One striking feature of demographic changes in the state reflected in Census 2011 data is the sharp rise in the number of “census towns” from 93 in 2001 to 228 in 2011, indicating that people from rural backgrounds are increasingly discarding agriculture as a livelihood option and opting for more urban alternatives.
The decadal growth of urban population in Andhra Pradesh is 33.49 per cent, slightly higher than the national average of 31.16 per cent. The rural and urban population percentages in the state now stand at 66.51 and 33.49 per cent, respectively. Though the sex ratio in state increased from 978 in 2001 to 992 in 2011, the sex ratio in urban areas is just 984, while it is 995 in the case of rural areas. However, the child sex ratio in state declined to 943 in 2011, compared to 961 recorded in 2001 Census.
The decadal growth rate of population in state came down to 11.10 per cent in 2011, which is 3.49 per cent lower than 2001 census. “The level of urbanisation in Andhra Pradesh is 33.49 per cent as per 2011 Census, which is 6.19 per cent higher over the 2001 Census. While the population living in urban areas increased to 33.49 per cent from 27.30 per cent, those living in rural areas came down from 72.70 per cent to 66.51 per cent. The number of villages came down from 28,123 to 27,800 with the merger of villages in urban areas, while the number of towns increased from 210 to 353,” said Y.V. Anuradha, director of the state Directorate of Census Operations.
The large-scale migration of people from rural areas to urban areas has resulted in Ranga Reddy becoming the most populous district in the state with population of 5.29 million during 2011 census, followed by East Godavari at 5.15 million and Guntur at 4.88 million. The percentage decadal growth rate of child population has declined from 15.03 to 7.23, registering a decrease of 7.80. At mandal-level, the child sex-ratio has worsened over 2001 census position. Child sex ratio in 2 mandals is lowest with Alampur in Mahbubnagar district at 704 and Chityal in Nalgonda district at 528.
Though literacy rate has improved in state, from 60.47 per cent to 67.66 per cent, the state’s ranking has slipped to 31 in 2011 from 28 in 2001. The literacy rate in rural areas is 61.14 as against 54.50 in 2001. At national-level, 65.46 per cent of female population is literate, while it is 59.74 in the case of Andhra Pradesh, which stood at the 29th place.