Census 2011 migration data

Geography glossary

Topic: Population of India: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition · NCERT: Beyond NCERT

Meaning

Census 2011 migration data is the count of people living somewhere other than their earlier home. The Census uses two tests. By place of birth, a person is a migrant if they now live away from where they were born. By place of last residence, a person is a migrant if they now live away from where they lived just before. By last residence, about 45.6 crore people were migrants in 2011. That is about 37% of all Indians. Most were women who moved after marriage, and most moved within their own state. This data measures the "induced component" of population growth, which is the part caused by people moving in and out rather than by births and deaths.

Example

A young woman born in a village in Bihar moves to her husband's village in the same district after marriage. Census 2011 counts her as an intra-state, rural-rural migrant. This is the largest migration stream in India.

Don't confuse with

  • Seasonal migration: these short trips of a few months a year are often missed by the Census. The Census mainly records people who have changed where they usually live.
  • Place of birth vs place of last residence: these are two separate tests. They give different migrant totals, so always check which one a figure uses.

Related concepts

Read more