Gulgam 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 9,679 persons, comprising 4,944 males and 4,735 females. The village consists of 1,085 houses, indicating an average household size of 8.92 persons per house. The village has a well-balanced gender composition with males comprising 51.1% and females making up 48.9% of the population.
Literacy Rate of Gulgam
Gulgam village has a total literate population of 4,781 persons, with an overall literacy rate of 49.39%, which is significantly below the national average of 74.04%, reflecting the educational challenges faced by border areas in Jammu & Kashmir:
- Male literate population: 2,773 persons
- Female literate population: 2,008 persons
- Male literacy rate: 56.09%
- Female literacy rate: 42.41%
The gender gap in literacy is substantial, with a difference of 13.68 percentage points between male and female literacy rates. While 2,773 males are literate, only 2,008 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. Improved access to quality education and awareness programs remain critical for enhancing literacy levels.
Employment and Work Participation in Gulgam
The village shows the following employment patterns:
- Total working population: 1,655 (17.10% of total population)
- Male work participation rate: 28.80%
- Female work participation rate: 4.88%
The overall work participation rate of 17.10% is notably low, and there is an extreme gender disparity in workforce participation. While 28.80% of males are engaged in economic activities, only 4.88% of females participate in the workforce.
Child Population
The census data reveals important insights about the village’s age composition with a population aged 0-6 years numbering 2,759 persons (28.51% of total population). The child population represents more than 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 2011 census data, the village has no Scheduled Caste population.
Housing and Living Conditions
With 1,085 houses accommodating 9,679 people, Gulgam village has an average household size of 8.92 persons, significantly higher than the national average of approximately 4.9 persons per household, reflecting multi-generational household arrangements common in rural Kashmir.
| Indicator | This Village | National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 9,679 | – |
| Household Size | 8.92 | 4.9 |
| Sex Ratio | 958 | 943 |
| Literacy Rate | 49.39% | 74.04% |
| Male Literacy | 56.09% | 82.14% |
| Female Literacy | 42.41% | 65.46% |
| Work Participation | 17.10% | ~39% |
| Male Work Participation | 28.80% | ~56% |
| Female Work Participation | 4.88% | ~26% |