Chandigarh has the worst sex ratio in the world: 777 females per 1,000 males. The ratio further dips if the sex ratio of the slums, 926 females per 1,000 males, is excluded. The city’s urban sex ratio then stands at 500 females per 1,000 males.But there is some heartening news for the city’s green brigade as Chandigarh boasts of the maximum usage of clean fuel in the country. It has also been acknowledged as the “most popular marketing research and launch destination,” according to census data. Once again, the city ranks high on the literacy list and has the highest per capita income and vehicles in the country. However, the growth in city’s population exceeds the rate at which world population is growing. While the world’s annual population growth is 1.3 per cent, the city’s population is growing at a rate of 3.4 per cent every year. That means, the population is likely to double in the next 20 years.The District Census handbook was released by Minister of state for Finance Pawan Kumar Bansal at Museum and Art Gallery in Sector 10 on Monday. The data has been compiled by the Directorate of Census Operations, Chandigarh.According to the data available, the population density of Chandigarh has gone up by almost eight to 10 times over the last 47 years. In 1961, the density was 1,052 persons per square kilometre which rose to 7,900 persons per square kilometre in 2001. The density in urban areas has already crossed the 10,000 mark. It now stands at 10,162 people per square kilometre. According to the 2001 census, the city’s population is over 9 lakh as compared to a little over 6.42 lakh in 1991. The population of males has risen to 5.06 lakh from around 3.58 lakh. The number of females in the city has gone up to 3.93 lakh from 2.83 lakh a decade ago.“Given the current lifestyle of the residents, three Earths will be required to sustain it. The population of Chandigarh doubled in 19.5 years and is likely to double again in 20.5 years,” said Sunil Gulati, Director, Census Operation.As per the data, more people opt for Panchkula as their new destination. The city is growing at the rate of 100 per cent every year. Mohali stands next with a 57 per cent annual growth. The number of literates in the city has grown by 4.1 per cent. The difference between male and female literacy is the least in Chandigarh. It is 9.6 per cent in the city as against the highest difference of 32.1 per cent in Rajasthan. the city, though, lags behind many states as regards female education. There are only 681 literate females against 1000 males whereas Kerala has an equal number of male and female literates, the highest in the country.More than 65 per cent people in the city have bank accounts and the number stands at more than 18 lakh. The number of homeless in the city stands at 2,722 including 2,588 males and 134 females.
