1) POPULATION SIZE, GROWTH AND DISTRIBUTION

The Population of Badin district, presently comprising four talukas is 1136.04 thousands in 1998 as compared to 776.61 thousands in 1981 recording an increase of 46.28 percent over 17 years i.e. 1981 - 98.

The annual average growth rate of population in 1981 - 98 has slightly declined to 2.26 percent from 2.95 percent during *1972 - 81. It had shown an abnormal increase of 5.26 percent during 1961-72 compared to 2.71 percent during 1951-61. If the population continues to grow at its present rate i.e. 2.26 percent per annum. It will double in about 31 years. Table 2.1 gives the population and intercensal increase since 1951. Figure 2.1 & 2.2 depicts the trend of population increase and average annual growth rate since 1951 in a graphic presentation.

TABLE : POPULATION AND INTERCENSAL INCREASE SINCE 1951

Although Badin taluka has more population as compared to toher talukas yet Matili taluka most densely populated at 247.8 followed by both Tando Bago and Badin talukas almost at par at 171.9 and 170.6 respectively.

The area of the district is 6726 square kilometers yielding a population density of 168.9 in 1998.

Badin district was formed in 1975. Average annual growth rates of 1961 and 1972 censuses have been worked-out on the basis of adjusted population comprising of areas presently falling under the jurisdiction of the district. One more taluka namely Talhar has been constituted after 1998 census.

Household Size

Average household size of the district is 5.3 in 1998. Average household size among the talukas is almost the same. If we compare rural/urban areas the household size is 5.2 in rural and 6.4 in urban areas.

Rural / Urban Distribution

The rural population of the district is 950 thousands constituting 83.58 percent of the total population in the district. The average annual growth rate of rural population during 1981-98 is 1.86 percent which has decreased from 2.82 percent during 1972-81. It had substantially increased to 4.96 percent during 1961-72 as compared to 2.32 percent during 1951-1961.

The urban population of the district is 186 thousands which constitutes 16.42 percent of its total district population in 1998. The annual average growth rate of urban population has increased to 4.93 percent in 1998 as compared to 4.09 percent in 1981. It had showed a tremendous increase of 11.44 percent in 1961 but declined to 8.88 percent in 1972 census. Figures 2.3 illuminates rural/urban proportion of population in 1998.

Religion

The population of the district is predominantly Muslim which constitutes 79.43 percent of the total population, more in urban at 82.17 percent as compared to 78.89 percent in rural areas. The most important among the minorities are Hindu (Jati) who are 18.85 percent in the district with larger concentration at 19.59 percent in rural areas compared to 15.11 percent in urban areas. Presence of other minorities in the district as well as in rural and urban areas is quite insignificant.

TABLE: PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION BY RELIGION AND

RURAL / URBAN AREAS 1998

Mother Tongue

Sindhi is the major mother tongue which is spoken by 89.82 percent of the total population in the district. It is more predominant in rural areas at 92.20 percent as compared to 77.69 percent in urban areas. The next prominent percentage is of Punjabi speaking at 5.62 who, more than double, in urban areas at 11.30 percent as compared to 4.50 percent in rural areas. Urdu speaking are only 1.21 percent in the district almost concentrated in urban areas at 4.65 percents compared to only 0.53 percent in rural areas. The percentages of remaining languages spoken are quite insignificant in the district. Table 2.3 gives the percentage of population by mother tongue with rural/urban residence in 1998.

TABLE: PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION BY MOTHER TONGUE AND RURAL / URBAN AREAS 1998

2) SEX, AGE AND MARITAL STATUS

Sex Ratio

The sex ratio (males per 100 females) of the district in 1998 is 110.98. The sex ratios in rural and urban areas vary at 110.53 and 113.26 percents respectively. The sex ratio widely differs at various age groups in the district. It is 104.12 at age group 0 - 4 and thereafter increases upto 122.13 at age group 10-14. It again comes down to 113.60 at age group 25-29 which further declines to 101.53 at age bracket 40-44. However, it rises up suddenly to 118.87 at age group 45-49, touches 131.19 at age group 55-59. Thereafter it shows irregular trend at ages 60 and above.

Age Structure

According to 1998 census the population aged 18 years and above is 51.27 percent of the total population in the district with almost same percentages for males and females as well as for rural and urban areas. The percentage of working population; i.e. 15 to 64 years is 51.90 percent giving an age dependency ratio of 92.69 percent with almost same percentages for males and females respectively. It is much higher in rural at 94.12 percent as against 85.75 percent in urban area.

The population eligible to vote i.e., 21 years and above, is 42.08 percent which slightly varies at 41.81 percent in rural and 43.50 percent in urban areas respectively. In urban areas it is as high as 45.15 percent for males compared to 41.63 percent for females. The percentage of population by important age groups, sex and rural/urban areas is given in table 2.4. Figure 2.4 reflects the age and sex structure of the district.

TABLE: POPULATION BY AGE GROUPS, SEX AND RURAL/URBAN AREAS 1998

The entire district has a broad based population pyramid indicating a high proportion of population under 5 which is 16.11 percent comprising 15.62 percent males and 16.65 percent females. Shape of the pyramid becomes narrower at the adult age groups and then went on to a think peak showing a smaller proportion of population at advanced age groups.

Marital Status

All individuals aged 15 years and above enumerated in 1998 population census were classified according to their marital status, namely, "married", "never married", "widowed" and "divorced". Out of them 24.62 percent are never married, 69.71 currently married, 5.46 widowed and negligible i.e. 0.20 percent as divorced. The never married amongst males are 30.25 percent, which is much higher than the females at 18.41 percent. This differential is also reflected through the mean age at marriage which is 23.11 years for males as compared to 19.24 years for females.

Females of Reproductive Ages by Marital Status

Out of total female population 45.27 percent is in reproductive ages i.e. 15 to 49 years. The percentages for urban and rural areas are 45.11 and 46.13 respectively.

Among the females in reproductive ages, 20.76 percent are never married, 76.27 currently married, 2.75 widowed and 0.21 percent divorced. About 14.35 percent of the ever married women of reproductive age group are found without any child, 15.71 percent have one, while 15.55 percent reported two and 14.04, as three children. However 13.56 percent had four and 8.87 percent five children. The highest percentage, 17.92, had six and more children.

Disabled Persons

The disabled persons constitute 1.60 percent of the total population of the district. Among them 45.60 percent are females and 54.40 males. The percentages of crippled are 15.46 for males and 10.16 for females respectively. The deaf and mute persons are 6.60 percent; 6.26 for male and 7.00 for females. More than three forth i.e., 80.35 percent of the disabled population suffered with some other categories of disability.

3) LITERACY AND EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Literacy

The literacy in 1998 census is defined as the "ability to read a newspaper or write a simple letter in any language". The literacy is measured in terms of literacy ratio and computed as percentage of literate persons among the population aged 10 years and above.

The literacy ratio of the district is 24.63 percent. The male literacy ratio is nearly three times higher at 35.07 percent as compared to 12.90 percent for females in 1998. There are sharp differences in the literacy ratios by sex and area. The ratio in urban areas is more than double at 44.76 percent as compared to 20.52 percent in rural areas. In rural areas males literacy is more than three times higher at 30.66 percent as compared to female literacy ratio at only 9.23 percent. It is 56.24 percent for males and 31.33 percent for females in urban areas.

Table 2.5 gives literacy ratio by sex and rural/urban residence for 1998. Figure 2.5 shows the literacy ratios by sex and area.

TABLE: LITERACY RATIO BY SEX AND RURAL/URBAN AREAS 1998

Educational Attainment

The percentage of educated persons is 24.16 of the population aged 10 years and above, including those below primary. The remaining 75.84 percent either have attained no educational level or never attended any educational institution.

A large variation exists in the ratios of educated persons in rural and urban areas as well as for males and females. Female education is about three times less at 12.44 percent as compared to 34.60 percent male in the district. It is more than double in urban areas at 44.21 percent in comparison to 20.07 percent in rural areas. There is a wide gap between rural and urban females i.e. 8.80 percent in rural and 30.73 percent in urban areas. Table 2.6 gives the ratios of educated persons by sex and rural / urban areas.

TABLE: EDUCATED PERSONS BY SEX AND RURAL/URBAN AREAS 1998

Enrolment Ratio

The enrolment ratio measured as percentage of students to population of ages 5-24 years of the district is 17.05 percent. The enrolment ratio differs sharply from rural to urban areas as well as form males and females. It is higher for males i.e. 21.26 percent as compared to only 12.39 percent for females. The enrolment ratio is much higher in urban areas at 36.25 percent as compared to only 13.26 percent in rural areas. There are also sharp differences between male and female enrolment ratios in rural and urban areas. In rural areas the ratio of male is double at 17.50 percent to that of females at 8.56 percent whereas in urban areas it is higher at 40.47 percent for males as against 31.66 percent for females. Table 2.7 gives enrolment ratio by sex and rural/urban areas.

TABLE: ENROLMENT RATIO BY SEX AND RURAL/URBAN AREAS 1998

Level of Education

Of the total educated persons 33.43 percent have passed primary, 15.53 percent middle and 15.14 percent matriculation. After matriculation the percentage falls to 6.45 for intermediate, 3.50 for graduates and 1.72 for post graduates.

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