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Population



Importance of human:
  • Human utilized resources
  • Human change object to resources. As coal is just peace of rock but human change into resources.
  • A human develops the economy and society.
  • Natural events like floods or tsunami become disasters only when they affect human settlement.
  • Resources, calamities, and disasters are meaningless without humans.
  • Human number, distribution, growth, and quality provides the basic background for understanding all aspects of the environment.
  • Human beings are producers and consumers of the earth's surface.
  • The population is a pivotal element in social studies.
Three major categories:
  • Population size and distribution
  • Population growth and process of population change
  • Characteristics or qualities of the population such as age, sex composition, literacy level, occupation structure, health condition.

Population size and distribution:
As on March 2011:
  • 1.21 billion population:
  • 17.5 % of the world population
  • Unevenly distribution in 3.2 million square km that is 2.4 % of world areas.
  • Uttar Pradesh has the highest population that is 199 million population comprises 16 % of India's population.
  • Sikkim: 0.6 million ( lowest in States)
  • Lakshadweep has 64,429 people.
  • Half of India population is in five states:
  • Utter Pradesh: 16%
  • Maharashtra: 9%
  • Bihar:9%
  • West Bengal: 8%
  • Andhra Pradesh: 7%
  • Rajasthan: 6%
  • MP/ TN: 6%
India' s population distribution by density:
  • Population density provides better pictures of the unequal distribution population.
  • Population density=number of person per unit areas.
  • Only Bangladesh and Japan have a higher population density than India.
  • India: 382 population density
  • Bihar: 1,102 population density ( highest among states)
  • Arunachal Pradesh: 17 per square km.
Reason for the sparse population;
  • Rough terrains
  • Unfavorable climate condition
Moderate population density: Assam and peninsula plateau
High population density: plain areas of northern plain and Kerala plain as they provide fertile land and have abundant rainfall.



Population growth and process of population change:
The population is a dynamic phenomenon. The numbers, distribution, and composition of the population are constantly changing. The following three process changes the population;
  • Birth
  • Death
  • Migration
Population growth:
The growth of the population refers to a change in the number of inhabitants of the country during a specific period of time. It can be expressed in two ways:

  • Absolute number
  • Terms of percentage changes
India population:
  • 1901: 238 million
  • 1951: 361 million
  • 2011: 1210 million;6 times in 100 years
Population growth of India decreasing trends:
  • 1981: 2.22%
  • 1991: 2.16%
  • 2001: 1.97%
  • 2011: 1.64%
Decadal growth: 
  • 1971 - 81: 24.66
  • 1981-91: 23.87%
  • 1991-2001: 21.54
  • 2001-2011: 17.64%
Growth Trend since 1901:
  • 1901-1921: Stagnant Population. Population even declined in 1921.
  • 1921-1951: Steady Growth
  • 1951-1981: Rapid High Growth
  • 1981-2001: High Growth with declining sign

Birth rate: number of live birth per thousands person in a year.
Death rate: number of death per thousands person in a year.
The major cause of population growth in India: a decline in death rate.

Migration:
It is the movement of people across regions and territories. Migration can be: 


  • Internal: within a country
  • External: between countries
  • Internal migration: does not change the size of the population but influences the distribution of population and composition of the population.
A push factor is responsible for internal migration in India. Rural to urban migration due to poverty and unemployment in rural areas.


Push factor; 
The city provides economic opportunities and better living conditions.
Due to migration and birth rate: the urban population increased:

  • 1951: 17.29 % urban population
  • 2001: 31.80 % urban population
Million plus cities increased from 35 to 53 between 2001 to 2011.


Age composition:
A person's age influence what he/she needs.
The social and economic structure determined by children, working-age, and aged groups.
Three broad categories of age:
  • Children ( below 15 years): 
    • Economically unproductive and need to provided food, clothing, education, and medical care.
  • Working-age:( 15 - 59 years):
    • Economically productive and biological reproductive.
  • Aged( above 59 years):
    • May be economically productive by voluntary work.
The percentage of children and aged effect the dependency rate.
The dependent population comprises children and the aged group.

  • As of now, children (34.4%) and aged( 6.9%) are dependent population and 58.7% are working-age populations.
Sex ratio:
It defined as the number of females per 1000 males.

  • 1951: 946
  • 2001: 933
  • 2011: 943
As in 2011 sex ratio in:
  • Kerala: 1084
  • Puducherry: 1038
  • Delhi: 866
  • Haryana: 877
Literacy rate:
A person above 7 years of age who can read and write with any language is called literate.
The literacy rate is an important quality of the population. As only informed, educated citizens can make intelligent choices and research and development activities. The low literacy rate is a serious obstacle to economic growth. 

As in 2011, the literacy rate of India:

  • 73% overall, 80.9 % males, 64.6 % females
Occupation structure:
The distribution of the population according to different types of occupation is called occupation structure.
Occupation is:

  • Primary activities:
    •  agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, fishery, and mining.
  • Secondary activities: 
    • Manufacturing, industry, building construction.
  • Territories activities; 
    • transport, communication, commerce, and administration.
In developed countries, a higher percentage of the population involved in secondary and territories activities.
Developing countries; a higher proportion of the population involved in primary activities.
In India: 


  • 64% population is engaged only in agricultural activities.
  • 13 % in secondary activities
  • 20 % in tertiary activities.
The health of the population affects the process of development. The following data show the health condition of india.:
  • 1951: 25/1000
  • 2011: 7.2/1000
  • Life expectancy: 1951: 36.7 years
  • 2012: 67.9 years.
Health improvement from:
  • Public health
  • Percentage of infection disease
  • Prevention of disease
  • Modern medical facilities
Per capita calorie consumption is much below the recommended level is called malnutrition.
Only 2/3rd of the population get safe drinking water and basic sanitation.
Adolescent population: 
  • age group 10 to 19 years.
  • These are the most important resources of the future generation.
  • It is composed of 20% of the Indian population.
  • Nutrition requirements of the adolescent are higher than adults and children.
  • Poor nutrients lead to deficiency and stunting.
  • The girl suffers from anemia.



National population policies:
Planning of families would improve individual health and welfare.
1952: comprehensive family planning program:
  • Family welfare program
  • Promote responsible and planned parenthood on a voluntary basis.
2000:  nation population policy (NPP)
  • Free and compulsory school education up to 14 years of age.
  • Reduction of infant mortality rate below 30 / 1000 live birth.
  • Achieving universal immunization of children against all disease
  • Promoting delay marriage for girls.
  • Making family welfare a people central program.
  • NPP 2000 identified adolescent as one of the major section of the population that needs greater attention in the:
    • sexually transmitted disease
    • Nutrition requirements
    • Unwanted pregnancy
    • Education of adolescent about the risk of unprotected sex
    • Making contraceptive service accessible and affordable
    • Provide food supplement and nutrition services
    • Strengthen legal measures to prevent child marriage.
  • People are the nation's most valuable resources, well educated and healthy population provides potential Power.

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