Vizag tops urban population chart

VISAKHAPATNAM: Visakhapatnam has stood first in the urban population among all 13 districts in the state.According to the Census of India 2011 report that was uploaded in the CM's Dashboard recently, Visakhapatnam stood first with 47.45 per cent of urban population followed by Krishna district with 40.81 per cent. Srikakulam is the least urbanised district with 16.16 per cent followed by Prakasam district with 19.56 per cent population.

Visakhapatnam district had a total population of 20,35,831 as per the 1971 Census report. From there, it rose to 42, 90,589 as per the 2011 Census report. While the urban population of the district as per the 1971 was 20.30 percent and it was registered 47.45 per cent in the 2011 Census period.Ironically, the urban population of Visakhapatnam is higher than the state and India's urban population level.

"Urbanisation vastly increased in Visakhapatnam district when compared with all other districts in the last four decades. It registered a growth of 25.15% in the last 40 years. The reasons could be many including the search of employment, livelihood, education for children and easy availability of basic needs, particularly in Visakhapatnam city," said a senior official from Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation. However, there was not much impact on urbanisation in the neighbouring districts of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram.

Srikakulam district had 19,59,352 population in 1981 Census report and 27,03,114 in 2011 Census. Its urban population was only 10.89% in 1981 and 16.16% in 2011, indicating that hardly 7% increased in the last 30 years.Similarly, Vizianagaram district had 18,04,196 population in 1981 and 23,444,74 in 2011. The urban population was 15.94% in 1981 and 20.94% in 2011. In Vizianagaram too, urban population increased marginally in the last three decades, the report said.

Another official from Visakhapatnam collectorate said urbanisation has been regarded as an important component for growth. The percentage of urban population to the total population in the state was 29.47 per cent in 2011 as compared to 24.13 per cent in 2001, the officer said.

Population density, or the number of persons living per square kilometre, is another important demographic indicator. The population density of Andhra Pradesh was 304 persons per square kilometre as against 382 persons per square kilometre in India level in 2011. Visakhapatnam district has 384 persons per square kilometre.