Meghalaya - General Information

Endowed with incredible natural beauty, Meghalaya is one of the most beautiful states in Northeast India. Known as 'the abode of clouds' in Sanskrit (Megh- Cloud; Alay- Home), Meghalaya is a hilly state landlocked between Assam and Bangladesh. Meghalaya was previously part of Assam but attained its full-fledged statehood on 21st January 1972 after the approval of “The North Eastern Reorganisation Act, 1971”in Parliament. Shillong the capital of Meghalaya,known as the "Scotland of the East" is located at an altitude of 1496 metres above sea level. Meghalaya is the homeland mainly of the Khasis, the Jaintias and the Garos. The Garos inhabit in western Meghalaya, the Khasis in central Meghalaya, and the Jaintias in eastern Meghalaya. English is the official language of Meghalaya. The other principal languages spoken include Khasi, Pnar and Garo.

Bordering States/ Countries:

North	East	West	South
Assam	Assam	Bangladesh	Bangladesh

Meghalaya State at a Glance:

Sl No	Particulars	Statistics
1	Geographical Area	22,429 Km²
2	Geographical Location	Latitude: 20.1° N to 26.5° N,
2	Geographical Location	Longitude: 85.49°E to 92.52 E
3	Climate Temperatures	Summer: 18.2° C to 22.7 ° C
3	Climate Temperatures	Winter: 7.2° C to 15.7 ° C
4	State Capital	Shillong
5	No. of Districts (As on 2017)	11 (East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi, South West Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills, North Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, South Garo Hills,West Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills)
6	No. of Autonomous District Councils	3 Nos.
7	No. of Sub-divisions	4 Nos.
8	No. of Development Blocks	46 Nos.
9	Major Agricultural Products	Rice, wheat, maize, jute, rape seeds, mustard, tea, cashew nut, oilseeds, tomato and mushroom.
10	Major Horticultural Products	Vegetable and spices include as tomato, brinjal, potato, sweet potato, chilli, cabbage, turmeric, ginger, tapioca and pear.
10	Major Horticultural Products	Fruit consists of Orange, plum, pear ,peach, lemon, pineapple, guava, litchi, banana, cashew and jackfruit.
11	Forest Products	Broomgrass, bamboo, timber, lichen, reed, cane, wild pepper, medicinal herbs and plants, cinnamon and thatch-grass.
12	Mineral Resources	Coal, sillimanite limestone, iron ore, quartzite, glass sand kaolin, clay, granite and uranium.
13	Traditional Products	Handicrafts made with cane and bamboo products, woven wonders, wood carving textile weaving.
14	Prime Industries	Food processing, steel units, floriculture, horticulture, cement, tourism, hydroelectric power, handlooms, handicrafts and sericulture.
15	People	Khasi, Jaintia and Garo
16	Languages Spoken	English is the official language of Meghalaya. The other principal languages spoken include Khasi, Pnar, Hajong, Rabha, Garo and Biate.
17	Festivals	Wangala Festival, Nongkrem Dance, Shad Suk Mynsiem and Behdienkhlam.
18	Major Rivers	Simsang, Kynshi, Namliang, Myntdu, Lukha and Umngot.

Population, Area, Density, Sex ratio and Literates according to Census 2011:

Description	2011	2001
Approximate Population	29.67 Lakhs	23.19 Lakh
Actual Population	2966889	2,318,822
Male	1491832	1176087
Female	1475057	1142735
Population Growth	27.95%	29.94%
Percentage of total Population	0.25%	0.23%
Sex Ratio	989	972
Child Sex Ratio	970	973
Density/km²	132	103
Area (Km²)	22429	22429
Total Child Population (0-6 Age)	568536	467979
Male Population (0-6 Age)	288646	237215
Female Population (0-6 Age)	279890	230764
Literacy	74.43 %	62.56 %
Male Literacy	75.95 %	65.43 %
Female Literacy	72.89 %	59.61 %
Total Literate	1785005	1157875
Male Literate	913879	614272
Female Literate	871126	543603

Source: census2011.co.in

Rural and Urban Population Statistics, 2011 Census:

Description	Rural	Urban
Population (%)	79.93 %	20.07 %
Total Population	2371439	595450
Male Population	1194260	297572
Female Population	1177179	297878
Population Growth	27.17 %	31.12 %
Sex Ratio	986	1001
Child Sex Ratio (0-6)	972	954
Child Population (0-6)	490592	77944
Child Percentage (0-6)	20.69 %	13.09 %
Literates	1315154	469851
Average Literacy	69.92 %	90.79 %
Male Literacy	71.46 %	92.46 %
Female Literacy	67.15 %	89.24 %

Source: census2011.co.in

Religion-wise Population according to Census 2011:

Description	Population	Percentage
Christian	2213027	74.59%
Hindu	342078	11.53%
Other Religion	258271	8.71%
Muslim	130399	4.40%
Buddhist	9864	0.33%
Not Available	9578	0.32%
Sikh	3045	0.10%
Jain	627	0.02%

Source: census2011.co.in

District Head Quarters and CD Blocks:

Sl. No.	District Name	Head Quarter	Sl. No.		Block Name
1	East Khasi Hills District	Shillong	1	1	Mylliem C&RD Block
			2	2	Mawphlang C&RD Block
			3	3	Mawsynram C&RD Block
			4	4	Shella Bholaganj C&RD Block
			5	5	Pynursla C&RD Block
			6	6	Khatarshnong Laitkroh C&RD Block
			7	7	Mawkynrew C&RD Block
			8	8	Mawryngkneng C&RD Block
			9	9	Sohiong C&RD Block
			10	10	Mawpat C&RD Block
			11	11	Mawlai C&RD Block
2	West Khasi Hills District	Nongsto	12	1	Mairang C&RD Block
			13	2	Mawthadraishan C&RD Block
			14	3	Nongstoin C&RD Block
			15	4	Mawshynrut C&RD Block
3	South West Khasi Hills District	Mawkyrwat	16	1	Mawkyrwat C&RD Block
3	South West Khasi Hills District	Mawkyrwat	17	2	Ranikor C&RD Block
4	Ri Bhoi District	Nongpoh	18	1	Umsning C&RD Block
			19	2	Umling C&RD Block
			20	3	Jirang C&RD Block
			21	4	Bhoirymbong C & RD Block
5	West Jaintia Hills District	Jowai	22	1	Thadlaskein C&RD Block
			23	2	Laskein C&RD Block
			24	3	Amlarem C&RD Block
6	East Jaintia Hills District	Khliehriat	25	1	Khliehriat C&RD Block
6	East Jaintia Hills District	Khliehriat	26	2	Saipung C&RD Block
7	East Garo Hills District	Williamnagar	27	1	Dambo Rongjeng C&RD Block
			28	2	Songsak C&RD Block
			29	3	Samanda C&RD Block
8	West Garo Hills District	Tura	30	1	Rongram C&RD Block
			31	2	Dadenggiri C&RD Block
			32	3	Selsella C&RD Block
			33	4	Tikrikilla C&RD Block
			34	5	Gambegre C&RD Block
			35	6	Dalu C&RD Block
			36	7	Demdema C & RD
9	North Garo Hills District	Resubelpara	37	1	Resubelpara C&RD Block
			38	2	Kharkutta C&RD Block
			39	3	Bajengdoba C&RD Block
10	South West Garo Hills District	Ampati	40	1	Betasing C&RD Block
			41	2	Zikzak C&RD Block
			42	3	Damalgre C & RD Block
11	South Garo Hills District	Baghmara	43	1	Baghmara C&RD Block
			44	2	Gasuapara C&RD Block
			45	3	Ronggara C&RD Block
			46	4	Chokpot C&RD Block

Source: Official web portal of Govt. of Meghalaya

Population Trend, Census 1901-2011:

Census Year	Population			Female per 1000 Males	Decennial Growth Rate
Census Year	Male	Female	Total	Female per 1000 Males	Decennial Growth Rate
1901	167256	173268	340524	1036
1911	195706	198299	394005	1013	(+)15.71
1921	211216	211187	422403	1000	(+)07.21
1931	243993	236844	480837	971	(+)13.83
1941	282666	273154	555820	966	(+)15.59
1951	310706	294968	605674	949	(+)08.97
1961	397288	372092	769380	937	(+)27.03
1971	520967	490732	1011699	942	(+)31.50
1981	683710	652109	1335819	954	(+)32.04
1991	907687	867091	1774778	955	(+)32.86
2001	1176087	1142735	2318822	972	(+)30.65
2011	1491832	1475057	2966889	989	(+)27.95