Population of India

• India's population — size, growth, distribution, density.
• Age-sex pyramid and what it reveals about India.
• Key demographic indicators: literacy, sex ratio, occupational structure.
• National Population Policy (NPP 2000) — targets and achievements.
• Adolescents — India's "demographic dividend."

Population size and growth

• India = 2nd most populous country (Census 2011); by 2023 surpassed China.
• India has 17.5% of world's population on 2.4% of world's land area.

Population distribution

Uneven distribution — some areas very densely, others sparsely populated.

Densely populated areas:

• Northern plains (UP, Bihar, WB) — fertile land, water, good climate.
• Coastal plains (Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu) — trade, industry, fishing.

Sparsely populated areas:

• Himalayan region — rugged terrain, cold climate.
• Rajasthan/Thar Desert — water scarcity.
• NE states (Arunachal Pradesh) — forests, difficult terrain.

Most populous state: Uttar Pradesh (200 million+) Least densely populated state: Arunachal Pradesh (17 persons/km²)

Population density

• Population density = Population ÷ Area (persons per km²).
• India average: 382 persons/km² (Census 2011).
• Highest density: Bihar (1106/km²).
• Lowest: Arunachal Pradesh (17/km²).

Age composition

• Large working-age population = demographic dividend if educated and employed.
• Population pyramid (age-sex pyramid): bar chart with age groups on Y-axis, males left, females right.
• India's pyramid: wide base (many young), narrowing with age → expansive pyramid.

Sex ratio

• Sex ratio = Number of females per 1000 males.
• India Census 2011: 940 females per 1000 males.
• Lowest: Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh (below 880).
• Highest: Kerala (1084 — only state with more women than men).
• Low sex ratio = preference for male child; female foeticide; neglect.

Literacy

• Literacy rate = % of people aged 7+ who can read and write.
• Census 2011: 74.04% (males 82.1%, females 65.5%).
• Highest: Kerala (94%), Mizoram (91%).
• Lowest: Bihar (63%), Arunachal Pradesh (66%).
• Gender gap in literacy remains significant.

Occupational structure

• India still has large share in primary sector (~45% workers in agriculture).
• Shift towards tertiary sector as economy develops.

Health

• Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): 44 per 1000 live births (2011); target <30.
• Life expectancy: ~69 years (2020).
• Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR): declining due to health missions.
• Pulse Polio Programme: India declared polio-free (2014).

Adolescents — the demographic dividend

• Adolescents (10–19 years): ~253 million in India — world's largest adolescent population.
• Opportunity: if educated and employed → demographic dividend — large productive workforce boosts GDP.
• Challenge: requires massive investment in education, skills training, healthcare, jobs.
• Kishori Shakti Yojana: government scheme for adolescent girls — nutrition, education, awareness.

National Population Policy 2000 (NPP 2000)

Immediate goals:

• Address unmet needs for contraception, healthcare infrastructure.

Medium-term goals (by 2010):

• Bring Total Fertility Rate (TFR) to replacement level (2.1).
• Reduce IMR to below 30 per 1000.
• Reduce maternal mortality to below 100 per 100,000.

Long-term goal:

• Achieve stable population consistent with economic growth and social development by 2045.

Achievements: TFR fell from ~6 (1951) to ~2.0 (2020); IMR reduced significantly.

Migration

• Internal migration: people move from rural to urban areas for jobs.
• International migration: skilled workers migrate to developed countries (brain drain).
• Migration affects population distribution and sex ratio in source/destination areas.

• What is population density? What is India's average density (Census 2011)?
• Why is India's population unevenly distributed? Give two examples.
• What is the sex ratio of India? Which state has the highest?
• What is meant by demographic dividend? How can India benefit from it?
• State three goals of the National Population Policy 2000.

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