Socio-Demographic Indicators
Census report of 2001 revealed that the total population of Kerala is 31.8 million. Although Kerala accounts for only 1 per cent of the total area of India, about 3 per cent of the country's population inhabit this tiny strip of land. The population density of the state is about 819 people per square kilometres, three times the national average. Kerala is one of the densest States in the country and it recorded a decadal population growth of + 9.42% (2,740,101 persons).
Kerala is more developed than any other Indian states, whichever aspect of human development is considered. Literacy levels, especially among females, are exceptionally high and mortality reduction in the last 50 years is one of the most rapid among all the states. At the same time, the fertility rate has fallen almost below replacement level.
With no dithering minds we can say that the “Development Indicators of Women in Kerala”, had a sheer role in gaining such a remarkable achievement in Kerala.
Major Development Indicators of Women
in India and Kerala -
A comparison
|
Sl.no |
Indicators |
|
|
|
|
1981 |
2001 |
1981 |
2001 |
1 |
Female
Population (in lakhs) |
3308 |
4957 |
129 |
163 |
2 |
Sex
Ratio (Female /1000 Male) |
935 |
933 |
1032 |
1058 |
|
Life
Expectancy at Birth (yrs) |
54.7 |
61.8 |
71.8 |
76 |
3 |
Mean
age at marriage (yrs) |
18.3 |
19.5 |
21.9 |
22.7 |
4 |
Birth
rate (per 1000) |
-- |
23.80 |
26.4 |
15 |
5 |
Death
Rate (per 1000) |
12.7 |
7.60 |
- |
6.4 |
6 |
Infant
mortality Rate (per thousand live births) |
79 |
58 |
37 |
14 |
7 |
Maternal
Mortality Rate (per lakh) |
468 |
407 |
-- |
140 |
8 |
Total
Fertility Rate(per women) |
4.5 |
2.90 |
-- |
1.7 |
9 |
Literacy
Rate |
(%) |
29.76 |
54.16 |
65.7 |
87.86 |
10 |
Gross
Enrolments (millions) |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
a.
Primary School |
28.5 |
49.8 |
-- |
0.9 |
|
b.
Upper primary School |
6.8 |
17.5 |
-- |
0.08 |
11 |
Work
participation Rate |
19.7 |
25.7 |
16.6 |
15.3 |
12 |
Public
Sector Employment (lakhs) |
15 |
28 |
1.39 |
1.93 |
13 |
Administration
(1987) and 2001 |
360 |
645 |
8 |
18 |
Source:
Census and related statistics |
|
