Chandi Gam is a village which is located in the Kupwara sub-district of Kupwara district in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India. According to the Census 2011, the village has a total population of 3,482 persons, comprising 1,795 males and 1,687 females. The village consists of 461 houses, indicating an average household size of 7.55 persons per house. This relatively large household size reflects the traditional joint family structure commonly found in rural Kashmir, where multiple generations often live together under one roof.
Gender Demographics in Chandi Gam
Chandi Gam exhibits a well-balanced gender composition with males comprising 51.5% and females making up 48.5% of the population. This healthy gender balance indicates stable demographic patterns and reflects positively on the village’s social structure and development.
Literacy Statistics
Village Chandi Gam has a total literate population of 1,650 persons, with an overall literacy rate of 47.39%, which is significantly below the national average of 74.04%, reflecting the educational challenges faced by border areas in Jammu & Kashmir:
- Male literate population: 1,027 persons
- Female literate population: 623 persons
- Male literacy rate: 57.21%
- Female literacy rate: 36.93%
The gender gap in literacy is substantial, with a difference of 20.28 percentage points between male and female literacy rates. While 1,027 males are literate, only 623 females have achieved literacy, indicating significant barriers to women’s education in the village. The overall literacy rate suggests ongoing educational challenges requiring comprehensive interventions and infrastructure development across the community.
Employment and Work Participation
This settlement shows the following employment patterns:
- Total working population: 953 (27.37% of total population)
- Male work participation rate: 32.20%
- Female work participation rate: 22.23%
The overall work participation rate of 27.37% is relatively modest, but the female work participation rate of 22.23% is notably encouraging for the region. With 375 women out of 1,687 counted as workers, Chandi Gam demonstrates significantly better female economic participation compared to many villages in Kupwara district, suggesting improved economic opportunities or more progressive social attitudes toward women’s workforce engagement.
Age Structure and Child Population
The census data reveals important insights about the village’s age composition with a population aged 0-6 years numbering 871 persons (25.01% of total population). The child population represents one-quarter of the total population, indicating a young demographic profile considerably higher than the national average of 13.59% for the 0-6 age group. This implies substantial and ongoing demand for childcare facilities and primary education infrastructure.
According to the census data, the village has no Scheduled Caste population (0% of total population), reflecting the distinct social structure characteristic of the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley region.
Housing and Living Conditions
With 461 houses accommodating 3,482 people, this village has an average household size of 7.55 persons, significantly higher than the national average of approximately 4.9 persons per household, reflecting multi-generational household arrangements.
| Indicator | Chandi Gam | National Average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 3,482 | – | – |
| Household Size | 7.55 | 4.9 | +2.65 |
| Sex Ratio | 940 | 943 | -3 |
| Literacy Rate | 47.39% | 74.04% | -26.65% |
| Male Literacy | 57.21% | 82.14% | -24.93% |
| Female Literacy | 36.93% | 65.46% | -28.53% |
| Work Participation | 27.37% | ~39% | -11.63% |
| Male Work Participation | 32.20% | ~56% | -23.80% |
| Female Work Participation | 22.23% | ~26% | -3.77% |