Women continue to outnumber men in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The rate of growth of population in Kerala declined during 2001-2011 against the decade ago period and women continue to outnumber men with the sex ratio improving by 26 basis points to 1084.

The rate of population growth was 4.91 per cent as against 9.43 per cent in 2001.

The total population of the state stood at 3,34,06,061 with 1,60,27,412 men and 1,73,78,649 women during the decade under review, Director of Census Operations (Kerala), V M Gopala Menon told a press conference here Friday.

Malappuram district recorded the highest population growth with 13.45 per cent while the lowest was reported in Pathanamthitta district (minus 2.97 per cent) and Idukki district (minus 1.79 per cent).

The northern district of Kannur has the highest female sex ratio of 1,136 while Idukki registered the lowest figures with 1,006. Child population in the age group of o-6 stood at 34,72,955 during the decade under review and sex ratio among children was 964 as against 960 in 2001.

Malappuram district stood at the top with a population of 5,74,041 while Wayanad with 93,324 the lowest, Menon said.

Growth rate of child population in the State is minus 8.44 per cent with Malappuram registering highest growth rate of 4.08 per cent and Pathanamthita the lowest (minus 23.76 per cent).

The effective literacy rate in the State during 2001-2011 was 94 per cent against 90.86 per cent.

The density of population in the State stood at 860 persons per sq km during the decade ending 2011 as against 819 per sq km in 2001, he said.