Households, literacy, children and work
The Primary Census Abstract adds a detailed view of the same Census 2011 geography. Literacy rates use people aged 7 and above; work participation uses all residents.
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Indicator · Census 2011 | Total | Rural | Urban |
|---|
| Populationpeople | 1,210,854,977 | 833,748,852 | 377,106,125 |
|---|
| Households recorded in the PCAhouseholds | 249,501,663 | 168,612,897 | 80,888,766 |
|---|
| Children aged 0–6people aged 0–6 | 164,515,253 | 121,322,865 | 43,192,388 |
|---|
| Children aged 0–6 as a share of population% | 13.59% | 14.55% | 11.45% |
|---|
| Sex ratiofemales per 1,000 males | 943 | 949 | 929 |
|---|
| Child sex ratiogirls per 1,000 boys aged 0–6 | 918 | 923 | 905 |
|---|
| Literate populationliterate people aged 7+ | 763,638,812 | 482,793,835 | 280,844,977 |
|---|
| Literacy rate% | 72.98% | 67.77% | 84.11% |
|---|
| Male literacy rate% | 80.88% | 77.15% | 88.76% |
|---|
| Female literacy rate% | 64.63% | 57.93% | 79.11% |
|---|
| Scheduled Castes populationpeople | 201,378,372 | 153,850,848 | 47,527,524 |
|---|
| Scheduled Tribes populationpeople | 104,545,716 | 94,083,844 | 10,461,872 |
|---|
| Total workersCensus workers | 481,888,868 | 348,743,092 | 133,145,776 |
|---|
| Work participation rate% | 39.8% | 41.83% | 35.31% |
|---|
| Main workersworked at least 6 months | 362,565,571 | 245,868,421 | 116,697,150 |
|---|
| Marginal workersworked less than 6 months | 119,323,297 | 102,874,671 | 16,448,626 |
|---|
| Non-workerspeople | 728,966,109 | 485,005,760 | 243,960,349 |
|---|
Census of India · original Primary Census Abstract
Sheet1! rows 2, 3, 4; original PCA field codes are documented in field-definitions.json.
Source access notes and archived workbooks
Worker categories
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Economic activity | Main workers | Marginal workers |
|---|
| Cultivators | 95,942,413 | 22,866,367 |
|---|
| Agricultural labourers | 86,168,706 | 58,164,984 |
|---|
| Household industry workers | 12,332,802 | 6,005,366 |
|---|
| Other workers | 168,121,650 | 32,286,580 |
|---|
Definitions, calculation methods and source access
The census snapshot
This profile uses final, revised Census 2011 population totals reproduced in the Ministry of Home Affairs’ July 2014 table. These are historical counts. The reference year and the geographic boundaries remain 2011.
India Census 2011 key figures| Total population | 1,21,08,54,977 |
| Published male column¹ | 62,32,70,258 |
| Female population | 58,75,84,719 |
| Population density | 382 people / km² |
| Sex ratio | 943 females / 1,000 males |
| Census code | 00 |
¹ The source includes people recorded as “Others” within its published male column. We retain that official table convention. Read the definitions.
One country, many population stories
The 2011 snapshot covers 28 states and 7 union territories. Uttar Pradesh was the largest unit by population, followed by Maharashtra and Bihar. Population density and sex ratio describe different characteristics, so a population ranking alone cannot capture the differences between places.
Use the state directory to explore all 35 units, or compare two places using the same historical reference.
Using these figures today
For a current-year population question, start with our India after 2011 data guide. It brings together official projections, surveys, birth and death statistics, and administrative data, with a reference period for each. Relabelling this census count with a newer year would give it a meaning it does not have.
For comparisons over time, check whether boundaries, definitions or the data release have changed. Our guide to counts and estimates explains how to choose a suitable measure.
PopulationIndia · https://www.populationindia.com/india/ · Census 2011 · Sources checked 11 October 2026