Demography of Assam: Population, Density and Literacy
Where people live, how many of them there are and how well they read and write - these questions form the demographic profile of Assam, and they are asked in almost every competitive examination. The census is the source of all these numbers, and the 2011 Census remains the latest completed census, so its figures are the ones to remember. The pattern is simple: most people live in the fertile Brahmaputra valley, while the hill districts are thinly populated; literacy is improving but still uneven; and the sex ratio, though better than the national average, shows a slow decline that worries planners.
Population size and growth
As per the 2011 Census, the population of Assam is about 3.12 crore, or 31,205,576. The decadal growth rate for 2001-2011 was 16.93 per cent, which is close to the national average. In terms of population, Assam ranks about 14th among the states of India. The latest completed census in the state is the Census of 2011. Remembering the three figures - about 3.12 crore people, 16.93 per cent growth and about the 14th rank - answers a large number of direct questions.
Density and distribution
The population density of Assam is 398 persons per square kilometre, well above the national average. The density is not uniform across the state. It is highest in the plains, especially in Kamrup (Metropolitan) district, which includes Guwahati city, and lowest in the hill district of Dima Hasao. The reason for the higher density of the Brahmaputra valley is the combination of fertile alluvial soil, adequate rainfall and better communication. The hills, with their steep slopes, thin population and large reserved forests, remain sparsely settled. Guwahati city alone had a population of about 9.57 lakh in 2011.
Literacy
The literacy rate of Assam is 72.19 per cent. The male literacy rate is 77.85 per cent and the female literacy rate is 66.27 per cent. The gap between male and female literacy is still wide, though it is narrowing over time. The district with the highest literacy is Kamrup (Metropolitan), and the district with the lowest literacy is Dhubri. Literacy is closely tied to urbanisation and to access to schools, which is why the plains and the cities show much better figures than the remote hills and the char areas.
Sex ratio
The sex ratio of Assam, as per the 2011 Census, is 958 females per 1000 males, which is better than the all-India figure. The child sex ratio is 962 females per 1000 males, and here too Assam does relatively well. Despite this, the sex ratio has been declining slowly over the decades. The main causes of this decline are female foeticide, the neglect of girl children and factors linked to migration. Improving female literacy and health, and strict enforcement of the law against sex determination, are the main ways to check the decline.
Urban and rural population, and social composition
Assam is still overwhelmingly rural. Only about 14.07 per cent of the population lives in urban areas, while about 85.93 per cent is rural. Among the social groups, the Scheduled Tribes form about 12.4 per cent of the population and the Scheduled Castes about 7.1 per cent. These shares matter for policy as well as for examinations, because they affect reservation, welfare schemes and the distribution of resources across the state.
Districts and their extremes
Some districts stand out in the census tables and are frequently asked. The most populous district is Nagaon, and the least populous is Dima Hasao. The highest density is in Kamrup (Metropolitan), the lowest density in Dima Hasao. The highest literacy is in Kamrup (Metropolitan), the lowest in Dhubri. By area, the largest district was Karbi Anglong before it was divided into East and West, and the smallest is Kamrup (Metropolitan). After the recent reorganisation, the state has about 35 districts.
How to prepare this topic
- Fix the 2011 Census figures first: about 3.12 crore people, density 398, literacy 72.19 per cent, sex ratio 958.
- Remember the split in literacy: male 77.85 per cent and female 66.27 per cent.
- Learn the district extremes as pairs: Nagaon the most populous and Dima Hasao the least; Kamrup Metropolitan the densest and Dima Hasao the sparsest; Kamrup Metropolitan the most literate and Dhubri the least.
- Note the rural-urban split: about 85.93 per cent rural and 14.07 per cent urban.
- Keep the social shares in mind: Scheduled Tribes about 12.4 per cent and Scheduled Castes about 7.1 per cent.
Common exam traps
- The sex ratio is 958 and the child sex ratio is 962; the two figures are different and are often swapped.
- Nagaon is the most populous district, but Kamrup (Metropolitan) has the highest density and the highest literacy - populous and dense are not the same.
- The lowest literacy is in Dhubri, while the lowest density is in Dima Hasao; do not merge the two.
- Assam is mostly rural, with only about 14.07 per cent urban population, even though Guwahati is a large city.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the population, density and literacy figures of Assam as per the 2011 Census?
As per the 2011 Census, the population of Assam is about 3.12 crore (31,205,576), the density is 398 persons per square kilometre, and the literacy rate is 72.19 per cent. The male literacy rate is 77.85 per cent and the female literacy rate is 66.27 per cent. The decadal growth rate for 2001-2011 was 16.93 per cent, and Assam ranks about 14th among Indian states in population.
Which districts of Assam have the extremes of population, density and literacy?
Nagaon is the most populous district and Dima Hasao the least populous. Kamrup (Metropolitan) has the highest population density and Dima Hasao the lowest. Kamrup (Metropolitan) also has the highest literacy rate, while Dhubri has the lowest. By area, Karbi Anglong was the largest district before its division and Kamrup (Metropolitan) is the smallest. After the recent reorganisation the state has about 35 districts.
What is the sex ratio of Assam and why has it been declining?
The sex ratio of Assam as per the 2011 Census is 958 females per 1000 males, and the child sex ratio is 962 females per 1000 males. Both are better than the all-India figures, yet the sex ratio has been slowly declining. The main causes are female foeticide, the neglect of girl children and factors linked to migration. Improving female literacy and health and strictly enforcing the law against sex determination are the main remedies.
What is the rural-urban split and the social composition of Assam's population?
Assam is overwhelmingly rural: about 85.93 per cent of the population is rural and only about 14.07 per cent is urban, even though Guwahati is a large city with about 9.57 lakh people. Among the social groups, the Scheduled Tribes form about 12.4 per cent of the population and the Scheduled Castes about 7.1 per cent. These shares are important for reservation, welfare schemes and the distribution of resources.
Why is the population density higher in the Brahmaputra valley?
The population density is higher in the Brahmaputra valley because of fertile alluvial soil, adequate rainfall and better communication. These conditions support intensive agriculture, trade and settlement, so the plains carry most of the state's people. The hill districts, by contrast, have steep slopes, thinner soils, large reserved forests and poorer connectivity, which is why Dima Hasao has the lowest density in the state.