Karnataka’s population grew 15.6 per cent to touch 6.10 crore (6,10,95,297) during 2001-2011, says the State’s Primary Census Abstract. In 2011, the number was 5.28 crore (5,28,50,562) people.

“With this growth the State retains the ninth rank among all the States and Union Territories, and accounts for 5.05 per cent of country’s population of 121.05 crore (1,21,05,69,573) in 2011,” said T. K. Anil Kumar, director of Census Operations-Karnataka, releasing State’s Primary Census Abstract.

Of the 6.10 crore people enumerated, 3.09 crore are male and 3.01 crore female.

During the decade 2001-11, the State population witnessed a net addition of 82.44 lakh (82,44,735) persons to its 2001 population of 5.28 crore (5,28,50,562). The male population increased by 40.67 lakh and female population increased by 41.76 lakh.

Trends observed in previous censuses have been perpetuated, with the State registering a growth rate of 15.60 per cent, recording a decline of 1.91 per cent against the growth of 17.51 per cent registered during the 2001 Census.

While the rural population grew at the rate of 7.40 per cent, substantially less than growth rate of 12.29 per cent registered during the decade 1991-2001, the urban population registered a growth rate of 31.54 per cent, slightly higher than the growth rate of 29.15 per cent recorded in 2001 Census.

Among the districts, Bangalore has witnessed the highest decennial growth rate of 47.18 per cent followed by Yadgir, the newly created District, with 22.81 per cent. The gap in the growth rate between the first and second ranked district is a whopping 24.37 per cent.

Chikmagalur, a predominantly plantation area in the Malnad region, is the only district in the State that has registered a negative growth rate of 0.26 per cent. Kodagu district another plantation area in the Malnad region with a growth rate of 1.09 per cent ranks 29, just above Chikmagalur district.

Only seven districts have registered decennial growth rates higher than the State average of 15.60 per cent. Of the remaining 23 districts as many as 14 districts have registered a growth rate of below 10 per cent.

Most populated

With a population of 96.21 lakh (96,21,551) people, Bangalore is the most-populated district in Karnataka.

Anil Kumar, said: “Bangalore district accounts for 15.75 per cent of the State’s total population. While Kodagu district with a population share of 0.91 per cent is the least populated District.”

Except, Bangalore Rural (9,90,923) and Kodagu (5,54,519) districts, all the remaining 28 districts have population higher than one million.

Urbanisation

Of the 6.10 crore persons enumerated in the State, 3.74 crore reside in the rural areas and 2.36 crore in urban areas. In terms of percentage, 61.33 per cent are rural residents and 38.67 per cent are urban residents.

In terms of urbanisation, the State has witnessed an increase of 4.68 per cent in the proportion of urban population in the last decade.

Among the districts, Bangalore is the most urbanised district with 90.94 per cent of its population residing in urban areas followed by Dharwad district (56.82 per cent), Dakshina Kannada district (47.67 per cent), Mysore district (41.50 per cent) and Bellary district (37.52 per cent).

The least-urbanised district in the State is Kodagu with 14.61 per cent, preceded by Koppal district (16.81 per cent), Mandya district (17.08 per cent), Chamarajanagar district (17.14 per cent) and Yadgir district (18.79 per cent).

anil.u@thehindu.co.in