Kamrup most populous district; Assam population stands at 2.66 cr

GUWAHATI, March 27: The decadal growth of population in the State between 1991 and 2001 was 18.85 per cent. In absolute numbers the growth was recorded to be 4,224,085 persons, according to the provisional population figures of the State and its 23 districts released by the Office of the Director of Census Operations, Assam for the press here today. The growth in the number of males during the decade was 2,129,810, with a percentage of 18.27 and in the number of female population, it was 2,094,275, with a growth percentage of 19.47. The State's 23 districts recorded a total population of 26,638,407 during the recent census operations conducted by the Census authorities of India, which concluded on February 28 last. During the 1981-1991 decade, the State recorded a decadal growth percentage of 24.24 in its population. During the census operations this time, the over 55,000 enumeration flocks of the State reported a total number of 14,327,540 literate persons of the total 26,638,407 persons, with the literacy percentage being 64.28 for the State. Among the 13,787,799 males enumerated in the State during the census operations, this time, 8,324,077 were found to be literate, with the percentage of male literacy being 71.93, and, among the 12,850,608 females enumerated, the number of literates were 6,003,463, with the female literacy percentage being 56.03 for the State. The State also recorded a sex ratio of 932 females against 1,000 males during the census operations. In 1991, the State recorded a sex ratio of 923 females against 1,000 males. The population density in the State in 1991 per square kilometre was 286 and this time it rose to 340. The State has an area of 78,438 square kilometres. With 9.44 per cent of the total population of the State, and with a total population of 25,15,030 population, Kamrup district topped the list of the districts of the State in matters of population size. It was followed by Nagaon district with 8.69 per cent and the total population of 23,15,387. Sonitpur, with 6.30 per cent and with a total population of 16,77,874 came third, followed by Barpeta with a percentage of 6.17 and 16,42,420 number of total population. Then came Dhubri district with a percentage of 6.14 and 16,34,589 total population, followed by Darrang district with a percentage of 5.65 and total number of 15,03,493 people. Cachar district, with share of 5.41 per cent of the State's population and with its 14,42,141 population, was ranked seventh in terms of population. It was followed by Dibrugarh district with a share of 4.4 per cent and with a total population of 11,72,056. Tinsukia district for its share of 4.32 per cent of State's population, and its 11,50,146 population was ranked ninth, while Nalbari district for its 4.27 per cent share and 11,38,184 population was ranked tenth. North Cachar Hills district for its share of 0.70 per cent of the State's population, with 1,86,189 people was ranked 23rd in matters of population. It is worth mentioning here that Kamrup, Nagaon, Sonitpur, Barpeta Dhubri, Darrang, Cachar and Dibrugarh districts were ranked similarly in 1991 also. Only Tinsukia district, which was ranked ninth this time in matters of population size was ranked tenth in 1991. Nalbari district was ranked ninth in 1991 in this respect.