ISAS Briefs

The latest 2011 census shows that Tamil Nadu is the only state to experience an increase in the decadal population growth rate, from 11.7 per cent in 1991-2001 to 15.6 per cent in 2001-11. The category of child population within the age of zero to six years constitutes 9.5 per cent of the state's population, a decline from the 11 per cent in 2001. Thus, the growth in population is due to a sharp rise in numbers, aged seven years and above, the causes for which can only be verified once age group wise data is released for the 2011 census. Studying district wise data reveals that the most likely explanation for this population increase is in-migration of labour, especially in districts with high industrial activity.