Size Class of Towns
 

According to the 1991 census, the state has 17.88 million of urban population in the 213 towns of different size classes, ranging from less than 5,000 to more than 30 lakhs. The number of towns of different size classes, and aggregate population in each of these size classes of towns is shown in the table.

Urban Population in A.P. as per size and class of Towns - 1991
Size No. of Towns % of Total
towns		 Population
(000's)		 % of Total urban
Population
I 32(14 UAS) 15.02 11,913 66.88
II 34 15.96 2,245 12.60
III 91(IUAS) 42.73 2,945 16.53
IV 39 18.31 587 3.30
V 14 6.57 114 0.64
VI 3 1.14 9 0.05
Total 213* 100 17,813 100

* This number indicates 15 urban agglomerations.

Source : Census of India, 1991, Provisional Population Totals, A.P.

 
Decadal Growth Rate of urban Population1
Sl.No. Size Class Decadal Growth Rate
1971-81 1981-91
1. Class I 65.21 77.45
2. Class II 79.82 11.33
3. Class III 45.91 13.38
4. Class IV -16.47 -36.81
5. Class V -30.18 -47.92
6. Class VI -4.04 -41.92
7. All Class 48.62 43.24

More than 2/3rd of the urban population in 1991 lived in class I towns, where as class IV, V and VI towns constitute less than four percent and the remaining lived in class II and III towns. This explains the increasing importance and fast growth of class I towns.

There are two metropolises in our state viz., Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. The Hyderabad urban agglomerations with 4.3 million population ranks fifth in the country. It has witnessed a growth rate of over 67 percent during 1981-91, where as the growth rate was only 42.65 during 1971-81. Visakhapatnam urban agglomeration became a metro for the first time in 1991, with a population of little over a million. It has experienced a growth rate of about 75 percent during 1981-91, where as the growth rate was 66 percent during the previous decade. This explains the growth potential of Visakhapatnam.

 
Back
Close window