The rural population of Sikkim now stands at 4,55,962 while the population of the urban areas stands at 1,51,726. The total population of the State after the Census of India 2011 has risen to 6,07,688. Releasing the Provisional Population Data for Sikkim, relating mainly to the rural urban population ratio, to the newspersons in Gangtok on Friday, the Guwahati based Joint Director of Census Operations Dr. Dilip Kumar Dey revealed that the rural population recorded a decrease of more than five percent in the last decade while the urban population in the State increased by more than 153 percent during the period. He attributed it mainly to the delimitation of constituencies for urban bodies elections, merging some of the adjoining villages in the concerned Municipal body.Dr. Dey also revealed that the State recorded a decrease in the population of female children. He informed that the ongoing nationwide Socio-economic and Caste Survey will start in Sikkim in October this year.