Census of India 2011: Himachal Pradesh registers 12.81 % population growth, sex ratio up

SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh has registered 12.81 per cent growth in population during the past decade while the female sex ratio marginally improved from 968 to 974.

The state, which was bracketed with Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana for very low female sex ratio in 0-6 year age group, partially reversed the trend and recorded improved sex ratio of 906 in 2011 census against 896 in 2001.

Balbir Egta, Director Census Operation, Himachal Pradesh, who presented the 2011 census report to Governor Urmilla Singh said Himachal had done well on all indicators.

The population increased by 7,78,609 to 68,56,509 with male and female population enumerated at 34,73,892 and 33,82,617 respectively.

The literacy rate increased from 76.48 per cent in 2001 to 83.78 per cent in 2011 while the male and female literacy increased to 90.83 per cent and 76.60 per cent. There has been a marked increase in female literacy rate which was 67.42 in the last census.

Ten out of twelve districts have literacy rate of nearly 80 per cent with Hamirpur topping the chart with literacy rate of 89.01 per cent while Chamba distict had literacy rate of 73.19 per cent.