Census 2011 - Meghalaya - State Highlights

Census 2011 - Meghalaya - State Highlights

STATE HIGHLIGHTS
Meghalaya emerged as a full-fledged State within the Union of India on 21st January 1972.
‘Meghalaya’ meaning ‘abode of clouds’ reflects the salubrity of its climate. The wettest places in the world are
also located here. The State has an area of 22429 sq. km. and is located between 24°57’ and 26°10’ North
latitudes and 89°46’ and 92°53’ East longitudes. The temperature varies from 2 degrees Celsius to 35 degree
Celsius depending upon the altitude which varies in hills from 300 metres to 2000 metres above mean sea
level. It has predominantly hilly terrain with foothills as plains and flood-prone areas.
It is bounded by the Brahmaputra valley of Assam in the North and Northwest and Cachar area of
Assam in the East; the Surma valley (Bangladesh) borders in the South and partly in the Southwest. Meghalaya
has about 443 Kms. of international border with Bangladesh. The capital of Meghalaya, Shillong was also
undivided Assam’s capital from 1874 till January 1972. Shillong is located at an altitude of 1496 metres above
mean sea level.
The population of Meghalaya is predominantly tribal, the main tribes are the Khasis, the Jaintias and
the Garos besides other plain tribes such as Koch, Rabhas and Bodos etc. The Khasis and the Jaintias
predominantly inhabiting the Districts towards eastern part of Meghalaya, belong to the Proto Austroloid
Monkhmer race. The western part of the State, the Garo Hills, is predominantly inhabited by the Garos. The
Garos belong to the Bodo family of the Tibeto-Burman race said to have migrated from Tibet. The Garos are
also called Achiks. The Garo, Khasi and Jaintia societies have a matrilineal system.
Meghalaya had its first Census outside Assam in 1971. At the time of taking the 1971 census, it was an
autonomous Sub-State within the State of Assam with two Districts viz. Garo Hills and United Khasi and Jaintia
Hills District. The 1971 Census was then conducted Police Station-wise in the then United Khasi and Jaintia
Hills District and Mouzawise in the Garo Hills District. The population of Meghalaya according to the 1971
Census was only 1,011,699, males 520,967 and females 490,732.
Immediately after Meghalaya attained statehood, the Jaintia Hills Civil Subdivision of the United Khasi
and Jaintia Hills District was raised to the status of a District bringing the number of Districts to 3. In October,
1976, two more Districts were created , the East Garo Hills District with headquarter at Williamnagar and the
West Khasi Hills District with headquarter at Nongstoin. The erstwhile Garo Hills Districts out of which the
East Garo Hills District was carved out is known as West Garo Hills District with headquarter at Tura and the
then Khasi Hills District out of which the West Khasi Hills District was carved out was rechristened as East
Khasi Hills District with headquarter at Shillong. Thus the number of Districts in Meghalaya stood at 5 and the
same number remained during the 1981 Census. From 1981 onwards, the Census was done C & RD Block-wise
with a view to providing data at grassroot level for each C & RD Block for the purpose of planning and
development. When Meghalaya became a State of the Indian Union, there were only 24 C.D. Blocks as they
were called then. But just before the population enumeration of 1981, the government of Meghalaya carved
out six new CD Blocks during 1980, one each in the Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi and West Khasi Hills
4
Districts and two in the East Garo Hills District. In the 1981 Census, there were 5 Districts, 30 CD Blocks, 4902
inhabited villages and 12 towns in Meghalaya. The population of the State too went up to 1,335,819, males
683,710 and females 652,109 in the 1981 Census from 10,11,699 in 1971.
There was no change in the number of Districts and C.D. Blocks during the decade from 1981 to 1991.
But the number of inhabited villages went up to 5484 in 1991, while the number of towns remained the same.
The population of Meghalaya rose to 1,774,778, males 9,07,687 and females 8,67,091.
After the 1991 Census and before the end of the first half of 1992, the Ri Bhoi Civil Subdivision of the
East Khasi Hills District and the Baghmara Civil Sub -Division of the West Garo Hills District were upgraded to
the status of Districts with headquarters at Nongpoh and Baghmara respectively raising the number of
Districts to 7. In addition, two C & RD Blocks were carved out, one in West Garo Hills and another in West
Khasi Hills raising the number of C & RD Blocks to 32. In the 2001 Census, there were 7 Districts, 32 C & RD
Blocks, 5782 inhabited villages and 16 towns. The population of Meghalaya went up to 2,318,822, males
1,176,087 and 1,142,735 females.
There was no District level administrative change during the decade from 2001 to 2011. But 7 new C &
RD Blocks were carved out in March, 2001 immediately after the 2001 Census, one each in West Garo Hills,
East Garo Hills, South Garo Hills, West Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi, East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills Districts raising the
number of C & RD Blocks to 39.
In the 2011 Census, there are 7 Districts, 39 C & RD Blocks, 6839 villages, both inhabited and
uninhabited and 22 towns, 10 statutory and 12 census towns. The population went up to 29,64,007, males
14,92,668 and females 14,71,339.
5
INTRODUCTION
The Census of India 2011 is the fifteenth in the unbroken series since 1872, the seventh after
Independence and the second of the current millennium. Preparation for the 2011 Census started as early as
May 2004 when the Registrar General, India issued his circular No. 48 directing all the State Directorates of
Census Operations to update the Rural-Urban Frame of their respective State. The possible jurisdictional
changes envisaged by the Registrar General, India were (a) creation of new Districts, (b) change in jurisdiction
of the existing Districts, (c) creation of new sub-Districts / CRD Blocks, (d) change in jurisdiction of the existing
sub-Districts, (e) creation of new villages by splitting the existing village, (f) change in jurisdiction of existing
town, (g) exclusion of areas from town, (h) notification of new town, (i) change in name of any of the above
entities, (j) change in the boundaries of a ward of a town and other matters of importance link to Census.
The concerned Departments of the State Government were requested to supply the various
notifications effecting changes of the entities listed above. The preparation for Census gained momentum
when the Registrar General, India issued his Circular No. 1 dated 18.10.2007 and Circular No. 2 dated
23.07.2008. Along with the finalization of the village list, pretest of the schedules were done during June-July,
2009.
As in the previous Census, the 2011 Census too was conducted in two phases, the Houselisting and
Housing Census and the Population Enumeration. The former was conducted in Meghalaya from April 1st to
May 15th 2010. The fifteen days extra was given for collection of information for the National Population
Register. The houselisting operation was not conducted in Defence force areas and Paramilitary areas and
other special charge areas. The Population Enumeration was conducted, from February 9 to 28, 2011 with
revisional round from March 1 to 5, 2011 and with a reference date at 0.00 hour of March 1, 2011. Being a
Central subject, Census was being conducted by the State Government under the technical guidance and
advice of the Director of Census Operations. Broadly the Dy. Commissioners of all the Districts were notified as
Principal Census Officers within their respective jurisdiction. The Addl. Deputy Commissioners were notified as
District Census Officers within the same jurisdiction. The Block Development Officers were notified as Charge
Officers within the jurisdiction of their respective C & RD Block. All town Charge Officers including Special
Charges Officers for Military, Paramilitary and other Defence force areas were also appointed. The Master
Trainers were appointed by the Principal Census Officers/Charge Officers and the Supervisors and
Enumerators were appointed by the Charge Officers. The Supervisors and Enumerators were mostly drawn
from among the Primary/Middle/ Secondary school teachers. There were however, cases where government
and local bodies employees were appointed as Supervisors. Before the Houselisting Operations, a State level
training was arranged for one day on 24.02.2010 and another State level training was arranged on 20.01.2011
for the Population Enumeration. These training programmes were inaugurated by the Chief Secretary to the
Government of Meghalaya and were attended by State Government Officers and Officers of the Defence
forces and Paramilitary forces. Before either of the two phases of the 2011 Census started, the staff of the
6
Directorate of Census Operations in the grade of Compiler to Statistical Investigator, Gr.-I were given 3 days
of intensive training to arm and equip them to supervise the census work in the State. Training of the Charge
Officers and also that of the Master Trainers were arranged at District headquarters. Training of the
Supervisors and Enumerators was arranged at C.D. Block headquarters for three days. Census towns
Supervisors and Enumerators were trained by the District Administrations for three days and those of the
statutory towns by the town administration. During the entire period of the Houselisting Operations and the
Population Enumerations, the staff from the Census Directorate were always present in the field in both rural
and urban areas to assist the Charge Officers.
To draw the public attention to the importance of the Census of India 2011, extensive publicity
campaign were made. The mascot for the Census of India 2011 that was unveiled by the Director of Census
Operations on 07.02.2011 was an added attraction to draw the public attention to the importance of the
Census of India 2011.
During the intervening period between the Houselisting Operations and the Population Enumeration,
the staff of the Directorate were trained on how to fill in the Village Directory and Town Directory Schedules
and on how to write the Abridged Houselist after which they were deputed to all the rural Charge Offices as
well as urban Charge Offices to train those involved in filling up the Village Directory and Town Directory
Schedules and to train those engaged in writing the Abridged Houselist which formed the basis for the
Population Enumeration. They were also trained on how to conduct the post enumeration survey of the
Houselisting Operation after which they were engaged to conduct the same in selected Sample Registration
System Units.
New features on the HH Schedules in 2011 include:


State of the Art technique used for designing the Household Schedules
Bar Code, Form Number, Continued Sheet Linking to Houselist Household
New/Revised Questions in the Household schedule include:












Name of the Institutional Household to be recorded
Sex: New category ‘Other’ introduced
Date of Birth question introduced
Current marital status: Separate codes assigned for Separated and Divorced
New filter Question on SC/ST introduced-‘Is this person SC/ST?’
Question on Disability modified-more types introduced-Placement of the Question changed
Literacy status for ‘Other’ sex added in addition to existing Male and Female
New Codes under Status of Attendance introduced: Not attending: Attended before- with
Code 7, Never attended- with Code 8
Work: among Marginal Workers – Introduced new category for those who worked for less
than 3 months
Rentiers – A separate code-5 has been included under non-economic activity
Prostitutes to be categorized under ‘Others’
Person with unidentified source of income or unspecific source of subsistence have been
categorized under category ‘Others’
7

Migration – Provision to specify the present name of the Village/town of the Birth Place as
well as the Place of Last Residence introduced.
8
Brief Analysis
The provisional population totals of Meghalaya are presented depicting limited demographic
aspects with 6 tables and 5 statements. Those tables and statements have been generated from only
three variables of the Provisional Population Totals, the provisional population totals by sex, the
provisional child population in the 0-6 age-group by sex and the provisional literate population by
sex. It may be mentioned that all tabulations of data from 1901 to 2001 have been done after the
population was recast according to the 2011 census administrative jurisdiction particularly in the
three Districts of West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills where changes in
administrative jurisdiction had been affected due to transfer of 57 villages from West Garo Hills to
South Garo Hills and another 7 villages from West Garo Hills to East Garo Hills. In all, West Garo Hills
had lost 64 villages after the 2001 census. Therefore, the data published in the Provisional Population
Totals may not tally with the data already published in the past census.
Decadal growth rate of population, sex ratio and population density
From Table-1, it is observed that the decadal growth rate of population of the State as well as
that of the Districts have decreased considerably when compared to that of 2001, except in East
Khasi Hills where it has risen by 1.27 percentage point. The highest decadal growth rate is noticed in
Ri Bhoi with 34.02 per cent followed by Jaintia Hills with 31.34 per cent and the lowest is noticed in
East Khasi Hills with 24.68 per cent. In fact, the decadal growth rate is above State average of 27.82
per cent only in South Garo Hills, West Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi and Jaintia Hills. In the remaining Districts,
it is below the State average.
The sex ratio has risen up both at State and District levels and the highest rise is noticed in
East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills. The sex ratio in East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills is above the State
average of 986. In the remaining Districts, it is below the State average.
The density of the population too has risen at both State and District levels. The highest
density of the population is noticed in East Khasi Hills with 292 persons per square kilometer and the
lowest in West Khasi Hills with only 73 persons per square kilometer. Only East Khasi Hills and West
Garo Hills have a density of the population above the State average. In the remaining Districts, the
density is below the State average and in South Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills, it is in 2 digits only.
9
Table-1
Distribution of Population, Decadal Growth Rate, Sex-Ratio and Population Density
District State/District
Code
1
2
Percentage
Sex-Ratio (Number
Population
decadal growth of Females per 1000 density per Sq.
rate of
Males)
Km.
Females 1991-01 2001-11 2001
2011
2001 2011
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Population 2011
Persons
3
Males
4
Meghalaya
2,964,007 1492668 1,471,339
30.65
27.82
972
986
103
132
01
West Garo Hills
642,923
324,900
318,023
28.41
26.73
969
979
137
173
02
East Garo Hills
317,618
161,372
156,246
32.45
25.84
966
968
97
122
03
South Garo Hills 142,574
73,322
69,252
32.33
29.33
941
944
60
77
04
West Khasi Hills 385,601
194,628
190,973
33.05
30.25
968
981
56
73
05
Ri Bhoi
258,380
132,445
125,935
51.43
34.02
941
951
81
109
06
East Khasi Hills
824,059
410,360
413,699
23.41
24.68
981
1008
234
292
07
Jaintia Hills
392,852
195,641
197,211
35.67
31.34
996
1008
78
103
* For calculation of sex ratio total of males and others as males used.
Percentage decadal variation in population, 1901-2011
At State level as can be seen from Table-2, the decadal variation of the population of
Meghalaya has not been progressive up to the decade 1941-1951. There was a decline in the growth
rate of the population during the decades 1911-21 and 1941-51. From the decade 1951-61, the
decadal growth rate of the population had been progressive till 1981-91 and declined in 1991-2001
and further falls down in 2001-11. But the trend in the District is quite different. In West Garo Hills,
East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills, the decadal growth rate declined in 1931 but in West Khasi Hills,
Ri Bhoi, East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills, the decadal growth rate rose in 1931 like that of the State
average. During the decade from 1931 to 1941 like the State average, the decadal growth rate of the
population in West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills rose while that in West Khasi Hills,
Ri Bhoi, East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills declined. During the decade 1941-51, there was, however a
decline in the growth rate of the population in all the Districts and from the decade 1951-61, there
was a rise in the growth rate in all Districts. Again, during 1961-71, there was a decline in the decadal
growth rate of the population only in South Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills. During the decade 197181, the decadal growth rate declined in West Garo Hills, East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills and during
1981-91, there was a decline in the growth rate of the population only in West Khasi Hills and Ri
Bhoi. During 1991-2001, like the State level, there was a general decline in the decadal growth rate in
all the Districts, except in South Garo Hills and Ri Bhoi. In the 2011 Census, the decadal growth rate
has declined in all the Districts except in East Khasi Hills.
10
Table-2
Percentage Decadal Variation in Population for State and Districts : 1901 - 2011
District
Code
1
State/District
2
Percentage Decadal Variation
1901-11 1911-21 1921-31 1931-41 1941-51 1951-61 1961-71 1971-81 1981-91 1991-01 2001-11
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
MEGHALAYA
15.71
7.21
13.83
15.59
8.97
27.03
31.50
32.04
32.86
30.65
27.82
01
West Garo Hills
14.94
12.71
6.57
17.11
8.28
26.91
38.71
23.57
31.15
28.41
26.73
02
East Garo Hills
14.94
12.71
6.57
17.11
8.28
26.91
31.22
33.10
38.27
32.45
25.84
03
South Garo Hills
14.94
12.72
6.89
16.75
8.28
26.92
12.79
13.64
23.63
32.33
29.33
04
West Khasi Hills
16.23
3.49
19.18
14.60
9.43
27.11
23.87
45.73
37.71
33.05
30.25
05
Ri Bhoi
16.48
3.26
19.18
14.60
9.44
27.10
42.10
89.51
27.40
51.43
34.02
06
East Khasi Hills
16.23
3.49
19.18
14.60
9.43
27.10
29.25
25.43
30.76
23.41
24.68
07
Jaintia Hills
16.14
3.56
19.18
14.67
9.43
27.11
38.24
37.72
40.97
35.67
31.34
Sex ratio, 1901-2011
From table-3, it is noticed that upto 1921, sex ratio in Meghalaya was either higher or equal
to male per thousand. From 1931, it had been slowing down until it started rising progressively from
1971 till it reached 986 in 2011. By and large, Meghalaya has not been a gender critical State during
the last 11 decades.
In the Districts too, the sex ratio was higher per thousand males in West Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi,
East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills up to 1921. After that, it was fluctuating from decade to decade. In
2011, the sex ratio has gone up at State level as well as in all the Districts with the highest being in
East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills at 1008 females per 1000 males and the lowest in South Garo Hills at
944 females per 1000 males. However, the sex ratio only in East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills is above
the State average of 986 in 2011. In the remaining 5 Districts, it is below the State average.
Table-3
Sex-Ratio for State and Districts : 1901 - 2011
District State/District
Sex-ratio since 1901 (Number of females per 1000 males)
Code
1901 1911 1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
1036 1013 1000 971
966
949
937
942
954
955
Meghalaya
01 West Garo Hills 967
949
952
953
969
946
951
967 1098 959
02 East Garo Hills
985
965
967
967
982
957
975
931
954
958
03 South Garo Hills 983
958
968
969
986
962
967
917
969
964
04 West Khasi Hills 1080 1054 1031 978
960
948
927
956
949
951
05 Ri Bhoi
1075 1029 1002 950
933
921
870
893
921
941
06 East Khasi Hills 1077 1051 1029 976
959
946
898
917
951
948
07 Jaintia Hills
1092 1066 1041 986
967
954 1015 999
978
973
* For calculation of sex ratio, others have been considered as males.
11
2001
13
972
969
966
941
968
941
981
996
2011
14
986
979
968
944
981
951
1008
1008
Population in 0-6 age-group, the literate and literacy rate by sex, 2011
The child population in the 0-6 age-group was 5,55,822 in 2011 out of total population
29,64,007 of the state. The literacy rate in Meghalaya has touched 75.48 per cent in 2011. In West
Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi, East Khasi Hills and East Garo Hills, the literacy rate is above the State average. In
the remaining Districts, it is below the State average. In Jaintia Hills, the female literacy rate is higher
than that of the male.
Table-4
Population in the Age-Group 0-6, Number of Literates and Literacy Rate by Sex for State and Districts : 2011
Population 2011
Population in age group 0-6
District State/District
Code
Persons Males Females Persons Males Females
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Meghalaya
2,964,007 1492668 1,471,339 555822 282189
Number of literates*
Literacy rate#
Persons Males Female Persons Males Female
9
10
11
12
13
14
273633
1817761 934091 883670
75.48
77.17
73.78
01
West Garo Hills 642,923 324,900
318,023 112115 56637
55478
362975 196,674 166,301
68.38
73.31
63.34
02
East Garo Hills
156,246
57064 28886
28178
196739 105,401 91,338
75.51
79.56
71.32
03
South Garo Hills 142,574
73,322
69,252
27401 13886
13515
83373 45,628 37,745
72.39
76.77
67.72
04
West Khasi Hills 385,601 194,628
190,973
86626 43867
42759
237102 121,049 116,053
79.30
80.29
78.30
05
Ri Bhoi
258,380 132,445
125,935
51547 26353
25194
159723 83,308 76,415
77.22
78.52
75.85
06
East Khasi Hills
824,059 410,360
413,699 134395 68548
65847
584156 291,431 292,725
84.70
85.26
84.15
07
Jaintia Hills
392,852 195,641
197,211
42662
193,693 90,600 103,093
63.26
59.75
66.71
317,618 161,372
86674 44012
Note: * Literates exclude children in the age group 0-6 years that were by definition treated as illiterate in the Census of India 2011.
# Literacy rate is the percentage of literates to total population aged 7 years and above.
Literacy rate = Number of Literates/Population of age 7+*100
12
Literacy rate by sex, 2001 and 2011
From Table-5, it is noticed that the literacy rate at both State and District levels has climbed
up markedly for both males and females. At State level, it has risen to 75.48 per cent in 2011 from
62.56 per cent in 2001. The male literacy rate has jumped to 77.17 percent in 2011 from 65.43 per
cent in 2001 and that of the female has climbed to 73.78 per cent from 59.61 per cent in 2001.
In regard to the male literacy rate, East Khasi Hills has the highest literacy rate at 85.26 per
cent and Jaintia Hills has the lowest male literacy rate at 59.75 per cent in 2011. The male literacy
rate in East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, East Garo Hills and Ri Bhoi is above the State male average of
77.17 per cent and that in the remaining Districts, it is below the State average.
Like the total literacy rate and the male literacy rate, East Khasi Hills has the highest female
literacy rate at 84.15 per cent and West Garo Hills has the lowest female literacy rate at 63.34 per
cent in 2011. The female literacy rate in East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi is above the
State female average of 73.78 per cent and that in the remaining Districts, it is below the State
average. As in 2001, the male literacy rate is higher than the female literacy rate both at State and
District levels in 2011 in Meghalaya, except in Jaintia Hills where the female literacy rate is higher
than that of the male.
Table-5
Literacy Rate by Sex for State and District: 2001 and 2011
District
Code
State/District
Persons
2001
2011
3
4
Literacy rate*
Males
2001
2011
5
6
Females
2001
2011
7
8
1
2
Meghalaya
62.56
75.48
65.43
77.17
59.61
73.78
01
West Garo Hills
50.69
68.38
57.04
73.31
44.15
63.34
02
East Garo Hills
60.59
75.51
66.12
79.56
54.84
71.32
03
South Garo Hills
54.45
72.39
60.98
76.77
47.45
67.72
04
West Khasi Hills
65.1
79.30
66.49
80.29
63.65
78.30
05
Ri Bhoi
65.73
77.22
68.81
78.52
62.43
75.85
06
East Khasi Hills
76.07
84.70
77.28
85.26
74.84
84.15
07
Jaintia Hills
51.87
63.26
50.08
59.75
53.67
Note- *Literacy rate is the percentage of literates to population aged 7 years and above.
13
66.71
Proportion of child population in the 0-6 age group by sex, 2001 and 2011
As can be seen from Table-6, the proportion of the child population in the 0-6 age group to
the total population in Meghalaya has fallen to 18.75 per cent in 2011 from 20.18 per cent in 2001.
The males too have come down to 18.91 per cent in 2011 from 20.17 per cent in 2001 and the
females to 18.60 per cent in 2011 from 20.19 per cent in 2001.
In the Districts too, the proportion of the child population in the 0-6 age-group has fallen in all
the Districts by total males and females. East Khasi Hills has the lowest proportion of the child
population by total males and females followed by West Garo Hills. In fact, those are the only
Districts including East Garo Hills where the proportion of the child population is below the State
average. The same trend is noticed in regard to the proportion of the male and female child
population.
Table - 6
Proportion of child population in the age group 0-6 by sex, 2001 and 2011
District
Code
State/District
1
2
Proportion of Child Population in the Age-Group 0-6 to Total Population
2001
2011
Persons
Males
Females
Persons
Males
Females
3
4
5
6
7
8
Meghalaya
20.18
20.17
20.19
18.75
18.91
18.60
01
West Garo Hills
19.47
19.56
19.37
17.44
17.43
17.44
02
East Garo Hills
20.39
20.32
20.46
17.97
17.90
18.03
03
South Garo Hills
21.15
20.82
21.49
19.22
18.94
19.52
04
West Khasi Hills
23.42
23.34
23.50
22.47
22.54
22.39
05
Ri Bhoi
22.07
21.72
22.43
19.95
19.90
20.01
06
East Khasi Hills
17.43
17.51
17.34
16.31
16.70
15.92
07
Jaintia Hills
22.54
22.55
22.53
22.06
22.50
21.63
14
Ranking of Districts by population size 2001 and 2011
From statement-1, it is noticed that all the Districts of the State retain the same rank in 2011 as in
2001 by the size of their respective population. By the percentage of their respective population size to the
State population, it is noticed that the proportion in East Khasi Hills, West Garo Hills and East Garo Hills has
slightly decreased from 2001 to 2011 which indicates that the growth rate of the population in those Districts
has not been proportionate to that of the state. In Jaintia Hills, West Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi and South Garo Hills,
the proportion of their respective population to the total population of the State has risen slightly.
Statement-1
Ranking of Districts by Population Size, 2001 and 2011
Rank in
2011
State/District
Population
2011
Percentage to
total
population of
the state
Population
2001*
Percentage to
total
population of
the state
Rank in
2001
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0
Meghalaya
2964007
100.00
2318822
100.00
0
1
East Khasi Hills
824059
27.80
660923
28.50
1
2
West Garo Hills
642923
21.69
507309
21.88
2
3
Jaintia Hills
392852
13.25
299108
12.90
3
4
West Khasi Hills
385601
13.01
296049
12.77
4
5
East Garo Hills
317618
10.72
252399
10.88
5
6
Ri Bhoi
258380
8.72
192790
8.31
6
7
South Garo Hills
142574
4.81
110244
4.75
7
* Population of 2001 in respect of West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills is according to 2011
jurisdiction.
15
Ranking of Districts by sex ratio 2001 and 2011
From Statement-2, it is noticed that Jaintia Hills ranks first in both 2011 and 2001 by the sex ratio of
her population. In 2011, however, it has to share the first rank with East Khasi Hills which has risen from
second rank it held in 2001. West Garo Hills occupies the third rank in both 2001 and 2011. East Garo Hills
climbs up to fourth rank in 2011 from fifth rank in 2001. Ri Bhoi ascends to the fifth rank in 2011 from sixth
rank in 2001. South Garo Hills holds the sixth rank in both 2001 and 2011.
Statement-2
Ranking of Districts by sex ratio, 2001 and 2011
Rank in
2011
State/District
1
2
Sex ratio(number of females per
1000 males)
Rank in 2001
2011
2001
3
4
5
0
Meghalaya
986
972
0
1
(i) Jaintia Hills
1008
996
1
(ii) East Khasi Hills
1008
981
2
2
West Khasi Hills
981
968
4
3
West Garo Hills
979
969
3
4
East Garo Hills
968
966
5
5
Ri Bhoi
951
941
6
6
South Garo Hills
944
941
6
Note: For calculation of sex ratio others are clubbed with males.
16
Ranking of Districts by population density, 2001 and 2011
From Statement-3, it is noticed that all the Districts of the State hold the same rank by population
density in both 2001 and 2011. The density of the population has risen in all the Districts.
Statement -3
Ranking of Districts by population density, 2001 and 2011
Rank in
2011
State/District
Density of Population
2011
2001
Rank in
2001
1
0
2
Meghalaya
3
132
4
103
5
0
1
East Khasi Hills
292
234
1
2
West Garo Hills
173
137
2
3
East Garo Hills
122
97
3
4
Ri Bhoi
109
81
4
5
Jaintia Hills
103
78
5
6
South Garo Hills
77
60
6
7
West Khasi Hills
73
56
7
17
Literacy rate, 1951-2011
From Statement-4, it is noticed that the literacy rate of the State has been rising progressively during
the past six decades from 1951 to 2011. Through those decades, it is noticed that the male literacy rate has all
along been higher than the female literacy rate.
Statement-4
Literacy rate for State, 1951-2011
Meghalaya
Year
Persons
Males
Females
1
2
3
4
1951
15.81
20.17
11.19
1961
31.96
38.11
25.29
1971
35.06
40.44
29.31
1981
43.16
47.75
38.30
1991
49.10
53.12
44.85
2001
62.56
65.43
59.61
2011
75.48
77.17
73.78
Note: Literacy rate for 1961 and 1971 related to population aged five years and above. The rate for the years
1981 to 2011 related to the population aged seven years and above.
18
Ranking of Districts by literacy rate and sex, 2011
From statement-5, it is noticed that East Khasi Hills ranks first in terms of the literacy rate of its
population in 2011. Jaintia Hills occupies the seventh position. East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, East Garo Hills,
Ri Bhoi and South Garo Hills have higher literacy rate than West Garo Hills, Jaintia Hills. In case of female
literacy, East Khasi Hills tops and West Garo Hills is at the bottom.
Statement-5
Ranking of Districts by literacy rate and sex, 2011
Rank
Persons
State/District
Literacy Rate
Males
State/District
Literacy Rate
1
0
2
Meghalaya
3
75.48
Meghalaya
4
77.17
Females
State/District
Literacy
Rate
5
Meghalaya
73.78
1
East Khasi Hills
84.70
East Khasi Hills
85.26
East Khasi Hills
84.15
2
West Khasi
Hills
79.30
West Khasi
Hills
80.29
West Khasi Hills
78.30
3
Ri Bhoi
77.22
East Garo Hills
79.56
Ri Bhoi
75.85
4
East Garo Hills
75.51
Ri Bhoi
78.52
East Garo Hills
71.32
5
South Garo
Hills
72.39
South Garo
Hills
76.77
South Garo Hills
67.72
6
West Garo Hills
68.38
West Garo Hills
73.31
Jaintia Hills
66.71
7
Jaintia Hills
63.26
Jaintia Hills
59.75
West Garo Hills
63.34
19