According to the census 2011 there are a total of 217 towns in Punjab out of which 143 have statutory status while the rest of the 74 towns are non statutory  or census towns 

Some of the key takeaways from the census 2011 are as follows -:

  • It is found that 37.49 percent of the population in Punjab is urban 
  • In terms of districts that are predominantly urban we have Ludhiana (59.14%), Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (55.17%), Amritsar (53.64%) and Jalandhar (53.18%).
  • These districts have one – half that is 49.12% of Urban Population in Punjab state .
  • Among the four districts Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar it is found that Ludhiana is the most Urbanised, accounting for 59.14% Urban population.
  • Every fifth urban lives or resides in Ludhiana district.
  • Together Ludhiana and Amritsar account for 32.72% that is one – third of the total Urban population of Punjab.
  • Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar is the second in line in terms of urban population . This newly created district accounts for 55.17% of Urban Population of Punjab.
  • The least Urbanised district is the Tarn Taran district accounting for only 12.63% of Urban Population.
  • It is reported that during the time frame of 2001-11 the Urban Population has Increased massively. The figures say that an increase of 25.72 percent is seen which is twice the overall growth rate of 13.73 percent and more than three times the rural growth of 7. 58 percent .
  • In terms of districts with high growth rate of urban population Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district has nearly doubled (90.03%) its Urban Population.Previously in 2001 it ranked 10 th in the Urban Population but now it is at the 7th spot.

Comparison of Rural and Urban areas 

Based on the census data of 2011 the rural areas and the urban areas can be compared based on the Total population , male population, female population, Population of 0-6yrs , Male population of 0-6yrs category , Female Population of 0-6 yrs,sex ratio ,child sex ratio ( for the age group :0 -6 yrs),Total literates ( 7+ years), literacy rate,Male literacy rate, Female literacy rate.

    1. Total population -:According to the census the total population of the Urban area is 10,399,146 while the total population of the rural area is 17,344,192.
    2.  Male population-:Based on the Census report it has been found that the Male population in the urban areas is 5,545,989while the male population in the Rural areas is 9,093,476.
  • Female Population- :The census report states that the female population of the urban areas is 4,853,157 while the female population of the rural areas is 8,250,716
  • Population of 0-6yrs –: The numbers or figures for 0-6yrs is 1,130,717 for Urban areas while for the rural areas it is 1,945,502.
  •  Male population of 0-6yrs category-:The male population of 0-6yrs in Urban areas is 610,697 while that in the rural areas is 1,055,297.
  • Female Population of 0-6 yrs-: The female population in the 0-6yrs category is 520,020 in Urban areas while 890,205in the Rural areas.
  • Sex ratio-:The sex ratio in the Urban areas is 875 while the sex ratio in the rural areas is 907 .Comparing the sex ratio in the rural and Urban areas it is found that the rural sex ratio has increased by 16 points while the corresponding increase in urban sex ratio is of 23 points in years 2001-2011
  • Child sex ratio ( for the age group :0 -6 yrs)-:The figures for child sex ratio as per census 2011 in urban areas is 852 while that in the Rural areas it is 844.The child sex ratio in the 0-6 yrs is increased by 44 points  in  rural areas while in urban areas it has increased by 55 points during 2001-11.
  • Total literates ( 7+ years)-:The figures for total literates as per census 2011 in urban areas is 7,709,480  while that in the Rural areas it accounts for 10,997,657 individuals.
  • literacy rate-:Based on the findings of the census 2011 the literacy rate in the Urban areas is higher and is 83.18 while in the rural areas it is 71.42.Increase in rural literacy rate for males and females during this decade is more than their urban areas.
  • Male literacy rate-: In terms of Male literacy the the numbers for urban areas is 86.67while that in the rural areas it is 76.62.
  • Female literacy rate-:Female literacy rate in Urban areas is 79.21while in the rural areas is 65.74.

Rural development 

Rural development can be decided based on the factors like the type of house – permanent or temporary , the source of lighting ,the drainage System ,source of drinking water ,latrine facility , kitchen facility ,fuel used for cooking and so on.

Some of these numbers comparing the urban and rural areas in the state are listed for a particular district of Patila -:

    1. Fuel used for cooking -: in the district of Patila it is found in that kerosene is used by 0.88% among the rural areas while 3% in urban areas; 38.09% of the rural people use LPG / PNG while 85.06% in the Urban areas ; No cooking  happens in 0.42% of rural areas while the figure is 0.32% in Urban areas. It is of concern to know that around 8.66% ( rural ) and 5.61% ( urban ) still uses firewood.
    2. Kitchen facility -: In the rural areas 66.67% and 88.57 % people in urban areas have a kitchen in patiala district.
  • Drainage facility -: in terms of drainage facility it is found that around 11.93% of rural areas don’t have a drainage facility while 10.89 % in Urban areas don’t Have a drainage facility in the Patiala district.
  1. Sewer system -: Only 5.75 % of rural areas and 66.68% of urban areas have a pipe sewer system
  2. Electricity -: Around 96.46% of rural areas in patiala district have electricity while 99.09% of urban areas have electricity.

Conclusion 

The census of 2011 has showed changes in various parameters in rural and urban areas of Punjab.It is found that the rural sex ratio has increased by 16 points while the urban sex ratio is of 23 points;the child sex ratio is increased by 44 points in rural areas while 55 points increase in urban areas.The least Urbanised district is the Tarn Taran while the Ludhiana is the most Urbanised accounting for 59.14% Urban population.In terms of literacy rate the rural literacy rate growth both in make and female categories is more than urban literacy rate growth.