Census 2011 India: Quick Answer
Census 2011 counted 1,210,854,977 people in India — 121.09 crore, 17.5% of the world's population. Decadal growth was 17.7%, down from 21.5% in 1991–2001. Density was 382 persons per sq km, the sex ratio 943 females per 1,000 males, the child sex ratio (age 0–6) 919, and literacy 73.0% (male 80.9%, female 64.6%). Uttar Pradesh was the most populous state (19.98 crore), Sikkim the least (6.10 lakh). Bihar was the densest state (1,106 per sq km), Arunachal Pradesh the least dense (17). Kerala topped literacy (94.0%) and sex ratio (1,084); Bihar had the lowest literacy (63.82%).
All figures here are the final Primary Census Abstract (PCA) figures, not the provisional totals of 2011 — the two sets differ, and the difference is an exam trap explained below. As of 7 November 2026, including the Census 2027 schedule.
Census 2011 Basics
Census 2011 was the 15th Census of India (counting from 1872) and the 7th since Independence. First census 1872; first complete, synchronous census 1881. The census runs every ten years, conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner (Ministry of Home Affairs) under the Census Act, 1948.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Census number | 15th overall, 7th since Independence |
| Motto | "Our Census, Our Future" |
| Registrar General & Census Commissioner | C. Chandramouli |
| Reference date | 00:00 hours, 1 March 2011 (1 October 2010 for snow-bound areas) |
| Phases | House listing from 1 April 2010 (35 questions); enumeration 9–28 February 2011 (30 questions) |
| Coverage | 640 districts, 7,935 towns, over 600,000 villages; about 2.7 million officials; cost about ₹2,200 crore |
| Firsts in 2011 | First biometrics and National Population Register data; first transgender count (4.9 lakh) |
In 2011, 68.84% of Indians lived in rural areas and 31.16% in urban areas. Scheduled Castes were 16.6% of the population (20.14 crore) and Scheduled Tribes 8.6% (10.43 crore). By religion: Hindus 79.8%, Muslims 14.2%, Christians 2.3%, Sikhs 1.7%, Buddhists 0.7%, Jains 0.4%. Caste beyond SC/ST was not collected in Census 2011 — that was the separate Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011.
Census 2011 State-wise Data
All 35 states and union territories as they existed in 2011, ranked by population, plus the India total. Density = persons per sq km; sex ratio = females per 1,000 males; literacy = effective rate, age 7+.
| State / UT | Population | Density | Sex ratio | Literacy % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | 199,812,341 | 829 | 912 | 67.68 |
| Maharashtra | 112,374,333 | 365 | 929 | 82.34 |
| Bihar | 104,099,452 | 1,106 | 918 | 63.82 |
| West Bengal | 91,276,115 | 1,028 | 950 | 76.26 |
| Andhra Pradesh* | 84,580,777 | 308 | 993 | 67.02 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 72,626,809 | 236 | 931 | 69.32 |
| Tamil Nadu | 72,147,030 | 555 | 996 | 80.09 |
| Rajasthan | 68,548,437 | 200 | 928 | 66.11 |
| Karnataka | 61,095,297 | 319 | 973 | 75.36 |
| Gujarat | 60,439,692 | 308 | 919 | 78.03 |
| Odisha | 41,974,218 | 270 | 979 | 72.87 |
| Kerala | 33,406,061 | 860 | 1,084 | 94.00 |
| Jharkhand | 32,988,134 | 414 | 948 | 66.41 |
| Assam | 31,205,576 | 398 | 958 | 72.19 |
| Punjab | 27,743,338 | 551 | 895 | 75.84 |
| Chhattisgarh | 25,545,198 | 189 | 991 | 70.28 |
| Haryana | 25,351,462 | 573 | 879 | 75.55 |
| Delhi | 16,787,941 | 11,320 | 866 | 86.21 |
| Jammu & Kashmir** | 12,541,302 | 124 | 889 | 67.16 |
| Uttarakhand | 10,086,292 | 189 | 963 | 78.82 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 6,864,602 | 123 | 972 | 82.80 |
| Tripura | 3,673,917 | 350 | 960 | 87.22 |
| Meghalaya | 2,966,889 | 132 | 989 | 74.43 |
| Manipur | 2,721,756 | 122 | 992 | 79.21 |
| Nagaland | 1,978,502 | 119 | 931 | 80.11 |
| Goa | 1,458,545 | 394 | 973 | 88.70 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 1,383,727 | 17 | 938 | 65.38 |
| Puducherry | 1,247,953 | 2,547 | 1,037 | 85.85 |
| Mizoram | 1,097,206 | 52 | 976 | 91.33 |
| Chandigarh | 1,055,450 | 9,258 | 818 | 86.05 |
| Sikkim | 610,577 | 86 | 890 | 81.42 |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 380,581 | 46 | 876 | 86.63 |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli | 343,709 | 700 | 774 | 76.24 |
| Daman & Diu | 243,247 | 2,191 | 618 | 87.10 |
| Lakshadweep | 64,473 | 2,149 | 947 | 91.85 |
| India | 1,210,854,977 | 382 | 943 | 73.00 |
* Andhra Pradesh in 2011 included Telangana (separate state since June 2014). ** Jammu & Kashmir was a state in 2011 (including Ladakh); reorganised into two UTs in 2019. In 2011 India had 28 states and 7 union territories — 35 units. Manipur's figure (2,721,756) excludes the estimated 134,038 people of three sub-divisions of Senapati district where the census could not be conducted; the India total includes that estimate, which is why the 35 state/UT rows sum to 1,210,720,939.
Census 2011 Records
- Most / least populous: Uttar Pradesh (19.98 crore) tops; Maharashtra (11.24 crore) and Bihar (10.41 crore) follow. Sikkim (6.10 lakh) is the smallest state; Lakshadweep (64,473) the smallest UT; Delhi (1.68 crore) the largest UT.
- Density: Bihar (1,106 per sq km) is densest among states, Delhi (11,320) overall. Arunachal Pradesh (17) is least dense among states; Andaman & Nicobar Islands (46) among UTs.
- Literacy: Kerala (94.0%) leads, then Lakshadweep (91.85%), Mizoram (91.33%), Goa (88.70%), Tripura (87.22%). Lowest: Bihar (63.82%), Arunachal Pradesh (65.38%), Rajasthan (66.11%).
- Sex ratio: Kerala (1,084) highest; Puducherry (1,037) highest among UTs. Lowest: Haryana (879) among states, Daman & Diu (618) overall. Haryana also had the lowest child sex ratio (834).
- Growth: highest decadal growth among states was Meghalaya (27.8%); highest overall was Dadra & Nagar Haveli (55.5%). Nagaland was the only state whose population fell (−0.5%). The male–female literacy gap was 16.3 points nationally; Rajasthan's was widest (27.1 points).
Provisional vs Final Figures: The Trap That Costs Marks
Census 2011 figures were released twice, and many websites mix the two sets. The Provisional Population Totals came out on 31 March 2011; the final Primary Census Abstract followed in April 2013. This page uses final PCA figures throughout.
| Figure | Provisional (2011) — do NOT use | Final PCA — used on this page |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,210,193,422 | 1,210,854,977 |
| Decadal growth | 17.64% | 17.7% |
| Sex ratio | 940 | 943 |
| Child sex ratio (0–6) | 914 | 919 |
| Literacy (total) | 74.04% | 73.0% |
| Literacy (male / female) | 82.14% / 65.46% | 80.9% / 64.6% |
| Kerala literacy | 93.91% | 94.0% |
| Bihar literacy | 61.80% | 63.82% |
| Bihar density | 1,102 | 1,106 |
Why the difference? The provisional release used quick district totals; the final abstract corrected the headcount and the age distribution used for literacy. Density (382) is the same in both sets. Exam rule: an answer key saying 940 or 74.04% is using provisional figures. Final answers: 943 and 73.0%. Some pages mix the sets in one paragraph — e.g. 74.04% nationally alongside Kerala 94.0% and Bihar 63.82%. Treat any page that does not say which set it uses as suspect.
Census 2027 Update
Why seats still follow the 1971 census: Lok Sabha Seats State-wise List.
The next census — Census 2027, the 16th Census and the 8th since Independence — was delayed from 2021 and is now running. The schedule was notified by Registrar General and Census Commissioner Mritunjay Kumar Narayan under Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948 (gazette notification, 31 October 2026).
- Phase 1 — Houselisting and Housing Census: April–September 2026 (closed) — buildings, amenities, assets.
- Phase 2 — Population Enumeration: 25 January to 28 February 2027, revisional round 1 to 5 March 2027; self-enumeration online 10 to 24 January 2027. Reference date: 00:00 hours, 1 March 2027 (1 October 2026 for snow-bound areas, counted early).
- First fully digital census: data on tablets and mobile apps, collected by around 30 lakh enumerators and supervisors. Approved budget: about ₹11,718 crore.
- First caste enumeration since 1931: approved by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs on 30 April 2025. Every census since Independence has counted Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes; Census 2027 counts caste across all communities for the first time since the British-era 1931 census.
- 40 questions, 13 new: caste, parents' place and date of birth, number of bank accounts, digital literacy, and whether the person holds a passport, driving licence, mobile phone, Aadhaar or voter ID.
- Exceptions: deferred indefinitely in Manipur. Poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Punjab and Uttarakhand are counted early (self-enumeration from 16 November 2026, door-to-door 1 December 2026 to 4 January 2027). Ladakh and snow-bound Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir were counted by 30 September 2026.
Census 2011 vs Census 2027
| Feature | Census 2011 | Census 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Census number | 15th overall, 7th since Independence | 16th overall, 8th since Independence |
| Mode | Paper schedules; first biometric collection | Fully digital (tablets / apps) + self-enumeration |
| Caste data | SC/ST only; caste via separate SECC 2011 | Caste enumerated for all, first time since 1931 |
| Reference date | 1 March 2011 | 1 March 2027 |
| Enumeration window | 9–28 February 2011 | 25 January–28 February 2027 |
| Questions (population schedule) | 30 | 40 (13 new) |
| Registrar General & Census Commissioner | C. Chandramouli | Mritunjay Kumar Narayan |
Common Mistakes
- Quoting provisional figures as final. 940, 74.04% and 1,21,01,93,422 are provisional. Final: 943, 73.0%, 1,210,854,977.
- Calling Bihar's literacy 61.8%. That is the provisional/crude figure. The final effective rate is 63.82%.
- Calling Delhi the densest "state". Delhi is a UT (11,320 per sq km). Densest state: Bihar (1,106).
- Flipping rural and urban shares. In 2011, 68.84% lived in rural areas, 31.16% in urban areas — not the reverse.
- Saying the next census is "Census 2021". The 2021 census was postponed; the next census is Census 2027.
- Saying caste was counted in 2011. The 2011 Census counted only SC/ST status. Caste data came from the separate SECC 2011. Census 2027 is the first census to enumerate caste since 1931.
- Mixing up the two sex ratios. Overall 943; child sex ratio (0–6) 919. Do not swap them.
Memory Tricks
- "943 – 919 – 382": sex ratio 943, child sex ratio 919, density 382. Three numbers, one line.
- Kerala tops both: highest literacy (94.0%) and highest sex ratio (1,084). One state, two records.
- Bihar's paradox: densest state (1,106) and least literate state (63.82%) at the same time.
- UP = one Brazil: Uttar Pradesh (19.98 crore) had roughly the population of Brazil in 2011; Sikkim (6.10 lakh) had the fewest people of any state.
- 1931 → 2027: caste was last counted in 1931; Census 2027 counts it again after 96 years. And 2011 was the 15th census, 2027 the 16th, with 2011's motto "Our Census, Our Future".
Census 2011 Practice Questions
1. What was the total population of India as per the final figures of Census 2011? Answer: 1,210,854,977 (121.09 crore) — not the provisional 1,210,193,422.
2. What was the decadal growth rate in 2001–2011? Answer: 17.7%, down from 21.5% in the previous decade.
3. What were the sex ratio and child sex ratio in Census 2011? Answer: Sex ratio 943 females per 1,000 males; child sex ratio (0–6) 919.
4. What was the literacy rate in Census 2011 (final figures)? Answer: 73.0% overall — 80.9% for males, 64.6% for females (age 7 and above).
5. Which state was the most populous and which the least populous? Answer: Most populous — Uttar Pradesh (19.98 crore). Least populous — Sikkim (6.10 lakh).
6. Which state had the highest and lowest population density? Answer: Highest — Bihar (1,106 per sq km). Lowest — Arunachal Pradesh (17 per sq km).
7. Which state had the highest and lowest literacy rate? Answer: Highest — Kerala (94.0%). Lowest — Bihar (63.82%).
8. Which state had the highest and lowest sex ratio? Answer: Highest — Kerala (1,084). Lowest among states — Haryana (879).
9. Who headed Census 2011, and what was its motto? Answer: C. Chandramouli; motto "Our Census, Our Future" (15th Census, 7th since Independence).
10. When is Census 2027 enumeration, and what are its two firsts? Answer: 25 January to 28 February 2027 (reference date 1 March 2027). It is India's first fully digital census and the first to enumerate caste since 1931.
Census 2011 FAQs
Which state has the highest sex ratio in Census 2011?
Kerala, at 1,084 females per 1,000 males. Puducherry leads among UTs at 1,037. The national ratio is 943.
Why do some websites say Census 2011 literacy was 74.04%?
That is the provisional figure from March 2011. The final Primary Census Abstract gives 73.0% (male 80.9%, female 64.6%). The same split explains 940 vs 943 (sex ratio) and 61.80% vs 63.82% (Bihar literacy). This page uses final figures throughout.
What is the population of Uttar Pradesh as per Census 2011?
199,812,341 — about 19.98 crore, 16.5% of India. Maharashtra is second (11.24 crore), Bihar third (10.41 crore).
When will Census 2027 be conducted?
Enumeration runs 25 January to 28 February 2027; self-enumeration online is open 10–24 January 2027, with a revisional round on 1–5 March 2027. Reference date: 1 March 2027. Houselisting ran April–September 2026.
Will Census 2027 count caste?
Yes — the first since 1931 to enumerate caste across all communities. Census 2011 counted only SC/ST status; caste detail came from the separate SECC 2011.
How often is the census held, and under which law?
Every ten years, under the Census Act, 1948, by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner (Ministry of Home Affairs). The 2021 census was postponed, so the next one is Census 2027.
Which state had the lowest population density in Census 2011?
Arunachal Pradesh, at 17 persons per sq km. The densest state was Bihar (1,106); Delhi, a UT, was denser still (11,320).
Related topics: revise states and capitals of India 2026, list of governors and chief ministers of Indian states 2026 and first in India list next.
Practice Next
- Test yourself: SSC CGL General Awareness Sectional Mock Test 01
- More GA practice: RRB NTPC General Awareness Sectional Mock Test 01
- Free SSC mocks hub: Free SSC Mock Test 2026
- More free notes: All Study Notes
Sources: Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (final figures); Census of India 2011 provisional population totals (provisional-vs-final comparison); Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Census 2027 gazette notification of 31 October 2026, as reported by PTI on 30–31 October 2026; NIHFW Census 2001–2011 comparison tables (state cross-check). As of 7 November 2026.