Zurhama 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 4,647 persons, comprising 2,446 males and 2,201 females. The village consists of 644 houses, indicating an average household size of 7.22 persons per house. The village has a reasonably balanced gender composition with males comprising 52.6% and females making up 47.4% of the population. This balanced demographic pattern suggests stable community dynamics within the village.
Literacy Statistics of Zurhama
Village Zurhama has a total literate population of 1,959 persons, with an overall literacy rate of 42.16%, which is significantly below the national average of 74.04%, reflecting the educational challenges faced by border areas in Jammu & Kashmir:
- Male literate population: 1,209 persons
- Female literate population: 750 persons
- Male literacy rate: 49.43%
- Female literacy rate: 34.08%
The gender gap in literacy is substantial, with a difference of 15.35 percentage points between male and female literacy rates. While 1,209 males are literate, only 750 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. Enhanced focus on girls’ education and community awareness programs are necessary to bridge this gap.
Employment and Work Participation in Zurhama
The village shows the following employment patterns:
- Total working population: 955 (20.55% of total population)
- Male work participation rate: 32.51%
- Female work participation rate: 7.27%
The overall work participation rate of 20.55% is notably low, and there is an extreme gender disparity in workforce participation. While 32.51% of males are engaged in economic activities, only 7.27% of females participate in the workforce—meaning just 160 women out of 2,201 are counted as workers. This exceptionally low female work participation rate suggests significant cultural, social, or economic barriers preventing women from engaging in formal economic activities.
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 1,164 persons (25.05% 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 644 houses accommodating 4,647 people, the village has an average household size of 7.22 persons, significantly higher than the national average of approximately 4.9 persons per household, reflecting multi-generational household arrangements common in rural Kashmir.
| Indicator | Zurhama | National Average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 4,647 | – | – |
| Household Size | 7.22 | 4.9 | +2.32 |
| Sex Ratio | 900 | 943 | -43 |
| Literacy Rate | 42.16% | 74.04% | -31.88% |
| Male Literacy | 49.43% | 82.14% | -32.71% |
| Female Literacy | 34.08% | 65.46% | -31.38% |
| Work Participation | 20.55% | ~39% | -18.45% |
| Male Work Participation | 32.51% | ~56% | -23.49% |
| Female Work Participation | 7.27% | ~26% | -18.73% |