The "Provisional Population Totals' of the Census of India 1991 brings out the fact that the population of India "as at the sunrise of March 1, 1991 is 843.93 million, consisting of* 437.60 million males and 406,03 million females." And, this 843.93 million people of India are next only in numbers to China's 1,160.01 million (as on 1.7.1990) Compared to these massive figures, Goa's population as on 1st March 1991 is almost miniscule at 1,16 million which, in effect, is 0.14% of India's total population. Goa's 1991 population takes the 23rd rank in India while in 1981 its rank was 22nd out of a total of 32 Indian States and Union Territories: this indicates an encouraging decline in population growth. This decline finds further evidence when one looks at the 1991 Census Provisional Data in respect of Decadal growth of population for the periods 197181 and 198191. Goa's decadal growth for the former decade was 212,629 while during 198191, the increase reduced to 160,873 which, as a percentage of India's total growth during these two decades represented 0.16 and 0.10% respectively.

In fact, Goa, along with the States of Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Mizoram, Sikkim and the Union Territories of Andaman Islands, Chandigarh and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, the decadal growth rate had declined by more than 5 percentage points and, all put together, contributed 14% of India's population. An interesting feature is that along with the States of Gujarat and Karnataka, Goa's growth rates during 197181 were higher than the national average but, 198191, comparable figures were below the national average growth rate.

Density of Population
In 1990, the State of Goa covered a geographical area of 3,702 sq. km. and had, as its administrative structure, the following configuration:
 • No. of Districts : 2
 • Talukas : 11
 • Towns :15
 • Villages: 398
 • Uninhabited revenue villages: 9
 • Municipal Councils : 184
 • Blocks: 1

With a State population in 1991 at a figure of 1,168,622 and a geographic area of 3,702 sq.km., Goa had a density of 316 persons per sq.km.in 1991 compared to a figurre of 272 for the year of 1981.In terms of ranking on an allIndia basis,Goa's density ratio for 1991 occupies the 13th rank; and this ratio for Goa is above the allIndia density ratio for 1991 which is at a level of 267. In this context, a density ratio of 316 per sq.km. is considerably lower than the densities of some of the metropolitan districts of Calcutta, Madras, Greater Bombay, Hyderabad, Delhi, Chandigarh, Mahe, Haora, Kanpur Nagar and Bangaiore,where the average density for these districts is as high as 5,791.

Also, Goa's density ratio for 1991 (viz. 316per sq.km.) makes an inter esting comparison when viewed in the light of the following data relating to India's Density of Population for the Census Years from 1901 to 1991: