh ranks second lowest among states in literacy at 65.38 percent, followed by Rajasthan at 66.11 percent.
• Lakshadweep has the highest literacy rate among union territories at 91.85 percent.
• Dadra and Nagar Haveli records the lowest literacy rate among union territories at 76.24 percent.
• Serchhip district in Mizoram has the highest literacy rate among all districts at 97.91 percent.
• Alirajpur district in Madhya Pradesh has the lowest literacy rate among all districts at 36.10 percent.

Gender Disparities in Literacy

• Rajasthan has the lowest female literacy rate among all Indian states at 52.12 percent.
• Rajasthan records the highest male-female literacy gap among all states at 27.07 percentage points.
• Bihar records the second-lowest female literacy rate at 51.50 percent, with a gender gap of 19.70 percentage points.
• Meghalaya records the narrowest gender gap in literacy among all states at 3.10 percentage points.
• Kerala maintains a low gender gap in literacy at 4.04 percentage points, followed by Mizoram at 4.60 percentage points.

Comparative Matrix of Demographic Indicators

Facts

• The national population density of India is 382 persons per square kilometer.
• The overall sex ratio of India is 943 females per 1,000 males.
• The national child sex ratio for the age group 0 to 6 years is 918 girls per 1,000 boys.
• The national literacy rate of India is 73.00 percent, comprising 80.90 percent for males and 64.60 percent for females.
• The gap between male and female literacy at the national level is 16.30 percentage points.
• The national decadal population growth rate between 2001 and 2011 was 17.70 percent.
• Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India, accounting for 16.51 percent of the country’s population.
• Sikkim is the least populous state in India, accounting for 0.05 percent of the national population.
• Thane district in Maharashtra was the most populous district in India during Census 2011.
• Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh is the least populous district in India.
• Nagaland is the only Indian state that experienced population decline between 2001 and 2011.
• Bihar has the highest population density among all Indian states at 1,106 persons per square kilometer.
• Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest population density among all states at 17 persons per square kilometer.
• Kerala and Puducherry are the only two administrative territories in India with a sex ratio above 1,000 females per 1,000 males.
• Daman and Diu has the lowest sex ratio in India at 618 females per 1,000 males.
• The Census Act of 1948 provides the legal framework for planning and executing the census in India.
• The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.