Hyderabad/New Delhi, March 31 (IANS): The population of Andhra Pradesh has gone up by 8.4 million during the last decade to touch 84.6 million, according to provisional results of the latest census released Thursday.

The population of the fifth most populous state in India grew by 11.1 percent over the last census. However, the decadal growth rate has come down from 14.59 percent in 1991-2001 to 11.1 percent in 2001-11.

According to the 15th census, the state's population is 84,665,533 - 42,509,881 men and 42,155,652 women. There are 992 females for every 1,000 males.

The sex ratio has improved from 978 to 992. The child sex ration (0-6 years) has also gone up from 961 to 943.

The population density (number of people per sq km) is 308, up from 277 in the last census. Hyderabad has the highest density (18,480 people per sq km) and Adilabad district the lowest density (170).

The literacy rate has improved from 60.5 to 67.7 percent. The male literacy rate has gone up from 70.3 to 75.6 percent while female literacy increased from 50.4 to 56.7 percent.