Population, Census, Sex Ratio and Literacy of India
Demography is the study of population, and for India it is a subject of enormous importance, because the country is now the most populous in the world. The size of the population, its growth, its density, its sex ratio and its literacy decide how many schools, hospitals, roads and jobs a government must provide, and how quickly the economy can grow. Most of the standard facts about India's population come from the Census, the great counting exercise held every ten years, the most recent completed one being the 2011 Census. For competitive exams, the census figures, the leading and lagging states in density, sex ratio and literacy, and the special facts about Assam are asked in almost every paper, so this chapter brings them together in one place.
The census and the population picture
A census is the official counting of all the people of a country, and India has a long record of it. The first census of India was conducted in 1872, and the first complete census was held in 1881; since then a census has normally been taken every ten years. According to the 2011 Census, the population of India was about 1.21 billion, or 121.09 crore people. The decadal growth rate of the population between 2001 and 2011 was about 17.7 per cent, which means that even though the growth rate is slowly falling, the country is still adding a very large number of people every year. The main cause of this growth is a high birth rate together with a declining death rate, a combination that happens when better food, medicine and health care reduce deaths before families begin to have fewer children.
Population density and the states
Population density means the number of persons living in one square kilometre. The density of India as per the 2011 Census is 382 persons per square kilometre, which is far higher than the average density of the world at about 58 persons per square kilometre. Density is highest where the land is fertile and flat, as in the Ganga plain, and lowest in the mountains and deserts. Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state of India, and Sikkim is the least populous. The state with the highest population density is Bihar, where the density is about 1,106 persons per square kilometre, and the state with the lowest density is Arunachal Pradesh, a large mountain state with a small population. The most populous city of India is Mumbai, and the most populous district is North 24 Parganas in West Bengal.
Sex ratio
The sex ratio is the number of females for every 1,000 males, and it is one of the best measures of the status of women in a society. The sex ratio of India as per the 2011 Census is 943 females per 1,000 males, which is an improvement over the past but still below the natural balance. The state with the highest sex ratio is Kerala, where it is 1,084 females per 1,000 males, and the state with the lowest sex ratio is Haryana. Even more worrying is the child sex ratio for the age group of 0 to 6 years, which is only 919 females per 1,000 males, showing that the preference for sons and the misuse of technology continue to affect the birth of girls. The reasons for a low sex ratio include the preference for sons, female foeticide and infanticide, poor female health care and the low status of women in some regions, and the cure lies in education, legal enforcement and social change.
Literacy
Literacy means the ability to read and write with understanding, and it is the foundation of development. The literacy rate of India as per the 2011 Census is 74.04 per cent, made up of a male literacy rate of 82.14 per cent and a female literacy rate of 65.46 per cent; the gap between the two shows how much work remains in the education of girls and women. The state with the highest literacy rate is Kerala at 93.91 per cent, and the state with the lowest literacy rate is Bihar at 63.82 per cent. Among the union territories, Lakshadweep has the highest literacy rate, and Kerala was the first state of India to achieve full literacy. Literacy is important not only for reading and writing but also for health, for the education of the next generation and for the ability of people to claim their rights and take part in democracy.
Urbanisation and the population of Assam
India is still a land of villages. About 68.84 per cent of the people live in rural areas and about 31.16 per cent in urban areas, though the urban share is rising quickly because of the movement of people to the cities in search of work. In Assam, the sex ratio as per the 2011 Census is 958 females per 1,000 males, which is better than the national average, and the literacy rate is 72.19 per cent, which is close to the national figure but below the best states. The most populous district of Assam is Nagaon, and the state has a high proportion of rural population, with agriculture and tea providing work to a large part of it. Assam's main demographic challenges are flood and erosion, which displace people again and again, and the need to improve literacy and health in the rural and hill districts.
Population growth and its effects
A large and growing population puts pressure on land, water, forests, schools, hospitals, transport and jobs, and it can slow down the rise in income per person. At the same time, a young population can be a great advantage if it is educated and skilled, which is why policy now speaks of a demographic dividend rather than only of a population problem. The way to gain this dividend is to invest in health, education and skill training, to raise the age of marriage and to empower women, because educated women tend to have smaller and healthier families. India's population is expected to be about 1.43 billion by 2024, which confirms its position as the world's most populous country.
Quick revision
For quick revision, fix the census numbers first: the 2011 Census gave India a population of about 1.21 billion or 121.09 crore, a decadal growth of 17.7 per cent and a density of 382 persons per square kilometre, while the world average density is about 58. Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state and Sikkim the least, Bihar has the highest density at about 1,106 and Arunachal Pradesh the lowest, Mumbai is the most populous city and North 24 Parganas the most populous district. The sex ratio of India is 943, the highest is Kerala at 1,084, the lowest is Haryana and the child sex ratio is 919. The literacy rate of India is 74.04 per cent, with male literacy at 82.14 and female literacy at 65.46; Kerala has the highest literacy at 93.91, Bihar the lowest at 63.82, Lakshadweep leads among the union territories and Kerala was the first fully literate state. India ranks first in the world by population and is expected to reach about 1.43 billion in 2024. In Assam the sex ratio is 958, the literacy rate is 72.19 per cent and the most populous district is Nagaon, while the first census was in 1872 and the first complete census in 1881.
How to prepare this topic
- Learn the census as a set of headline numbers - 1.21 billion, 17.7 per cent growth and 382 per square kilometre - and then attach the states to each record.
- Prepare a leader chart for the three measures: population with Uttar Pradesh high and Sikkim low, density with Bihar high and Arunachal Pradesh low, and literacy with Kerala high and Bihar low.
- Keep the sex ratio facts together, remembering 943 for India, 1,084 for Kerala, Haryana as the lowest and 919 as the child sex ratio, and understand the social reasons behind them.
- Memorise the Assam numbers separately - 958 sex ratio, 72.19 per cent literacy and Nagaon as the most populous district - because state-level exams ask them directly.
- Learn the census timeline as a story, with 1872 for the first census, 1881 for the first complete census and every ten years thereafter, and connect population growth to the idea of the demographic dividend.
Common exam traps
- The most populous state is Uttar Pradesh, but the highest population density is in Bihar; the two are different records.
- Kerala has the highest sex ratio and the highest literacy rate, while Haryana has the lowest sex ratio and Bihar the lowest literacy rate.
- The sex ratio of India is 943, but the child sex ratio is only 919; the second is always lower and is a separate question.
- The first census was in 1872, while the first complete census was in 1881; do not merge the two years.
- India's rank by population is first, but do not confuse this with rank by area, where India is seventh in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the population, growth rate and density of India in the 2011 Census?
According to the 2011 Census, the population of India was about 1.21 billion or 121.09 crore. The decadal growth rate of the population between 2001 and 2011 was about 17.7 per cent, and the population density was 382 persons per square kilometre. The average density of the world population is much lower, at about 58 persons per square kilometre. The main cause of the growth is a high birth rate combined with a declining death rate.
Which states have the highest and lowest population and density in India?
Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state of India and Sikkim is the least populous. Bihar has the highest population density, about 1,106 persons per square kilometre, and Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest density. The most populous city of India is Mumbai, and the most populous district is North 24 Parganas in West Bengal. India's population is expected to be about 1.43 billion by 2024.
What is the sex ratio of India and which states have the highest and lowest sex ratio?
The sex ratio is the number of females for every 1,000 males. The sex ratio of India as per the 2011 Census is 943 females per 1,000 males. The state with the highest sex ratio is Kerala, at 1,084 females per 1,000 males, and the state with the lowest sex ratio is Haryana. The child sex ratio for the 0 to 6 age group is even lower, at 919 females per 1,000 males.
What is the literacy rate of India and which states are the most and least literate?
The literacy rate of India as per the 2011 Census is 74.04 per cent, with a male literacy rate of 82.14 per cent and a female literacy rate of 65.46 per cent. Kerala has the highest literacy rate at 93.91 per cent and was the first state of India to achieve full literacy, while Bihar has the lowest literacy rate at 63.82 per cent. Among the union territories, Lakshadweep has the highest literacy rate.
What are the census and population facts of Assam?
In Assam, the sex ratio as per the 2011 Census is 958 females per 1,000 males, which is better than the national average, and the literacy rate is 72.19 per cent. The most populous district of Assam is Nagaon. India's first census was conducted in 1872 and the first complete census in 1881, and since then a census is normally taken every ten years. About 68.84 per cent of Indians live in rural areas and about 31.16 per cent in urban areas.