‘Gender statistics play key role in achieving economic equality’

Third book on gender series focusing on status of women in Nagaland released in Kohima

Our Correspondent

Kohima, Sep. 1 (EMN): In 2018, as many as 47,357 births and 828 deaths were registered, according to a recently released book, called ‘Gender Statistics Nagaland 2019’, by the directorate of Economics and Statistics.

The book was officially released by the department’s outgoing director Y Sacheo Ovung, on the day of his retirement on August 31 in Kohima.

“Gender statistics plays a crucial role in gender mainstreaming on various developmental aspects for achieving gender and economic equality, inclusive development and social well-being in the society,’’ Ovung said.

This is the third publication of a series, which focuses on seven major areas of women’s status in Nagaland: population, health, social obstacles in women’s empowerment, decision-making, women participation in economy, labour force and employment, and literacy and education.

During the year 2018, the total number of births registered was 47,357, out of which 23,600 (49.83%) were female and 23,757 (50.16%) were male.

The district of Dimapur registered the highest with 2864 female and 2617 male; followed by Kohima with 2196 female and 2011 male.

In the same year, 615 male and 213 female deaths were registered.

The percentage of deaths was higher in the age group of 70 and above – 14.49% for male and 5.68% for female in 2018.

Other key findings

Sex ratio: The statistics reveals that in 2001, the sex ratio (number of females per 1000 males in Nagaland) was 900, which increased to 931 during 2011 census; while the sex ratio as per 2011 census for rural and urban areas is 940 and 908 respectively.

It also revealed that at the district-level, Zunheboto has the highest sex ratio of 976 followed by Wokha with 968. The lowest was reported in Mon district with 899.

It stated that over the last 40 years, considerable improvement in sex ratio has been observed in the districts of Kohima (22.27%), Mokokchung (10.91%) and Dimapur (7.61%).

However, the sex ratio has worsened in the districts of Peren (-3.28%), Wokha (-1.22%) and Mon (-0.44%).

As per 2011 census, the sex ratio for girl child (0-9) age group was 937; 957 for the productive age group (15-45); and 875 for age group 60+.

The sex ratio in the economically active age group (15-59) was 936, according to the findings.

Child population: As per census 2011, child population (0-6 years) was 2,91,071, out of which 1,49,785 were male and 1,41,286 were female. The share of the child population to the total population is 14.71%.

The child sex ratio (0-6 years) during 2001 was 964, which declined to 943 in 2011. Child sex ratios as per 2011 census in the rural and urban areas were 933 and 973 respectively.

Population by age group: Under population by age group, the report stated that age group of 0-9 has the highest percentage of population i.e. 21.75%.

Under this age group, the child female population was 21.85% female and child male population was 21.66%. The age group of 10-14 comes second at 12.57% of which 12.52% are female and 12.61% are male. The age group of 80+ comes at the bottom with 0.70% of which 0.67% are female and 0.72% are male.

Marital status in age group: Female population in the age group of less than 14 years who never married was 58.94%; 0.50 % for currently married; and 0.26% for widowed/divorced/separated.

The corresponding status for the age group of 15-29 was 35.55 %, 28.18% and 7.45% respectively. For the age group of 30-59 and 60+ who never married was 4.90% and 0.53% respectively, currently married was 63.98% and 7.29% respectively and widowed/divorced/separated was 52.34% and 39.89% respectively.