HP Census: Population grows by 12.9 per cent

While the population of Himachal Pradesh increased by 12.9 per cent from 2001 to 2011, the growth rate of population of children in the age group of 0-6 years declined marginally, according to data released today by Joint Director, Census, R K Ram.
The state's population increased from 60,77,900 in 2001 to 68,64,602 in 2011, the data said, with an increase in population by 786,702 in past one decade.
At present, 7,12,822 children are residing in rural areas, whereas only 65,076 are living in urban areas, the report said.
According to the report, Kangra, the largest district in the state, witnessed the highest increase of 21.2 per cent in child population growth, followed by Mandi (14.4 per cent) and Shimla (10.5 per cent).

Una district also recorded the highest overall population growth of 16.3 per cent, followed by Solan (15.9 per cent) and Sirmaur (15.5).
The state has 25.2 per cent of its population belonging to Scheduled Castes, while the Scheduled Tribes have a meagre population of just 5.7 per cent.

The remote districts of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur have no urban population, the report stated.
The number of un-inhabited villages in the state has increased by 185 in Himachal over the past one decade and risen from 2,623 villages in 2001 to 2,808 in 2011.
According to the 2011 census, population density (persons per square kilometres) has doubled from 62 in 1971 census to 123 in 2011.

Literacy rate of the state has also increased from 76.5 per cent to 82.8 per cent and it was 81.9 per cent in rural areas and 91.1 per cent in urban areas, Ram added.