Geography | Population : Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition (India – People and Economy)

Distribution of Population:

• Population distribution refers to how people are spread across a given area. In India, the spatial pattern of population distribution is very uneven.
• High Population States: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh. These states account for 76% of the population.
• Moderate Population States: Assam, Haryana, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Punjab, Goa.
• Low Population States: Hilly and tribal areas like Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, all North-Eastern states (except Assam), and Union Territories excluding Delhi.

Density of Population:

• Population density is the number of people living per unit area. According to the 2011 census, India has a population density of 382 persons per sq km.
• High Density States/UTs: Bihar (1106), West Bengal (1028), Kerala (860), Uttar Pradesh (829), Delhi (11320), Chandigarh (9258).
• Moderate Density States/UTs: Haryana (573), Tamil Nadu (555), Punjab (551), Jharkhand (414), Assam (398), Goa (394), Dadra and Nagar Haveli (700).
• Low Density States/UTs: Arunachal Pradesh (17), Mizoram (52), Jammu and Kashmir (56), Sikkim (86), Nagaland (119), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (46).

Growth of Population:

• Population growth refers to changes in the number of people in a particular area over time, expressed as a percentage.
• Natural Growth: Changes due to births and deaths.
• Induced Growth: Changes due to inward and outward movement.

Phases of Population Growth:

1. Phase I (1901-1921): Stagnant or stationary phase with very low growth rate.
2. Phase II (1921-1951): Steady population growth.
3. Phase III (1951-1981): Period of population explosion due to rapid decline in death rate and high fertility rate.
4. Phase IV (Post-1981): Gradual decline in growth rate due to a downward trend in birth rate.

Regional Variation in Population Growth:

• Population growth varies across India, from -0.58% in Nagaland to 55.88% in Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
• High Growth Rate States/UTs: Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Puducherry.
• Moderate Growth Rate States/UTs: Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh.
• Low Growth Rate States/UTs: Nagaland, Kerala, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Population Composition:

• Detailed analysis of age, sex, place of residence, ethnic characteristics, language, religion, marital status, literacy, education, and occupation.
• Rural-Urban Composition: 68.84% of India’s population lives in rural areas. Himachal Pradesh has the highest rural population (89.97%), while Delhi has the lowest (2.50%).

Linguistic Composition:

• India has a linguistic diversity with 22 scheduled languages and numerous non-scheduled languages. Major language families include Austric, Dravidian, Sino-Tibetan, and Indo-European.

Religious Composition:

• India’s religious composition includes Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and others, with Hindus forming the majority.

Composition of Working Population:

• Work participation rate is the proportion of working population to total population.
• Main Workers: Persons working for at least 183 days a year.
• Marginal Workers: Persons working for less than 183 days a year.
• Non-Workers: Persons not engaged in any economic activity.

Assignments for CBSE Class 12 Geography Chapter “Population: Distribution, Density, Growth, and Composition – India People and Economy”

1. Case Study Analysis: Analyze the population density and growth rate of a specific Indian state.
2. Research Project: Investigate the demographic composition and linguistic diversity of a particular region in India.
3. Debate Preparation: Prepare for a debate on the challenges and benefits of high population density in urban areas.
4. Chart Creation: Create a flowchart illustrating the phases of population growth in India.
5. Role Play: Conduct a mock census operation where students represent different states and collect demographic data.

Conclusion

The chapter “Population: Distribution, Density, Growth, and Composition – India People and Economy” provides a comprehensive understanding of the demographic dynamics in India. It highlights the spatial patterns, growth phases, and diverse composition of the population, offering insights into the socio-economic implications of population changes.