Karnataka: Populations | KPSC KAS Preparation: All subjects - KPSC KAS (Karnataka) PDF Download

Introduction

• Karnataka, the eighth most populous state in India, is situated in the southwest part of the country. It borders Telangana and Tamil Nadu to the east, Kerala to the south, and the Arabian Sea to the west. As of 2024, Karnataka's estimated population is 67.73 million (6.77 crores). By May 2023, the population was projected to be 67.69 million (6.76 crores), according to Unique Identification Aadhaar India. 
• Covering an area of 191,791 sq km, Karnataka ranks eighth in terms of size in India, with its land area constituting 5.83% of the country's total. Bangalore serves as the capital city, and Kannada is both the primary and official language of the state. According to the NFHS 2019-2021 report, Karnataka's Total Fertility Rate is 1.7 children per woman, a decrease from 1.8 in 2016.
• The name "Karnataka" comes from the Kannada words "karu" and "nadu," which together mean "elevated land." The native language spoken in Karnataka is Kannada, and the people from Karnataka are known as Kannadigas.

Karnataka Population Growth

• According to the 1901 census, the population of Karnataka was 13 million. By the 1931 census, it had risen to 14.6 million. After India's Independence, the 1951 census recorded the population at 19.4 million, with a growth rate of 9.38% to 19.36%. In 2001, the population reached 52 million, with an average growth rate of 17% to 26%.
• The 2011 census recorded a population of 61 million, marking a growth rate of 15.9%. In 2007, Karnataka had a birth rate of 2.2%, a death rate of 0.7%, an infant mortality rate of 5.5%, and a maternal mortality rate of 0.2%. The state's fertility rate is declining rapidly, with an average of 1.8 children per woman of childbearing age.

Population Pyramid

Karnataka Population by Religion

• The rich cultural heritage of Karnataka is significantly influenced by its diverse linguistic and religious communities, each with their own long histories. According to the most recent census, the religious distribution in Karnataka is as follows: 51 million people (84%) are Hindu, 7.8 million (12.92%) are Muslim, 1.1 million (1.87%) are Christian, and around 440,280 (0.72%) are Jain. 
• Additionally, 95,710 (0.16%) are Buddhist, 28,773 (0.05%) are Sikh, and 0.02% belong to other religions. About 0.27% of the population did not specify their religion. The total Muslim population stands at 7.8 million, following the Hindu population of 51.3 million, Christians at 1.1 million, and Jains at 668,341.

Ethnic groups of Karnataka

Literacy rate in Karnataka

• As of the 2011 census, Karnataka had a literacy rate of 75.60%, with 82.85% of males and 68.13% of females being literate. 
• This represents a 9% increase from the 2001 literacy rate of 67.04%, where 76.29% of males and 57.45% of females were literate. 
• The state's sex ratio stands at 973 females per 1000 males. Urban male literacy rates have surpassed 90%.

Languages spoken in Karnataka

• Kannada is the most widely spoken and official language in Karnataka, spoken natively by about 66.53% of the population, totaling 44.6 million people. 
• This is a slight increase from 66.26% in 2001. Other significant languages include Urdu, spoken by 10.83% (6.6 million) compared to 10.54% in 2001; Telugu, spoken by 5.84% (3.5 million), down from 7.03% in 2001; Tamil, at 3.4%, compared to 3.57% in 2001; Marathi at 3.3%; Tulu at 2.6%; Hindi at 2.56%; Konkani at 1.29%; and Malayalam at 1.26%.

Population by Languages

Disability

Population by Disability as per census 2011

Karnataka Population Projection

According to UID, Karnataka's population estimates are as follows: 67.3 million (6.73 crores) in 2022, projected to be 68.4 million (6.84 crores) in 2021, 67 million (6.7 crores) in 2020, and 67.71 million in 2023.

Income Distribution

• Karnataka is the third-largest state economy in India and is one of the most industrialized states, driving significant economic growth. The state’s development is closely tied to its industrial policies. Agriculture remains crucial for the rural population, with major crops including Ragi, Jowar, Sugarcane, Rice, Coconut, Groundnuts, Coffee, and Cotton. 
• Karnataka excels in various manufacturing sectors such as Electronics, Computers, Garments, Aeronautics, Machine Tools, Electrical Engineering, Aluminum, and Steel. The state, which makes up just 5% of India’s population, contributes 6% to the national GDP. Since 1995, Karnataka has been a leader in the IT industry, with Bengaluru being one of the world’s largest technology hubs after Silicon Valley.

District wise population in Karnataka

Karnataka has 30 districts and 4 administrative divisions. According to Census 2011 and the 2020 projections, the district-wise population data for Karnataka is as follows:

• Bijapur: The largest district in terms of area, covering 17,069 sq km, which is 8.90% of the state's total area.
• Kodagu: The smallest district in terms of area, covering 4,102 sq km, which is 2.14% of the state's total area.