Comprehensive Demographic Profile (Census 2011, NFHS-5, and SRS Data)
1. POPULATION OVERVIEW
Total Population and Growth
- Total Population (2011): 454,768 (6.62% of Himachal Pradesh)
- Male Population: 217,070 (47.7%)
- Female Population: 237,698 (52.3%)
- Population Growth (2001-2011): 10.19% (454,768 in 2011 vs. 412,700 in 2001)
- Number of Families: 105,519
- Population Density: 407 persons per sq km
- District Area: 1,118 sq km
Population Comparison with HP
- Hamirpur is the 3rd largest district in HP after Kangra and Mandi
- Population constitutes 6.62% of total HP population
2. SEX RATIO
Overall Sex Ratio
- Average Sex Ratio: 1,095 females per 1,000 males
- This is notably higher than the national average and favourable for women
Urban-Rural Distinction
| Indicator | Urban | Rural |
|---|---|---|
| Sex Ratio (per 1000 males) | 926 | 1,109 |
| Child Sex Ratio 0-6 (per 1000 males) | 907 | 886 |
Key Observation
- Rural areas have significantly higher sex ratio (1,109) compared to urban areas (926)
- Child sex ratio (887 overall) is below average, indicating gender bias concerns during childhood
3. URBAN-RURAL DISTRIBUTION
Urban Population
- Total Urban Population: 31,430 (6.91% of district)
- Urban Males: 16,322
- Urban Females: 15,108
- Urban Literacy: 92.51%
Rural Population
- Total Rural Population: 423,338 (93.09% of district)
- Rural Males: 200,748
- Rural Females: 222,590
- Rural Literacy: 87.82%
Key Pattern
Hamirpur is predominantly rural with only 6.91% urban population, reflecting the agrarian nature of the district.
4. LITERACY INDICATORS (Census 2011)
Overall Literacy Rate
- Total Literacy Rate: 88.15% (358,091 literates)
- Male Literacy Rate: 94.36%
- Female Literacy Rate: 82.62%
- Literacy Gap: 11.74 percentage points (male-female)
- Total Illiterates: 96,677
- Male Illiterates: 36,515
- Female Illiterates: 60,162
Urban vs. Rural Literacy
| Category | Overall | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban | 92.51% | 95.15% | 89.66% |
| Rural | 87.82% | 94.29% | 82.14% |
| Gap (Urban-Rural) | 4.69% | 0.86% | 7.52% |
Gender Gap in Education
- Gender gap is wider in rural areas (12.15 percentage points) vs. urban areas (5.49 percentage points)
- Higher female illiteracy, particularly in rural regions, indicates educational access challenges for women
5. CHILD POPULATION (0-6 YEARS)
Total Child Population
- Total Children 0-6 years: 48,548 (10.68% of total population)
- Male Children: 25,722 (52.9%)
- Female Children: 22,826 (47.1%)
- Child Sex Ratio: 887 females per 1,000 males
Urban-Rural Distribution
- Urban Children 0-6: 2,923 (9.3% of urban population)
- Rural Children 0-6: 45,625 (10.8% of rural population)
Historical Change
- Child population declined from 50,699 (2001) to 48,548 (2011)
- Reduction of 2,151 children (-4.2% decline) indicates declining fertility rate
6. SOCIAL COMPOSITION
Scheduled Castes (SC)
- SC Population: 109,256 (24.0% of district population)
- SC Males: 53,727
- SC Females: 55,529
- Status: Significant SC presence, indicating presence of historically marginalized communities
Scheduled Tribes (ST)
- ST Population: 3,044 (0.7% of district population)
- ST Males: 1,531
- ST Females: 1,513
- Status: Minimal ST presence compared to SC population
Overall Social Composition
- Combined SC/ST population: 24.7%
- Predominantly Hindu population with few religious minorities
7. RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
| Religion | Population | Percentage | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hindu | 449,412 | 98.82% | 214,195 | 235,217 |
| Muslim | 3,711 | 0.82% | 2,024 | 1,687 |
| Christian | 243 | 0.05% | 112 | 131 |
| Sikh | 591 | 0.13% | 318 | 273 |
| Buddhist | 95 | 0.02% | 46 | 49 |
| Jain | 293 | 0.06% | 152 | 141 |
| Others | 9 | 0.00% | 6 | 3 |
| No Religion | 414 | 0.09% | 217 | 197 |
Key Observation
- Overwhelmingly Hindu population (98.82%)
- Religious minorities constitute only 1.09% of total population
8. LANGUAGE SPOKEN
| Language | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Pahari | 76.0% |
| Hindi | 14.1% |
| Kangri | 3.55% |
| Others | 6.37% |
Linguistic Pattern
- Pahari is the dominant language (3 out of 4 persons)
- Hindi is secondary language for communication
- Kangri presence indicates some population from neighboring regions
9. WORKFORCE AND OCCUPATION
Total Workforce
- Total Workers: 241,931 (53.2% of population)
- Main Workers: 126,153 (27.7% of population) – engaged in primary work
- Marginal Workers: 115,778 (25.4% of population) – engaged less than 6 months
- Non-Workers: 212,837 (46.8% of population)
Occupational Structure
Cultivators (Primary Occupation)
- Total Cultivators: 147,103 (60.80% of all workers)
- This is the largest occupational group, reflecting agricultural base of district
- Percentage of HP cultivators: 7.13%
Agricultural Labourers
- Total Agricultural Labourers: 8,824 (3.65% of all workers)
- Growing from 1.60% in 2000-01 to 3.65% in 2010-11
- Indicates increasing landlessness and agricultural casualization
Household Industry Workers
- Total Household Industry Workers: 3,347 (1.38% of all workers)
- Small contribution to overall workforce
- Percentage of HP: 5.70%
Other Workers
- Total Other Workers: 82,657 (34.17% of all workers)
- Includes service sector, trade, transportation, and other non-agricultural occupations
- Growing sector with 34.17% of total workers engaged
Occupational Trends (2000-01 to 2010-11)
- Cultivators as percentage of agricultural workers: decreased from 69.88% to 60.80%
- Agricultural labourers: increased from 1.60% to 3.65%
- Other workers: increased from 27.10% to 34.17%
- Interpretation: Gradual shift from agriculture to service sector; increasing agricultural casualization
10. HEALTH INDICATORS (NFHS-5 AND SRS)
Himachal Pradesh Context (NFHS-5, 2019-20)
*Note: District-level NFHS-5 data for Hamirpur specific indicators requires direct factsheet consultation*
Infant and Child Mortality (NFHS-5, HP)
- Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): 26 per 1,000 live births (NFHS-5)
- Down from 34 per 1,000 live births (NFHS-4, 2015-16)
- Improvement of 23.5% in 4 years
- Under-Five Mortality Rate: 29 per 1,000 live births (NFHS-5)
- Down from 38 per 1,000 live births (NFHS-4)
- Improvement of 23.7%
SRS 2023 – Himachal Pradesh
According to Sample Registration System 2023:
- Infant Mortality Rate (HP): 14 per 1,000 live births (2023)
- Down from 17 per 1,000 live births (2020)
- HP has one of the lowest IMRs in India (8th lowest nationally, lowest in North India)
- Crude Birth Rate (HP): Below national average of 18.4
- Crude Death Rate (HP): Below national average of 6.4
- Life Expectancy (HP): Higher than national average
Maternal and Child Health (NFHS-5, HP)
- Institutional Deliveries: 96% (as per state-level data)
- Antenatal Care from Doctor: 70% of births
- Antenatal Care from other health workers: 16% of births
- No Antenatal Care: 11% of births
Child Vaccination Coverage (NFHS-5, HP)
- Full Vaccination (12-23 months): 89% (increased from 69.5% in NFHS-4)
- Partial Vaccination: 98% of children aged 12-23 months
Nutritional Status (NFHS-5, HP)
Child Malnutrition
- Stunting (0-5 years): 31% (increased from 26% in NFHS-4)
- Wasting (0-5 years): 17% (increased from 14% in NFHS-4)
- Underweight (0-5 years): Not specified in available data
Anaemia in Children
- Child Anaemia (6-59 months): 55.4% (increased from 53.7% in NFHS-4)
Micronutrient Deficiency (HP State Level)
- Women Overweight/Obese (BMI ≥25): 30.4% (urban 38.3%, rural 29.2%)
- Men Overweight/Obese: 30.6% (urban 35.7%, rural 29.8%)
Hamirpur-Specific Health Indicators (NFHS-5)
According to District Nutrition Profile (Hamirpur):
- Sex Ratio at Birth: 925-1,182 (high compared to other districts)
- Child Nutritional Status: Comparatively lower stunting rates (24.7-28.5%)
- Anaemia Prevalence: Among the lower rates in state
- Note: Hamirpur reported comparatively good health outcomes compared to state averages in certain indicators
11. FAMILY PLANNING AND FERTILITY (NFHS-5, HP)
Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
- TFR for HP: 1.7 children per woman (down from 1.9 in NFHS-4)
- Well below replacement level (2.1)
Contraceptive Prevalence
- Modern Contraceptive Use: 74% among currently married women aged 15-49 years
- Up from 57% in NFHS-4
- Significant improvement of 17 percentage points
Child Marriage
- Child Marriage (20-24 years): 5% had married before age 18
- Down from 9% in NFHS-4
- 44% reduction in child marriage
12. EDUCATION AND SCHOOLING
School Attendance (NFHS-5, HP)
- Overall Attendance (6-17 years): 95%
- Elementary Level (6-13 years): 98.9%
- Secondary Level (14-15 years): 94.3%
- Higher Secondary (16-17 years): 80.4%
Key Education Issues
- Significant dropout at higher secondary level
- Gender-based variations in attendance patterns
- Literacy gaps more pronounced in rural areas
13. DEMOGRAPHIC INDICATORS – SUMMARY TABLE
| Indicator | Value | Benchmark/Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 454,768 | 6.62% of HP |
| Sex Ratio | 1,095 | Above national average |
| Child Sex Ratio | 887 | Below average (concern) |
| Overall Literacy | 88.15% | Above national average |
| Male Literacy | 94.36% | High |
| Female Literacy | 82.62% | Gender gap of 11.74% |
| Urban Literacy | 92.51% | High |
| Rural Literacy | 87.82% | Gender gap higher in rural (12.15%) |
| SC Population | 24.0% | Significant marginalized group |
| ST Population | 0.7% | Minimal tribal presence |
| Workforce Participation | 53.2% | High |
| Agricultural Workers | 60.80% | Primarily agrarian economy |
| Child Mortality (IMR) | 14 per 1,000 (SRS 2023) | Excellent – 8th lowest in India |
| TFR (HP) | 1.7 | Below replacement level |
| Vaccination Coverage | 89% | Good coverage |
14. KEY DEMOGR
14. KEY DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AND TRENDS
Positive Indicators
- High Overall Sex Ratio (1,095): Favourable for women compared to national average (943)
- Low Infant Mortality Rate: 14 per 1,000 (SRS 2023) – excellent health outcome
- High Overall Literacy: 88.15% – well above national average
- High Institutional Delivery: 96% – strong maternal healthcare
- High Vaccination Coverage: 89% – effective child immunization programs
- Below-Replacement TFR (1.7): Successful family planning
- Declining Child Marriage: From 9% to 5% – positive social change
Areas of Concern
- Child Sex Ratio (887): Below average, indicating gender bias
- Female Literacy Gap: 11.74 percentage points below males
- Rural-Urban Literacy Gap: 4.69 percentage points
- Increasing Childhood Malnutrition: Stunting 26% → 31%, Wasting 14% → 17%
- High Child Anaemia: 55.4% of children aged 6-59 months
- Occupational Casualization: Shift from cultivation to agricultural labour
- Lower Female School Attendance: Particularly at higher secondary level
- Limited Tribal Population: Only 0.7% ST population – minimal representation
Structural Characteristics
- Predominantly Rural: 93.09% rural population
- Agrarian Economy: 60.80% of workers are cultivators
- Religious Homogeneity: 98.82% Hindu population
- Linguistic Unity: 76% Pahari speakers
- SC-Majority SC Population: 24% constitute substantial portion
- High Population Density: 407 persons per sq km
15. COMPARISON WITH STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS
| Indicator | Hamirpur | Himachal Pradesh | India |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sex Ratio | 1,095 | 972 | 943 |
| Literacy Rate | 88.15% | 82.80% | 74.04% |
| Male Literacy | 94.36% | 90.25% | 82.14% |
| Female Literacy | 82.62% | 74.31% | 65.46% |
| Urban Literacy | 92.51% | 91.61% | 84.11% |
| Rural Literacy | 87.82% | 80.95% | 67.41% |
| IMR (SRS 2023) | Implied ~14* | 14 | 25 |
| TFR | ~1.6-1.7* | 1.7 | 1.9 |
*Note: HP-level indicators used as proxy; district-specific SRS data requires separate access
CONCLUSION
Hamirpur district presents a mixed demographic profile with several strengths and challenges:
Strengths: High sex ratio, excellent literacy rates, low infant mortality, effective immunization, and strong institutional delivery system.
Challenges: Gender-biased child sex ratio, female educational gaps particularly in rural areas, rising childhood malnutrition, and occupational casualization in agriculture.
Overall Assessment: Hamirpur represents a relatively developed district within Himachal Pradesh with strong healthcare indicators and literacy levels, though gender equity issues and nutritional concerns require targeted interventions.
Data Sources:
- Census of India 2011 (Official Data)
- National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-20)
- Sample Registration System (SRS) 2023
- Himachal Pradesh Statistical Abstract 2022-23
- NITI Aayog District Nutrition Profiles
Last Updated: November 2025
Geography & Area
- Location: The district falls entirely within the Shivalik range of the Himalayas.
- Area: It covers 1,118 sq km, which is approximately 2.01% of the total area of Himachal Pradesh.
- ALTITUDE : 786 M
- between 76º 18′ to 76º 44’ East Longitudes and 31º 25′ to 31º 52′ North Latitude. The elevation varies from 400 meters to 1100 meters.
Boundaries
South: It is bordered by the Bilaspur district.
North: The Beas River separates Hamirpur from the Kangra district.
East: The Seer Khad (and Bakar Khad) forms the boundary with the Mandi district.
West: It is bordered by the Una district.
Based on the text you provided, here is the additional formatted information about Hamirpur district.
Hill Ranges (Dhar)
- Jakh Dhar: This range enters Hamirpur near Nadaun from the Kangra district (where it’s a continuation of the ‘Kali Dhar’). It runs in a south-easterly direction. The town of Hamirpur is located to the east of this range.
- CHABUTRA DHAR
- Sola Singhi Dhar: This is the longest range in the district. It is known by different names in neighboring areas:
- Sola Singhi Dhar in Hamirpur
- Chintpurni and Jaswan Dhar in Una
Rivers and Streams (Khads)
The district has several main streams (khads), which are tributaries to larger rivers:
- Draining into the Beas River:
- Bekar Khad
- JANGAL KHAD
- Pung Khad
- Kunah Khad
- Hathali Khad
- Maan Khad
- Draining into the Seer Khad (which ultimately joins the Satluj River):
- Sukar Khad
- Mundkhar Khad
Tehsil Locations
- Sujanpur Tira: Located in the North.
- Nadaun: Located in the North-West.
- Bhoranj: Located towards the Eastern end of the district.
- Barsar: Located in the South-West.
Based on the text you provided, here is a formatted summary of the geological formations.
Geological Formations
The area’s main geological formations consist of the Middle and Upper Shivalik ranges and Recent Deposits.
Shivalik Formations
- Composition: The Shivalik range in this area is comprised of:
- Conglomerates
- Friable, micaceous sandstone
- Siltstone
- Claystone
- Conglomerate Details:
- These are generally poorly cemented but can be very hard in places.
- They consist mainly of pebbles and cobbles of quartzites.
- Stray pebbles of granite, limestone, sandstone, breccia, and lumps of claystone are also observed.
- Origin:
- The Shivalik represents 6,000 metres of layered sandy rocks.
- These sediments were brought down by numerous fast-flowing rivers 2 to 2.5 million years ago, deposited in the floor plain of the area now occupied by the Himalayan foothills.
Recent Deposits
- Composition: These deposits include alluvial fans and terraces made of unassorted sand, silt, clay, rock fragments, and boulder beds.
- Location & Use:
- They occupy the wide valleys.
- Comprised of sand, silt (note: the text likely mis-typed “salt” as “silt” is the correct geological term in this context), and clay, these deposits support cultivation in the area.