New Delhi, Mar 31: India’s population rose to 1.21 billion people over the last 10 years -an increase by 181 million, according to the new census released Thursday, but significantly the growth is slower for the first time in nine decades.
The population, which accounts for world’s 17.5 per cent population, comprises 623.7 million males and 586.5 million females, said a provisional 2011 Census report.
China is the most populous nation accounting for 19.4 per cent of the global population. The country’s headcount is almost equal to the combined population of the United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Japan put together, it said.
The population has increased by more than 181 million during the decade 2001-2011, the report said. The growth rate in 2011 is 17.64 per cent in comparison to 21.15 per cent in 2001.
The 2001-2011 period is the first decade - with exception of 1911-1921 - which has actually added lesser population compared to the previous decade, Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner of India C Chandramauli said in presence of Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai.
Among the states and Union territories, Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state with 199 million people and Lakshadweep the least populated at 64,429.
The combined population of UP and Maharashtra is bigger than that of the US.
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 Census indicated a continuing preference for male children over female children. The latest child sex ratio in is 914 female against 1,000 male- the lowest since Independence.
However, in some good news, the overall sex ratio at the national level has increased by 7 points since the 2001 Census to reach 940 females per 1000 male at Census 2011.
This is the highest sex ratio recorded since 1971 and a shade lower than 1961. Increase in sex ratio has been recorded in 29 states and UTs while three major states - Bihar, Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir have shown a decline in sex ratio as compared to Census 2001.
Kerala with 1084 has the highest sex ratio followed by Puducherry with 1038. Daman and Diu has the lowest sex ratio of 618. According to the data, literates constitute 74 per cent of the total population aged seven and above and illiterates form 26 per cent.
The 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 per cent.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 1 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST