Chhattisgarh
Population and Census
Census 2011 at a Glance
Chhattisgarh in Census 2011: population 2.55 crore, growth 22.61%, density 189, how the census works, and what Census 2027 changes. CGPSC notes.
Prerequisites
- Formation of the State and Administrative Structure: Chhattisgarh was only ten years old at Census 2011, and its district count has changed since
- Population and Settlement: all-India census figures to compare against
- Physical Geography of Chhattisgarh: the state’s area and regions
The Hook: The Knock on the Door
Connect
In May 2026, census enumerators walked through every village and ward of Chhattisgarh with a smartphone app, asking each household about its house, its drinking water and its cooking fuel. Some families had already filled in the details themselves online in the last fortnight of April. This was the houselisting phase of Census 2027, India’s first digital census.
But until those results are out, every number you write in the exam still comes from the last count, Census 2011. So what did Census 2011 find in Chhattisgarh, and how does the census actually work?
Why it matters: Prelims asks the headline numbers directly and loves comparing them with India’s. Mains GS-III expects you to quote two or three of them accurately in any answer on the state’s population or human resources.
How the Indian Census Works
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Census Act, 1948 (and Census Rules, 1990); “census” is in the Union List (Entry 69) |
| Conducted by | Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India (भारत के महारजिस्ट्रार एवं जनगणना आयुक्त), Ministry of Home Affairs |
| In the state | A Directorate of Census Operations, Chhattisgarh, at Raipur |
| Frequency | Every ten years (decennial, दशकीय) since 1881 |
| First census | 1872 (not synchronous, under Lord Mayo); first synchronous census 1881 (under Lord Ripon) |
| Two phases | (1) Houselisting and Housing Census, (2) Population Enumeration |
| Method | De facto count with a fixed reference date: every person is counted where they are found during the enumeration period |
Census 2011 in brief
- 15th census of India and the 7th since Independence.
- Houselisting: April–September 2010. Population enumeration: 9–28 February 2011, with a revisit in early March.
- Reference date: 00:00 hours of 1 March 2011 (snow-bound areas used an earlier date).
- Results came in two waves: provisional totals (2011) and final figures (Primary Census Abstract, 2013). The two differ slightly; the exam increasingly uses final figures, so this site does too.
Chhattisgarh had only 18 districts in 2011
Census 2011 was conducted when Chhattisgarh had 18 districts. Nine new districts were created in January 2012 (27 in total) and the state has 33 districts as of 2026. So “highest/lowest district” facts from Census 2011 refer to the 18 districts of 2011 unless a source has re-tabulated them for later boundaries. Read every district question carefully.
Census 2027: what is new (as of October 2026)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number | 16th census of India (8th since Independence); the 2021 round was postponed |
| Phase I | Houselisting and Housing Census between 1 April and 30 September 2026, each state choosing a 30-day window |
| In Chhattisgarh | Self-enumeration 16–30 April 2026; houselisting 1–30 May 2026 |
| Phase II | Population enumeration; reference date 1 March 2027 (1 October 2026 for snow-bound areas such as Ladakh, J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand) |
| Firsts | First digital census (mobile app), first with an online self-enumeration option |
| Caste | Caste enumeration in Phase II: the first full caste count in a national census since 1931 (SC and ST have always been counted) |
Chhattisgarh’s Headline Numbers (Census 2011, final)
| Indicator | Chhattisgarh | India | Reading it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,55,45,198 | 1,21,08,54,977 | About 2.11% of India |
| Males / females | 1,28,32,895 / 1,27,12,303 | — | Almost equal: hence the high sex ratio |
| Rank in population | 16th among states (2011 boundaries) | — | Just ahead of Haryana (2.54 crore) |
| Area | 1,35,192 sq km | 32,87,263 sq km | About 4.1% of India: larger share of land than of people |
| Decadal growth, 2001–2011 | 22.61% | 17.7% | Faster than India |
| Density | 189 per sq km | 382 | About half the national density |
| Urban share | 23.24% (59.37 lakh) | 31.2% | Rural share 76.76% |
| Sex ratio | 991 | 943 | 4th among states |
| Child sex ratio (0–6) | 969 | 918 | Fell from 975 in 2001 |
| Literacy (7+) | 70.28% | 72.98% | Below India; female 60.24% |
| ST share | 30.62% | 8.6% | Nearly 1 in 3 people |
| SC share | 12.82% | 16.6% | Below India |
2001 versus 2011
| Indicator | 2001 | 2011 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,08,33,803 | 2,55,45,198 | +22.61% |
| Density | 154 | 189 | +35 per sq km |
| Sex ratio | 989 | 991 | Up by 2 |
| Child sex ratio | 975 | 969 | Down by 6 |
| Literacy | 64.66% | 70.28% | Up by about 5.6 points |
How the growth figure is calculated
Decadal growth rate:
$$\text{Growth}\ (\%) = \frac{P_{2011} - P_{2001}}{P_{2001}} \times 100 = \frac{2{,}55{,}45{,}198 - 2{,}08{,}33{,}803}{2{,}08{,}33{,}803} \times 100 \approx 22.61\%$$Density is simply population divided by area: \( 2{,}55{,}45{,}198 \div 1{,}35{,}192 \approx 189 \) persons per sq km.
Analysis: What the Numbers Say (Mains material)
- Land-rich, people-light. Chhattisgarh holds about 4.1% of India’s land but only 2.11% of its people. Large forest cover (the northern hills and the Bastar plateau) keeps density low.
- Still growing fast. Growth of 22.61% in 2001–2011 was well above India’s 17.7%. This points to higher fertility in rural and tribal areas and to the state still being earlier in its demographic transition than southern states.
- Predominantly rural. More than three in four people live in villages. Agriculture (especially paddy) and forest produce remain the main livelihoods.
- Tribal character. With ST at 30.62%, policy is shaped by the Fifth Schedule, PESA and tribal sub-plans.
- A gender paradox. The overall sex ratio (991) is among India’s best, yet the child sex ratio fell and female literacy (60.24%) lags far behind male literacy (80.27%).
graph LR
A["Forest-covered hills and plateaus"] --> B["Low density: 189"]
C["Tribal society with relatively balanced gender norms"] --> D["High sex ratio: 991"]
E["Rural, agrarian economy"] --> F["Low urbanisation: 23.24%"]
E --> G["Literacy below India: 70.28%"]
C --> H["ST share 30.62%: Fifth Schedule, PESA, reserved seats"]Memory Tricks
The "2-5-5" population
2,55,45,198 reads as “2-55-45”: about 2.55 crore. Pair it with 2.11% of India (“twenty-one per thousand”).
Chhattisgarh is "half of India" on density, "above India" on sex ratio
189 ≈ half of 382. Sex ratio 991 vs 943: Chhattisgarh beats India by about 48. Literacy 70 vs 73: India beats Chhattisgarh by about 3.
Two "22"s
Growth 22.61% and urban 23.24% sit next to each other. Growth comes first alphabetically and is the smaller number.
Don’t Confuse
| This | vs | That |
|---|---|---|
| Census 2011 = 15th census, 7th after Independence | Census 2027 = 16th census, 8th after Independence | |
| Reference date 1 March 2011 | Reference date 1 March 2027 (1 October 2026 for snow-bound areas) | |
| Literacy 70.28% (final) | Literacy 71.04% (provisional, 2011) | |
| 18 districts at Census 2011 | 33 districts as of 2026 | |
| Density 189 (2011) | Density 154 (2001) | |
| First census 1872 (Lord Mayo) | First synchronous census 1881 (Lord Ripon) |
Common Mistakes
Trap 1: provisional vs final figures
Many guidebooks still print the provisional 2011 figures (literacy 71.04%, child sex ratio 964). The final Census 2011 figures are literacy 70.28% and child sex ratio 969. If both appear in options, prefer the final figure. If only one appears, recognise it.
Trap 2: state figure vs India figure
Examiners put India’s figure as a distractor: 943 (India) for 991 (Chhattisgarh), 382 for 189, 72.98% for 70.28%. Learn them as pairs.
Trap 3: "Census 2021"
There was no Census 2021. The round was postponed and is being conducted as Census 2027. A statement mentioning “Census 2021 data” is wrong.
Trap 4: caste enumeration
The census has always counted SCs and STs. What Census 2027 adds is a general caste enumeration, the first since 1931. Do not write that caste was “never” counted.
Practice
These are original practice questions written in CGPSC style. They are not previous-year questions.
Level 1: Foundation
- According to Census 2011, the population of Chhattisgarh was ________, which is about ________% of India’s population.
- Chhattisgarh’s decadal growth rate for 2001–2011 was ________%, against India’s ________%.
- The reference date of population enumeration for Census 2027 is ________.
Answers
- 2,55,45,198; 2.11
- 22.61; 17.7
- 1 March 2027 (1 October 2026 for snow-bound areas)
Level 2: Prelims MCQs
Q1. Consider the following statements about Chhattisgarh as per Census 2011:
- Its population density was higher than the national average.
- Its decadal growth rate during 2001–2011 was higher than the national average.
- More than three-fourths of its population lived in rural areas.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer and explanation
(b) 2 and 3 only. Statement 1 is wrong: Chhattisgarh’s density was 189 per sq km, about half of India’s 382. Statement 2 is right: 22.61% against India’s 17.7%. Statement 3 is right: the rural share was 76.76% (urban 23.24%).
Q2. Match List-I (Indicator, Chhattisgarh, Census 2011) with List-II (Value):
| List-I | List-II |
|---|---|
| A. Sex ratio | 1. 189 |
| B. Density (per sq km) | 2. 991 |
| C. Literacy rate (%) | 3. 22.61 |
| D. Decadal growth 2001–11 (%) | 4. 70.28 |
(a) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3 (b) A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1 (c) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4 (d) A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3
Answer and explanation
(a) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3. Sex ratio 991, density 189, literacy 70.28% (final figure) and decadal growth 22.61%.
Q3. Census 2011 was which census of India counting from 1872, and the how-manyth after Independence?
(a) 14th and 6th (b) 15th and 7th (c) 16th and 8th (d) 15th and 6th
Answer and explanation
(b) 15th and 7th. Censuses since Independence: 1951, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001, 2011, which makes 2011 the 7th. Counting from 1872, it is the 15th. Census 2027 will be the 16th overall and the 8th after Independence.
Q4. Which of the following is/are correct about Census 2027?
- It includes an online self-enumeration option.
- It will be the first census since 1931 to enumerate castes generally.
- Its houselisting phase in Chhattisgarh was conducted in May 2026.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer and explanation
(d) 1, 2 and 3. Self-enumeration was offered for a fortnight before houselisting (16–30 April 2026 in Chhattisgarh); houselisting in the state ran from 1 to 30 May 2026; caste enumeration is part of Phase II, the first general caste count since 1931.
Q5. The census in India is conducted under which law?
(a) Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (b) Census Act, 1948 (c) Collection of Statistics Act, 2008 (d) Citizenship Act, 1955
Answer and explanation
(b) Census Act, 1948. The census is a Union subject (Entry 69, Union List) and is run by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 governs civil registration, which is a different system.
Level 3: Mains Answer Writing
Q1. Present the main demographic features of Chhattisgarh as revealed by Census 2011. (60 words)
Model answer outline
Census 2011 counted 2.55 crore people in Chhattisgarh (2.11% of India). Growth was 22.61% (India 17.7%), density only 189 per sq km and 76.76% of people were rural. The sex ratio was a high 991, but literacy (70.28%) trailed India’s, with a 20-point gender gap. STs formed 30.62% and SCs 12.82% of the population.
Q2. “Census 2027 will be different from every census before it.” Discuss its features and its significance for a state like Chhattisgarh. (150–200 words)
Model answer outline
Intro: Census 2027, the 16th census and the first since 2011, has a houselisting phase in 2026 and population enumeration with reference date 1 March 2027.
Body:
- Digital: enumerators use a mobile app; households could self-enumerate online (in Chhattisgarh, 16–30 April 2026).
- Caste enumeration: the first general caste count since 1931, alongside the usual SC/ST data.
- A sixteen-year gap: 2011 data is badly outdated; schemes, delimitation and resource sharing all rely on census counts.
- Chhattisgarh angle: fresh data on tribal districts reshaped by the 2012 and 2022 district reorganisations; updated ST/SC shares that matter for reservation and Fifth Schedule planning; migration and urbanisation around Raipur, Bhilai and Bilaspur.
- Challenges: coverage in remote forest areas of Bastar, digital literacy, data privacy, and accuracy of self-reported caste.
Conclusion: If it is accurate and timely, Census 2027 can reset the evidence base for welfare and planning in a tribal, rural state like Chhattisgarh.
Quick Revision Table
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Population (2011) | 2,55,45,198; males 1,28,32,895, females 1,27,12,303 |
| Share of India | 2.11% of population, about 4.1% of area |
| Rank | 16th among states in population (2011 boundaries) |
| Decadal growth 2001–11 | 22.61% (India 17.7%) |
| Density | 189 (2001: 154; India 382) |
| Urban / rural | 23.24% / 76.76% |
| Sex ratio / child sex ratio | 991 / 969 |
| Literacy | 70.28% (final) |
| ST / SC | 30.62% / 12.82% |
| Census 2011 | 15th census, 7th after Independence; reference date 1 March 2011 |
| Census 2027 | 16th census; CG self-enumeration 16–30 Apr 2026, houselisting 1–30 May 2026; reference date 1 March 2027 |
| Law | Census Act, 1948; Registrar General and Census Commissioner, MHA |
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- Census 2011: Chhattisgarh had 2,55,45,198 people, 2.11% of India, growing at 22.61% in 2001–2011.
- Density is low (189) and the state is 76.76% rural.
- The sex ratio (991) beats India’s, but literacy (70.28%) trails it.
- STs (30.62%) and SCs (12.82%) together form about 43% of the population.
- Census 2027 is the 16th census: digital, with self-enumeration and caste enumeration. Until its results appear, quote Census 2011.
What’s Next
- Distribution and Density of Population: where in the state people live, and why
- Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes Population: the 30.62% and the 12.82%
- Literacy and Sex Ratio: the gender story behind the numbers
- Economy and Schemes of Chhattisgarh: how the state’s population is employed and supported
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