Preliminary census results

India's population has touched 1.2 billion (121 crore), indicating that the growth of 17.64 percent over the previous figure, according to preliminary census results released on 15 th Thursday.

In addition, 17 percent of the world's population.

The population has increased by more than 181 million during 2001-11. In addition to the absolute number is lower than the population of Brazil, the fifth most populous countries in the world.

The population of India, at 1,201.2 billion, almost equal to the total population of the United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Japan combined (1214300000).

Male population increased by 17.19 percent to reach 620 million (62 lakh) and the female population grew by 18.12 percent to reach 580 million (58 lakh).

The number, however, also indicated continued preference for male children over females in a country where female infanticide is still common, and the government has banned hospitals from disclosing sex of unborn children to their families.

By sex among children showed fewer girls than boys are born or survive, with 914 girls per 1000 boys under 6 years of age, compared with 927 in 1000 at the latest census.

"It's a matter of serious concern," the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India S. Chandramauli, which released a number, he said.

The highest population density in the north-east Delhi area (37,346 per sq km), and lowest in the Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh (only one per square kilometer).

Uttar Pradesh has the largest proportion of the population by 16 percent, and then Maharashtra and Bihar (nine percent), West Bengal (eight percent) and Andhra Pradesh (seven percent).

Adult literacy rate, it seems, has risen to 74 percent nationwide for people aged seven years and older, with 65 percent in the last census.