Elite Academy
A-260, Shastri Nagar, DELHI 110052
Tel - 9811373026, 8010804221
Prepared by - Amit Singh Rana
Class - 9 (Geography)
POPULATION
India's Population Size and Distribution
1. Total Population:
○ As of March 2011, India's population was 1,210.6 million (1.21 billion), about 17%
of the world's total.
2. Geographical Spread:
○ India covers an area of 3.28 million square km (2.4% of the world’s area);
population distribution is uneven.
3. Most Populous States:
○ Uttar Pradesh: 199 million (16% of India's population).
○ Other populous states: Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh.
○ Least populous: Sikkim (0.6 million) and Lakshadweep (64,429 people).
4. Population Density:
○ National density (2011): 382 persons/sq km.
○ High density in Bihar (1,102 persons/sq km) vs. low density in Arunachal Pradesh
(17 persons/sq km).
5. Sparse Population Areas:
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○ States below 250 persons/sq km include Assam and various Peninsular states,
influenced by rugged terrain and climatic conditions.
6. Areas of High Density:
○ Northern plains and Kerala have high densities due to fertile soil and abundant
rainfall.
7. Key Northern States:
○ Notable states with high population densities in the Northern Plains include Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
Population Growth and Change
1. Dynamic Nature:
○ Population is constantly changing due to births, deaths, and migrations.
2. Population Growth:
○ Refers to changes in the number of inhabitants over a specific period.
○ Expressed in absolute numbers and percentage change per year.
3. Absolute Increase:
○ Calculated by subtracting earlier population numbers from later ones (e.g., 2001
to 2011).
4. Annual Growth Rate:
○ Indicates the pace of increase, expressed as a percentage per annum.
○ Example: 2% annual growth means an increase of 2 persons for every 100 in the
base population.
5. Historical Population Data:
○ 1951: 361 million; 2011: 1,210 million.
Population increased steadily over the decades as shown in the following table:
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● Growth Trends:
○ From 1951 to 1981: Increasing annual growth rates.
○ Post-1981: Growth rates began to decline, but absolute population increases
continued.
● Continued Additions:
○ A low growth rate on a large population still results in significant absolute
increases.
○ In the 1990s, 182 million people were added despite declining birth rates.
● Current Status:
○ India became the most populous country in the world in 2023, surpassing China.
Processes of Population Change/Growth
1. Main Processes:
○ Birth Rates: The number of live births per thousand persons per year.
○ Death Rates: The number of deaths per thousand persons per year.
○ Migration: Movement of people across regions or territories.
2. Natural Increase:
○ Defined as the difference between birth rates and death rates.
○ Historically in India, birth rates have been higher than death rates, contributing to
population growth.
3. Population Growth Trends:
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○ Up until 1980, high birth rates combined with declining death rates led to rapid
population growth.
○ From 1981 onwards, declining birth rates have resulted in a gradual decline in
population growth rates.
4. Migration:
○ Types: Internal (within the country) and international (between countries).
○ Internal migration affects population distribution but not size.
○ Rural to urban migration is prevalent due to push factors (poverty, unemployment
in rural areas) and pull factors (better opportunities in cities).
5. Impact of Migration:
○ Alters both the size and composition (age, sex) of urban and rural populations.
○ Urban population increased from 17.29% in 1951 to 31.80% in 2011.
○ Significant growth in "million-plus cities": 35 in 2001 to 53 in 2011, and 59 by
2023.
6. Adolescent Population:
○ Comprises one-fifth of India's total population (ages 10-19).
○ Adolescents require higher nutrition; however, their diets often lack necessary
nutrients.
○ Many adolescent girls suffer from anemia, indicating a need for better nutritional
support and awareness.
7. Importance of Awareness:
○ Educating adolescents, particularly girls, on health and nutrition is crucial for their
development and empowerment.
National Population Policy (NPP) 2000 - Key Points:
● Background:
○ Government of India initiated the Family Planning Programme in 1952.
○ Aimed at improving individual health and welfare through planned parenthood.
● Objectives of NPP 2000:
○ Free and compulsory education up to 14 years of age.
○ Reduce infant mortality rate to below 30 per 1,000 live births.
○ Achieve universal immunization of children against all vaccine-preventable
diseases.
○ Promote delayed marriage for girls.
○ Make family welfare a people-centered programme.
● Focus:
○ Voluntary, responsible family planning.
○ Culmination of years of family planning efforts.
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