Nagaland records highest decadal population growth

KOHIMA, March 31: Nagaland has recorded the highest decadal growth of population during 1991-2001 in the country, the provisional census figures released here on Saturday revealed, reports PTI. The provisional census figures of Nagaland with districtwise break-ups, including literacy rate and sex ratio were formally released here this morning by Chief Minister SC Jamir at a simple function at his official residence. The total population in Nagaland increased from 12,09,546 in 1991 to 19,88,636 in March 2001, recording the decadal growth at 64.41 per cent against the national average growth rate of 21.34 per cent, followed by Dadra and Nagar Haveli at 59.20 per cent. Nagaland had also recorded highest decadal growth of population during 1981-91, the figures disclosed. Among the seven Northeastern States, except Assam and Tripura, all other five States recorded the decadal growth at higher level than the national average. Nagaland is followed by Manipur and Meghalaya at 30.02 per cent and 29.94 per cent, respectively. In Nagaland out of the total population, 10,41,686 are males and 9,46,950 are females, recording the sex ratio at 909 against the national sex ratio of 933. Census data reveals the sex ratio in Nagaland was lower than national ratio in the last three census. However, the ratio increased from 863 in 1981 to 890 in 1991 and to 909 in 2001. The sex ratio is highest in Zunheboto district (945), followed by Kohima (944) and Wokha (927) districts. Dimapur district recorded the lowest sex ratio at 854. As per the census data, in Nagaland, females outnumbered males in 1941 (1021), but witnessed a continuous declining trend till 1981, however after that the rate has been increasing. Although Nagaland registered an impressive growth rate in literacy during 1961 to 1991, the decadal growth of this parameter during 1991-2001 was not so impressive. The literacy rate increased from 61.65 to 67.11 per cent during this period against the national increase from 52.21 to 65.38 per cent during 1991-2001. The male and female rates in the state have been recorded at 71.77 and 61.92 per cent respectively.