Population

Why study population?

Human beings are an important resource for any nation. People develop ideas, discover resources, and use them to build the economy. The number, distribution and quality of people decide how a country grows. The Census of India, held every ten years, provides the most reliable and detailed information about the population. The last census discussed in this chapter is the Census of 2011. Population study has three major aspects: population size and distribution, population growth and processes of change, and characteristics or qualities of the population.

Population size and distribution

India's population in 2011 was 1,210.6 million (1.21 billion), making it the second most populous country after China. The most striking fact is the uneven distribution. Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state, holding about 16 per cent of the country's people, while small states and Union Territories like Sikkim and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have very few people. Almost half of India's population lives in just five states — Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. Rajasthan, the largest state by area, has only about 5.5 per cent of the population.

Density of population

Density of population is the number of persons living per square kilometre. The average density of India in 2011 was 382 persons per sq km, which makes India one of the most densely populated countries of the world. Density varies greatly. The northern plains and Kerala in the south have very high density because of flat fertile land, plenty of water and good rainfall for farming. Bihar is the most densely populated state. Regions with rugged terrain or harsh climate — such as the mountains of Arunachal Pradesh (the lowest density), deserts of Rajasthan, or the forests of the north-east — have low density. So relief, climate, soil, water and availability of work all influence where people choose to live.

Population growth and processes of change

Population growth is the change in the number of people during a specific time. It can be expressed in two ways. The absolute increase is the actual number of people added each year, found by subtracting the earlier population from the later one. The annual growth rate is the increase shown in percentage per year. Even though India's growth rate is slowing, the absolute number added each year is still very large because the base population is huge. From 1951 to 1981 the rate of growth was high, but from 1981 onwards it began to slow, a process called a declining growth rate. The high growth of earlier decades was mainly due to a sharp fall in death rates while birth rates fell more slowly.

Processes of population change — birth, death and migration

Three processes change the size of the population. The birth rate is the number of live births per thousand persons in a year. The death rate is the number of deaths per thousand persons in a year. The natural increase in population is the difference between the birth rate and the death rate. Since 1981 the birth rate has fallen, but it has remained higher than the death rate, so the population continues to grow. The third process is migration — the movement of people from one place to another. Migration may be internal (within the country) or international (between countries). Internal migration does not change the total population of the country, but it changes the distribution of people, mainly increasing the population of towns and cities. In India, the chief stream of migration has been from rural to urban areas in search of work, education and a better life. This is why the urban population has been rising steadily.

Age composition and the population pyramid

The age composition of a population is the number of people in different age groups. It is one of the most important characteristics. People are usually divided into three broad groups. The children (below 15 years) are economically unproductive and need to be provided with food, clothing, education and medical care. The working age group (15–59 years) are economically productive and biologically reproductive; they form the working population. The aged (above 59 years) can be economically productive but may need care. The structure can be shown as an age-sex pyramid (population pyramid), which shows the share of males and females in each age group. A broad base shows a large number of children and a high birth rate, typical of a growing population like India's.

Sex ratio and literacy

The sex ratio is the number of females per 1,000 males in the population. It tells us how women are treated in society. In India the sex ratio has unfortunately been unfavourable to females; in 2011 it was about 943 females per 1,000 males. Kerala has a high sex ratio favouring women, while states like Haryana have a low one. Literacy is another vital quality. A literate person, as defined by the census, is one aged seven and above who can read and write with understanding in any language. Literacy is essential for economic and social development. India's literacy rate in 2011 was about 74 per cent, with male literacy higher than female literacy — a gap that policies are trying to close.

Occupational structure and health

The occupational structure is the distribution of the population according to their occupations — primary (farming, mining, fishing), secondary (manufacturing, industry) and tertiary (services like transport, trade, teaching). In India a large share of workers are still engaged in the primary sector, especially agriculture, while developed countries have more people in the secondary and tertiary sectors. Health is the foundation of a country's development. India has made big progress — death rates have fallen, life expectancy has risen to over 60 years, and the infant mortality rate has come down because of better medical care, clean water, sanitation and nutrition. Yet challenges remain, such as poor rural health facilities and malnutrition.

Adolescent population and the National Population Policy

One large and important group is the adolescents (people aged 10 to 19 years), who make up about one-fifth of India's population. They are the future of the nation but face problems like lower nutrition for girls, early marriage and lack of awareness. To guide population issues, the government announced the National Population Policy (NPP) 2000. It aims to provide free and compulsory school education up to age 14, reduce the infant mortality rate, achieve universal immunisation of children, encourage later marriage for girls, and make family welfare a people-centred programme. The NPP 2000 gives special attention to adolescents by providing better nutrition, education and protection from unwanted pregnancies and diseases.