Population density up by 15 pc in Karnataka

According to provision data of 2011 Census, the density of population in the state has risen up to 319 persons per square kilometre from 276 recorded in 2001 Census. It had been marked as the 14th densely populated state of the country in 2001 Census.

However, the neigbouring Andhra Pradesh has fallen by one place from 13 to 14, pushing Karnataka one rank up in the list of the states even as population density rose to 308 persons per square kilometre in 2011 from 277 in 2001. Among the southern states, both Kerala and Tamil Nadu have ret­ained their positions, nevertheless the density of the po­pulation of the two states went up.

Kerala, which was marked as the third densely populated state in 2001 Census, continues to be in the same position even as population density has reached 859 persons per square kilometre in the last 10 years from 819 in 2001.

Tamil Nadu too retained its position, although population density in the state rose up to 555 in 2011 from 480 in 2001.

While Bihar (1,102 persons per square kilometre) has topped the list followed by West Bengal (1,029 persons pert square kilometre). According to 2011 Census, eastern region of the country has the highest density of 625 persons per square kilometre while the north eastern region has the lowest density of 176 persons per square kilometre.

The central region of the country occupies the second highest place in density with 417 followed by southern region (397), western region (344) and northern region (267), respectively.

Over the period of 2001-2011, the density in the central region (20.31 per cent ), northern region (19.48 per cent ) and eastern region (18.98 per cent) has gone up at a higher pace than that of western region (17.18 per cent), north-eastern region (17 per cent ) and southern region (12.58 per cent).