Sikkim remains the smallest state of the country in population. Its population figure now stands at six lakh seven thousand six hundred eighty eight against five lakh forty thousand eight hundred forty one in 2001. Falling in line with rest of the country, the state too recorded a significant decline in the decadal growth in the population. The provisional population figures of Census 2011 for Sikkim were formally released in Gangtok by the State HRD Minister Mr. NK Pradhan. The literacy rate of the state now stands at 82.20 percent against the national average of 74.04 percent only. The male- female literacy rate gap in the State too has narrowed down by more than five percent during the last ten years.