POPULATION- NOTES

WHY TO STUDY ABOUT POPULATION?

•It is the point of reference from which all other elements are
observed and from which they derive significance and meaning.
•‘Resources, ‘calamities and ‘disasters are all meaningful only in
relation to human beings.
•Population s numbers, distribution, growth and characteristics or
qualities provide the basic background for understanding and
appreciating all aspects of the environment.
•Human beings are producers and consumers of earth s resources.
Therefore, it is important to know how many people are there in a
country, where do they live, how and why their numbers are
increasing along with their characteristics.

Q1.“Population is a pivotal element of social studies”. State the need

to study population.

CENSUS
•A census is an official enumeration of population done
periodically.
•In India, the first census was held in the year 1872.
•The first complete census, however, was taken in the
year 1881.
•Since then, censuses have been held regularly every
tenth year.
•The Indian Census is the most comprehensive source of
demographic, social and economic data.

2. “Censuses have been held regularly every tenth year”.

POPULATION SIZE AND DISTRIBUTION

Size and distribution

• As per March 2011, India s population stood at 1210.6 million, which

account for 17.5 percent of the world s population.
• According to the data, Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state of
India with a population size of 199 million, which account for 16
percent of total India's population.
• Sikkim's population - 0.6 million (6 lakhs) while Lakshadweep has
64,429 thousand people.
• The five states Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and
Andhra Pradesh holds almost half of Indian population (49%).

Throw some light on India s population size and distribution

INDIA S POPULATION DISTRIBUTION BY

DENSITY
➢Population density is calculated as the number of persons per unit
area.
➢India is one of the most densely populated countries of the world.
➢Population density of India (2011) - 382 persons per sq km.
➢Densities vary - 1,102 persons per sq. km in Bihar , 17 persons per
sq km in Arunachal Pradesh.
VARIATION OR UNEVEN POPULATION DENSITY IN INDIA
States with population densities below 250 persons per square km-
Rugged terrain and unfavourable climatic conditions are primarily
responsible for sparse population in these areas.

•Assam and most of the Peninsular states have moderate population

densities - Hilly, dissected and rocky nature of the terrain, moderate to
low rainfall, shallow and less fertile soil

• The Northern Plains and Kerala in the south have high to very high
population densities - flat plains with fertile soils and abundant rainfall.

Define population density. Analyse the variations in population density

in states of India along with examples.

POPULATION GROWTH AND PROCESSES OF POPULATION

CHANGE

•Population is a dynamic phenomenon - The numbers,

distribution and composition of the population are constantly
changing
•The change in the population is due to : births, deaths and
migrations.
POPULATION GROWTH - Growth of population refers to the
change in the number of inhabitants of a country/territory during
a specific period of time. Such a change can be expressed in
two ways:

TREND IN INDIA S POPULATION GROWTH

•Steady increase from 361 million in 1951 to 1210 million in 2011.
•From 1951 to 1981, the annual rate of population growth was steadily
increasing; which explains the rapid increase in population from 361
million in 1951 to 683 million in 1981.
•Since 1981, however, the rate of growth started declining gradually.
During this period, birth rates declined rapidly
•Still 182 million people are added to the total population
Despite the decline in growth rate, number of people being added
every decade is increasing. Why?

When a low annual rate is applied to a very large population, it yields

a large absolute increase.
•When more than a billion people increase even at a lower rate, the
total number being added becomes very large. India s annual
increase in population is large.

•The declining trend of the growth rate is indeed a positive indicator

of the efforts of birth control. Despite that, the total additions to the
population base continue to grow, and India has overtaken China in
2023 to become the most populous country in the world.

PROCESSES OF POPULATION CHANGE

Birth rate is the number of live births per thousand persons in a year.
It is a major component of growth because in India, birth rates have
always been higher than death rates.

Death rate is the number of deaths per thousand persons in a year.

The main cause of the rate of growth of the Indian population has
been the rapid decline in death rates. Till 1980, high birth rates and
declining death rates led to a large difference between birth rates and
death rates resulting in higher rates of population growth. Since 1981,
birth rates have also started declining gradually, resulting in a gradual
decline in the rate of population growth.

Migration is the movement of people across regions and territories.

Migration can be internal (within the country) or international
(between the countries).
TRENDS

•Till 1980, high birth rates and declining death rates led to a large
difference between birth rates and death rates resulting in higher
rates of population growth.
•Since 1981, birth rates have also started declining gradually,
resulting in a gradual decline in the rate of population growth
•Migration plays a very significant role in changing the composition
and distribution of population -
In India, most migrations have been from rural to urban areas
because of the “push” factor in rural areas.
Push factors of rural areas -These are adverse conditions of poverty
and unemployment in the rural areas and
Pull factors of the city - increased employment opportunities and
better living conditions.
Migration changes - population size , population composition of
urban and rural populations in terms of age and sex composition.
In India, the rural-urban migration has resulted in a steady increase
in the percentage of population in cities and towns. The urban
population has increased from 17.29 per cent of the total population
in 1951 to 31.80 per cent in 2011. There has been a significant
increase in the number of ‘million plus cities from 35 to 53 in just
one decade, i.e., 2001 to 2011. In 2023 there were 59 million plus
cities in India

7. How does migration play an important role in population growth?

Explain the push and pull factors of migration along with India s
trend.
CHARACTERISTICS OF POPULATION

Adolescent population
•Adolescents are grouped in the age group of 10 to 19 years.
•They are the most important resource for the future.
•Nutrition requirements of adolescents are higher.
•Poor nutrition can lead to deficiency and stunted growth.
•INDIAs Case-
•Inadequate diet in all nutrients.
•Adolescent girls suffer from anaemia.
•One-fifth of the total population of India.
➢SOLUTION
•The adolescent girls have to be sensitised to the problems they
confront.
•Awareness among them can be improved through the spread of literacy
and education.
National Population Policy
•Aim: recognizing that the planning of families would improve individual
health and welfare,
•Programme: The Government of India initiated a comprehensive Family
Planning Programme in 1952. It sought to promote responsible and
planned parenthood on a voluntary basis. The National Population Policy
(NPP) 2000 is a culmination of years of planned efforts.
•Provision:
•Policy framework for imparting free and compulsory school education
up to 14 years of age,
•reducing infant mortality rate to below 30 per 1000 live births,
•achieving universal immunization of children against all vaccine
preventable diseases,
• promoting delayed marriage for girls,
•making family welfare a people-centred programme.