Provisional Census of India 1991

Abstract

Results of the provision census of India 1991 are given for population growth literacy and urbanization. Results were made available only 1 month after the count was taken and then at the end of 1991. Data are collected by states (25) and 7 territories for literacy and population. Urban/rural density and literacy data are collected for 429 districts and 4689 towns. Population totaling 843.9 million makes it the 2nd most populous country in the world (16% of world population with 2.42% of land area). Population explosion occurred after the 1940s and the growth rate has declined somewhat to 23.50% during 1981-91. Demographic transition may be occurring. The highest population densities are in the Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra plains in the north the deltas of Mahanadi Godavari and Kavery rivers in the east and Kerala districts in the west. The lowest growth rates were in Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the recent decennial period. Delhi has the highest growth rate. Literacy improved from 43.56% in 1981 to 52.11% in 1991. South India has higher literacy than the north areas. Kerala ranks the highest followed by Tamil Nadu. Female literacy increased the fastest. Low literacy is evident in Rajasthan (20.84%) Bihar (23.10%) and Uttar Pradesh (26.02%). The states with high female literacy also have low birth rates. Exceptions are Nagaland and Mizoram with high female literacy and high population growth rates due to the influences of tradition; Delhi Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Chandigarh also have high growth rates. Migration and immigration contribute to this growth. Urbanization has slowed. 25.72% (217 million) of the population are urban. The decline has been from 3.83 between 1971 and 1981 to 3.09 between 1981 and 1991. States with high population growth in the preceding decade slowed growth and vice versa. The number of cities with >100000 population increased from 216 in 1981 to 296 in 1991 and growth has increased from 60.42% to 65.20% between 1981 and 1991. The annual exponential growth rate of urban population is greater than in the rural population. Male number dominate in cities (822 females/1000 males). 23 million plus cities had 33% of Indian urban population in 1991; the largest populations were in Bombay (growth rate of >46%) Delhi (46%) Madras (25%) and Calcutta (19%).