Data tracker: Is nuclearisation in urban India on the decline?

Recent census data show the share of nuclear households in urban areas has declined to 52.3%

Recently released census data show the share of nuclear households in urban areas has declined to 52.3 per cent in 2011, from 54.3 per cent in 2001. Some have construed this as a sign that nuclear households, a dominant theme of urbanization in India, are possibly on the decline. 

But a closer look at the data suggest that it may be a bit premature to draw such conclusions. 

While the share of nuclear households in total urban households has declined, in absolute terms households in this category have risen from 30.2 million in 2001 to 42.1 million in 2011 – implying a