Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India New Delhi, 27-12-2013
The Indian Census is the most credible source of information on Demography (Population characteristics), Economic Activity, Literacy and Education, Housing & Household Amenities, Urbanization, Fertility and Mortality, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Language, Religion, Migration, Disability and many other socio-cultural and demographic data since 1872. Census 2011 will be the 15th National Census of the Country. This is the only source of primary data in the village, town and ward level, It provides valuable information for planning and formulation policies for Central and the State Governments and is widely used by National and International Agencies, Scholars, business people, industrialists, and many more.
- The present set of results pertains to data collected in the Census 2011 on disability
- Information on disability of individuals was collected during the Population Enumeration phase of Census 2011 through ‘Household Schedule’. Similar information was collected during 2001 census also. Information for individuals residing in ‘Normal’, ‘Institutional’ and ‘Houseless’ households were collected.
- The table C-20- ‘Disabled by age-group and type of disability’ has been generated on the basis of processing 100% Census Schedules.
- Attempts to collect information on eight types of disabilities as against five in Census 2001.
- Designed to cover most of the disabilities listed in the “Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995” and “The National Trust Act, 1999”.
Definitional Changes 2001-11
Type of disability |
Change in definition |
In Seeing |
One eyed persons were treated as disabled at Census 2001. |
In Hearing |
Persons using hearing aid have been treated as disabled at Census 2011. They were not treated as disabled at the Census 2001. |
In Speech |
Definition was made clearer in Census 2011 to record persons with speech disability. For instance, “persons who speak in single words and are not able to speak in sentences” was specifically mentioned to be treated as disabled. |
In Movement |
Specific mention of the following was made in the definition for Census 2011: |
Mental Retardation |
New category introduced at Census 2011. Mental Retardation was covered under the category of Mental disability at Census 2001. |
Mental Illness |
New category introduced at Census 2011. Mental Illness was covered under the category of Mental disability at Census 2001. |
Any Other |
New category introduced at Census 2011 to ensure complete coverage. This option enabled respondents to report those disabilities which are not listed in the question. In such cases, where informant was not sure about the type of disability this option of reporting disability as ‘Any Other’ was available to her/him. |
Multiple Disability |
New category introduced at Census 2011. The question has been designed to record as many as three types of disabilities from which the individual was reported to be suffering. |
Disabled Population by Sex and Residence, India, 2011 |
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Residence |
Persons |
Males |
Females |
||||||
Total |
26,810,557 |
14,986,202 |
11,824,355 |
||||||
Rural |
18,631,921 |
10,408,168 |
8,223,753 |
||||||
Urban |
8,178,636 |
4,578,034 |
3,600,602 |
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Percentage of Disabled to total population India, 2011 |
|||||||||
Residence |
Persons |
Males |
Females |
||||||
Total |
2.21 |
2.41 |
2.01 |
||||||
Rural |
2.24 |
2.43 |
2.03 |
||||||
Urban |
2.17 |
2.34 |
1.98 |
||||||
Disabled Population by Type of Disability India : 2011 |
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Type of Disability |
Persons |
Males |
Females |
||||||
Total |
26,810,557 |
14,986,202 |
11,824,355 |
||||||
In Seeing |
5,032,463 |
2,638,516 |
2,393,947 |
||||||
In Hearing |
5,071,007 |
2,677,544 |
2,393,463 |
||||||
In Speech |
1,998,535 |
1,122,896 |
875,639 |
||||||
In Movement |
5,436,604 |
3,370,374 |
2,066,230 |
||||||
Mental Retardation |
1,505,624 |
870,708 |
634,916 |
||||||
Mental Illness |
722,826 |
415,732 |
307,094 |
||||||
Any Other |
4,927,011 |
2,727,828 |
2,199,183 |
||||||
Multiple Disability |
2,116,487 |
1,162,604 |
953,883 |
- Click here Presentation on Data Disability 2011
- Click here for Disabled population by type of Disability, Age and Sex
- Click here for Disabled population by type of Disability, Age and Sex for Scheduled Caste
- Click here for Disabled population by type of Disability, Age and Sex for Scheduled Tribes
- Distribution of disabled in the age-group 0-6 by type of disability, sex and residence (India & States/UTs)
- Distribution of disabled in the age-group 0-6 by type of disability, sex and residence for Scheduled Castes (India & States/UTs)
- Distribution of disabled in the age-group 0-6 by type of disability, sex and residence for Scheduled Tribes (India & States/UTs)
- Distribution of disabled by type of disability, sex, literacy status and residence (India & States/UTs)
- Distribution of disabled by type of disability, sex, literacy status and residence for Scheduled Castes(India & States/UTs )
- Distribution of disabled by type of disability, sex, literacy status and residence for Scheduled Tribes (India & States/UTs )
- Disabled Population by type of Disability,Age and Sex - C20 Table (India & States/UTs - District Level)
- Disabled Population by type of Disability,Age and Sex For Scheduled Castes - C20 Table (India & States/UTs - District Level)
- Disabled Population by type of Disability,Age and Sex For Scheduled Tribes - C20 Table (India & States/UTs - District Level)
- Disabled Population by Main Workers, Marginal Workers, Non-Workers By Type Of Disability, Age And Sex- C23 Table (India &
States/UTs) - C-24 Disabled Non-Workers by Type of Disability and Sex (India & States/UTs)
Source of Information: Census of India Website
For details on Census on Disability -2011: Census of India Website