The population in Punjab cities is growing almost four times faster than that in the villages.The population has touched 27,704,236 (2.77 crore) of which 17,316,800 (62.51 per cent) live in the rural areas and 10,387,436 (37.49 per cent) in urban areas, according to the census data released officially here today.

Alarmingly, the population in urban areas has grown by 25.72 per cent as compared to an increase of only 7.58 per cent in rural areas over the last decade.This indicates rapid migration from villages to urban areas. This is likely to have an impact on the voting pattern in urban areas.

Director, Census Operations, Seema Jain, said the share of urban population had increased to 37.49 per cent in 2011 as compared to 33.92 per cent in 2001. Ludhiana district recorded the highest growth at 59.14 percent, followed by SAS Nagar (Mohali) at 55.17 per cent, Amritsar 53.64 per cent and Jalandhar 53.18 per cent.

Mohali’s growth is linked to its proximity to the state capital of Chandigarh and availability of better civic amenities. Jalandhar and Amritsar have apparently grown on account of migration from small towns and villages. Tarn Taran, that has 12.63 per cent of the state’s population, is the least urbanised district.

Punjab literacy rate has touched 76.68 pe rcent as compared to 69.65 per cent in 2001. Rural literacy for males has gone up from 71.05 per cent in 2001 to 77.92 per cent in 2011, an increase of 6.87 per cent, and the literacy rate for females has increased from 57.72 per cent in 2001 to 66.47 in 2011.