Population structure — age and sex ratio urban and rural literacy in Rajasthan
Population Structure in Rajasthan (As per Census 2011)
Q1. According to the 2011 Census, what was the total population of Rajasthan and how was it distributed between rural and urban areas?
Answer:
As per the Census of 2011, the total population of Rajasthan was 68,548,437. Rajasthan accounted for 5.66% of India’s total population.
The distribution of population was as follows:
- Rural Population: About 75.1% (51,500,352 people) lived in rural areas.
- District with the highest rural population: Jaipur (3,154,331)
- District with the lowest rural population: Jaisalmer (580,894)
- District with the highest percentage of rural population: Dungarpur (93.67%)
- Urban Population: About 24.9% (17,048,085 people) lived in urban areas.
- District with the highest urban population: Jaipur (3,471,847)
- District with the highest percentage of urban population: Kota (60.3%)
Q2. What are the key facts related to Rajasthan’s age structure (0–6 years) and sex ratio according to the 2011 Census?
Answer:
Sex Ratio (2011):
The overall sex ratio of Rajasthan (number of females per 1000 males) was 928, which is lower than the national average of 940.
- Urban sex ratio: 914
- Rural sex ratio: 933
- Pali was the only district where the rural sex ratio exceeded 1000 (1003 females per 1000 males).
- Highest sex ratio district: Dungarpur (994)
- Lowest sex ratio district: Dholpur (846)
Child Sex Ratio (0–6 years):
- The child sex ratio was 888, showing a decline from 909 in 2001, indicating an unfavorable trend.
- The highest 0–6 age group population was found in Jaipur district.
- The lowest 0–6 age group population was in Jaisalmer.
Q3. What was the literacy rate of Rajasthan, and what were the differences between male and female literacy?
Answer:
According to the 2011 Census, the overall literacy rate of Rajasthan was 66.1%.
- Male literacy: 79.2%
- Female literacy: 52.1%
The gender gap in literacy was quite high, reflecting persistent educational inequality.
- Urban literacy rate: 79.7%
- Rural literacy rate: 61.4%
- Highest literacy district: Kota (76.6%)
- Lowest literacy district: Jalore (54.9%)
- Highest male literacy district: Jhunjhunu (86.9%)
- Lowest female literacy district: Jalore (38.5%)
Structural Interrelation:
The low female literacy rate, especially in rural areas, hinders women’s empowerment and indirectly contributes to social issues such as female foeticide, which leads to a low sex ratio in the state.