The final Census data has brought out an overall improvement in sex ratio in the state from 968 to 972 over a decade, but a declining trend in the rural areas is a cause of concern. While the sex ratio in urban areas increased from 795 to 853, it came down marginally from 989 to 986 in the rural areas. Thus, the overall improvement has been only because of the leap from 795 to 853 in the urban areas. There is a decline in six of the 12 districts, with Kinnaur registering the maximum decrease from 857 to 819. The other districts with the declining trend are Una (997 to 976), Bilaspur (990 to 981), Mandi (1,013 to 1,007), Hamirpur (1,099 to 1,095) and Kangra (1,025 to 1,012). However, a redeeming feature is that the child sex ratio has improved significantly in eight of the 12 districts and the decline has been marginal in Chamba (955 to 953), Mandi (918 to 916), Shimla (929 to 925) and Sirmaur (934 to 928). In the border district of Una, it improved from 837 to 875 and Kangra from 836 to 876, which is a positive sign. The final head count came to 68,64,602 with a decadal growth of 12.9 per cent (2001-11) as against 17.5 per cent during 1991-2001. The final data was released by RK Ram, Joint Director, Census, here today. The growth rate of females (13.1 per cent) is higher than males (12.8 per cent) in the state which is also a trend at the national level. The density of population has doubled from 62 persons per sq km in 1971 to 123 persons per sq km in 2011. Among the districts, the highest decadal growth in population has been recorded in Una (16.3 per cent) and the lowest in Lahul-Spiti (-5.0 per cent), while districts like Una 16.3 per cent, Solan 15.9 per cent and Sirmaur 15.5 per cent have recorded population growth of above 15 per cent. More than 90 per cent (61,76,050 ) people live in rural areas in 17,882 inhabited villages out the total 20,690 revenue villages. The rest are uninhabited. Sirmaur district has the highest Scheduled Caste population (30.3 per cent), followed by Mandi (29.4 per cent), Solan (28.4 per cent), Kullu (28 per cent) and Shimla (26.5 per cent). The literacy rate has shot up from 76.5 in 2001 to 82.8 in 2011 with male literacy rate increasing from 85.3 to 89.5 and female literacy rate from 67.4 to 75.9.