Population and Settlements
Census 2011 (state figures)
| Indicator | Value (J&K, whole State) |
|---|---|
| Population | About 1.25 crore (12,541,302) |
| Decadal growth (2001-11) | About 23.7 per cent |
| Sex ratio | 889 females per 1,000 males |
| Literacy | 67.16 per cent |
| Density | About 124 per km² (on the area counted) |
Ladakh (Census 2011)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | About 2.74 lakh (Leh 133,487; Kargil 140,802) |
| Population share | About 2 per cent of the former State |
| Density | Very low: about 3 per km² (Leh) and 10 per km² (Kargil) |
Population patterns
- Population is concentrated in the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu plains.
- Ladakh and mountain areas are thinly populated.
- Urbanisation is low (about 27 per cent in 2011); Srinagar and Jammu are the main cities.
- Rural population lives in small villages, with houses of wood and stone (Kashmir) and mud brick (Ladakh).
Settlement patterns
- Valley settlements (compact villages with orchards) in Kashmir.
- Linear villages along rivers and roads in mountains.
- Dispersed hamlets in the hills of Jammu.
- Seasonal settlements at high altitude (bahaks and dokas) for the nomads.
Keep practising
Notes are only half the work. Test yourself with questions and discuss doubts with other aspirants.
Prepared for exam revision from standard sources, official publications and the Census. Figures and recent developments change, so check official sources before relying on them. Found a mistake? Tell us.