👥 Population & Human Resources
Census data, distribution, literacy, and demographic trends.
👥 India's People — World's Largest Population
As of 2023, India has overtaken China to become the world's most populous country with ~1.43 billion people. India has 18% of the world's population on just 2.4% of the land.
Key Census data (2011 — last official census):
Population is NOT evenly distributed. Reasons for high density areas:
• Fertile plains (Ganga, Indus) → agriculture → dense settlement (Bihar, UP, WB)
• Good climate — moderate temperatures and rainfall
• Industrial areas — jobs attract people (Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai)
• Coastal areas — trade and fishing
Reasons for low density:
• Deserts (Rajasthan — Thar), harsh terrain, lack of water
• High mountains (Himalayan states)
• Dense forests (Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya)
India is undergoing a demographic transition:
• Birth rate has fallen (from ~45/1000 in 1950 to ~18/1000 in 2020)
• Death rate has fallen faster (from ~30/1000 to ~7/1000)
• Natural growth rate = birth rate − death rate = ~1.1% (still positive but declining)
• Demographic dividend: 60% of India's population is under 35 — a huge working-age advantage if educated and employed
• Urbanization increasing — 35% urban (2023), up from 17% (1951)
Population Density Map
AnimationThe Indo-Gangetic Plain supports the highest density — fertile soil, water, flat land, good climate.
Population Key Facts — Quick Review
InteractiveIndia's sex ratio (Census 2011): 940 females per 1,000 males
Importance:
• Indicates gender equality (or lack thereof) in a society
• Reflects female infanticide, sex-selective abortion, neglect of girl child
• Low sex ratio → fewer women in workforce, education, health
• Used to assess progress of women's welfare schemes
India's regional variation:
• Highest: Kerala (1,084), Puducherry (1,037)
• Lowest: Haryana (879), Delhi (868)
Child sex ratio (0–6 years, 2011): 919 girls per 1,000 boys — even more alarming. Haryana had 834 (worst). India's Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme targets this.
Population change = Births − Deaths + Net Migration
Population Growth Rate = percentage change per year (or per decade for census)
Types of growth:
1. Natural increase/decrease: due to birth and death rates only
2. Net migration: people moving in (immigrants) minus people moving out (emigrants)
3. Absolute increase: total number added
4. Exponential growth: when growth rate stays positive — population grows like compound interest (India's population grew from 360 million in 1951 to 1.21 billion in 2011 = 3.4x in 60 years)
India's annual growth rate declined from 2.2% (1971–81) to 1.64% (2001–11). Target: achieve replacement level fertility (TFR = 2.1) across all states.