4 April 2011

Provisional population totals have been announced for the India Census 2011, showing an alarming decline in the child sex ratio. 

The number of girls per 1,000 boys (0-6 years) has reduced to 914; down from 927 in 2001. According to the Times of India, this indicates that female feticide and infanticide remain rampant in India and civil rights workers claim there is a lack of political will to address the issue.

Other key figures (provisional)

• India's population has increased by 17.6% (181.5 million people) since 2001.
• India's population total: 1,210.2 million
  623.7 million (51.5%) males
  586.5 million (48.5%) females.

For detailed figures and further information, visit the Census of India website.

Find out more

• Times of India: 'Sense of Census 2011: Save the girl child'
• Times of India: 'National policy needed to tackle declining sex-ratio'
• Times of India: 'Major highlights of the Census 2011'
• PACS work with women and socially excluded groups
• News article: Infant mortality declines
• Census of India website