21% increase in Delhi population

New Delhi: The population of Delhi has been estimated at 1.67 crore, registering an increase of over 21 per cent during the period of 2001-2011, which is above the national average of about 17 per cent. The total population of National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi stands at 16,787,941, out of which 53.53 per cent (8,987,326) are males while 46.47 per cent (7,800,615) are females, according to Census figures. The population density has been estimated at about 11,320 per sq km, Census Operations (Delhi) director Varsha Joshi said releasing the Primary Census Abstract in a press conference here on Tuesday.

Sex ratio has also gone up from 821 in 2001 to 868 in 2011. Interestingly, sex ratio in 1901 was 862, it has crossed this figure for the first time in 2011 to reach 868, she said. According to the Primary Census Abstract 2011, out of the overall 21.2 per cent growth of population registered during the last 10 years, female population grew by 24.9 per cent while male population grew at a lesser rate of 18.1 per cent. Child population in NCT - zero to six years of age - stood at 2,012,454, which was 12 per cent of the total population. Child sex ratio also registered a slight growth, standing at 871 in 2011 which was 868 in 2001, the report said. Scheduled caste population in NCT stood at 2,812,309, which was 16.5 per cent of the total population. There are no scheduled tribes in Delhi, it said. The literacy rate in NCT is about 86.2 per cent, which is much better than the national average. The literacy rate stood at 86.3 per cent in urban areas, while 81.9 per cent in rural areas. 90.9 per cent males and 80.8 per cent females were found to literate in Delhi. The highest population district wise was registered in North-West district, which was 21.78 per cent of the total population, while the lowest was recorded in New Delhi district at 0.85 per cent. However, the highest density of population was registered at 36,155 persons per square km in North district while distribution of population was scantiest in New Delhi district with only 4,057 persons residing in one square km, the report said. Percentage of highest child population was in Seelampur at 14 per cent, while the lowest was in Connaught Place area at 8.4 per cent. PTI