The Indian state of ‘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°C to 35°C depending upon the altitude which varies in hills from 300 m to 2000 m above mean sea level. It has predominantly hilly terrain with foothills as plains and flood-prone areas.
The capital of Meghalaya, Shillong is located at an altitude of 1496 meters 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.
As per the Census carried out by Government of India in 2011, Meghalaya has an estimate population of 2,964,007 individuals, an increase from figure of 23.19 Lakh in 2001 census. Of which 1,492,668 are males and 1,492,668 are females . Sex Ratio of Meghalaya is 986 i.e. for each 1000 male, which is below national average of 940 as per census 2011. In 2001, the sex ratio of female was 975 per 1000 males in Meghalaya.
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 total population growth in this decade was 27.82 percent while in previous decade it was 29.94 percent. The population of Meghalaya forms 0.24 percent of India's total population in 2011. In 2001, the figure was 0.23 percent. The highest decadal growth rate is noticed in the Ri Bhoi district with 34.02 per cent followed by Jaintia Hills district with 31.34 per cent and the lowest is noticed in East Khasi Hills with 24.68 per cent.
Literacy rate in Meghalaya has seen upward trend and is 75.48 percent as per 2011 population census. Of that, male literacy stands at 77.17 percent while female literacy is at 73.78 percent. In 2001, literacy rate in Meghalaya stood at 62.56 percent of which male and female were 71.18 percent and 50.43 percent literate respectively.
Total area of Meghalaya is 22,429 sq. km. Density of Meghalaya is 132 per sq km which is lower than national average 382 per sq km. In 2001, density of Meghalaya was 103 per sq km.
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 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.
Table 1 :- Meghalaya Population totals 2011 vs 2001
The capital of Meghalaya, Shillong is located at an altitude of 1496 meters 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.
As per the Census carried out by Government of India in 2011, Meghalaya has an estimate population of 2,964,007 individuals, an increase from figure of 23.19 Lakh in 2001 census. Of which 1,492,668 are males and 1,492,668 are females . Sex Ratio of Meghalaya is 986 i.e. for each 1000 male, which is below national average of 940 as per census 2011. In 2001, the sex ratio of female was 975 per 1000 males in Meghalaya.
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 total population growth in this decade was 27.82 percent while in previous decade it was 29.94 percent. The population of Meghalaya forms 0.24 percent of India's total population in 2011. In 2001, the figure was 0.23 percent. The highest decadal growth rate is noticed in the Ri Bhoi district with 34.02 per cent followed by Jaintia Hills district with 31.34 per cent and the lowest is noticed in East Khasi Hills with 24.68 per cent.
Literacy rate in Meghalaya has seen upward trend and is 75.48 percent as per 2011 population census. Of that, male literacy stands at 77.17 percent while female literacy is at 73.78 percent. In 2001, literacy rate in Meghalaya stood at 62.56 percent of which male and female were 71.18 percent and 50.43 percent literate respectively.
Total area of Meghalaya is 22,429 sq. km. Density of Meghalaya is 132 per sq km which is lower than national average 382 per sq km. In 2001, density of Meghalaya was 103 per sq km.
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 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.
Table 1 :- Meghalaya Population totals 2011 vs 2001
Sr
No
|
Description
|
2011
|
2001
|
1
|
Actual
Population
|
2,964,007
|
2,318,822
|
1a
|
Males
|
1492668
|
1,176,087
|
1b
|
Females
|
1471339
|
1,142,735
|
2
|
Population
Growth
|
27.82%
|
29.94%
|
3
|
Density
per sq km
|
132
|
103
|
4
|
Literacy
Rate
|
75.48 %
|
62.56
%
|
5
|
Sex
Ratio
|
986
|
975
|
Table 2 :- District wise Distribution of population of Meghalaya
No.
|
State / District
|
Persons
|
Male
|
Female
|
Sex Ratio
|
Density
|
Literacy Rate
|
MEGHALAYA
|
2,964,007
|
1492668
|
1471339
|
986
|
132
|
75.48 %
|
|
1
|
West
Garo Hills
|
642,923
|
324,900
|
318,023
|
979
|
173
|
68.38
%
|
2
|
East
Garo Hills
|
317,618
|
161,372
|
156,246
|
968
|
122
|
75.51
%
|
3
|
South
Garo Hills
|
142,574
|
73,322
|
69,252
|
944
|
77
|
72.39
%
|
4
|
West
Khasi Hills
|
385,601
|
194,628
|
190,973
|
981
|
73
|
79.30
%
|
5
|
Ri
Bhoi
|
258,380
|
132,445
|
125,935
|
951
|
109
|
77.22
%
|
6
|
East
Khasi Hills
|
824,059
|
410,360
|
413,699
|
1008
|
292
|
84.70
%
|
7
|
Jaintia
Hills
|
392,852
|
195,641
|
197,211
|
1008
|
103
|
63.26
%
|