India's total population now stands at 1.21 billion, which is 17.7 per cent more than the last decade.
According to Primary Census Abstract-Data Highlights of Census 2011, India's total population as on March 1, 2011 is 1,210,726,932 or 1.21 billion, an increase of 181.96 million persons in absolute number of population during 2001-11.
There was an increase of 90.97 million males and increase of 90.99 million females. The growth rate of females was 18.3 per cent which is higher than males -- 17.1 per cent.
The Primary Census Abstract-Data Highlights of Census 2011 was released by Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Tuesday.
Addressing a function organised by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India in New Delhi, Shinde said the data will cater comprehensive demograhic details of the population of the country.
The Census Abstract-Data highlights will also provide important input for the next five year plan, he added.
The Primary Census Abstract-Data Highlights based on the data collected during the Population Enumeration phase of Census 2011 provides basic information on Total population, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes population, Population in the age group 0-6, Literates, Main workers and Marginal workers.