The essence of this chapter for last-minute revision: every definition, the decadal growth table, the four growth phases, the language-family and religion tables, and the hard numbers on the working population. The full notes, with the complete explanation, are available separately.
1 Five definitions to learn
A Census is the official, complete count of a country’s population, conducted by the Government of India once every 10 years. India’s first Census was in 1872, and its first complete Census in 1881.
Density of population is the number of persons living per unit area. Physiological density = total population ÷ net cultivated area; agricultural density = total agricultural population ÷ net cultivable area.
Growth of population is the change in a region’s population between two points in time, expressed as a percentage. Formula: g = [(p2 − p1) / p1] × 100. Population doubling time = the time a population takes to double itself at its current annual growth rate.
A Main Worker works for at least 183 days (six months) in a year; a Marginal Worker works for fewer days than this. (Standard Census Definition)
The Work Participation Rate is the proportion of the economically active section of the population; in India it ranges from 29.1% in Lakshadweep to 51.9% in Himachal Pradesh.
2 Decadal growth rates, in one table (1901-2011)
| Census year | Total population | Growth (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 238,396,327 | – |
| 1911 | 252,093,390 | (+) 5.75 |
| 1921 | 251,321,213 | (−) 0.31 |
| 1931 | 278,977,238 | (+) 11.60 |
| 1941 | 318,660,580 | (+) 14.22 |
| 1951 | 361,088,090 | (+) 13.31 |
| 1961 | 439,234,771 | (+) 21.51 |
| 1971 | 548,159,652 | (+) 24.80 |
| 1981 | 683,329,097 | (+) 24.66 |
| 1991 | 846,302,688 | (+) 23.85 |
| 2001 | 1,028,610,328 | (+) 21.54 |
| 2011 | 1,210,193,422 | (+) 17.64 |
1911-1921 (−0.31%) is the only negative decade in this table. Both the exercises and MCQs return to this point more than any other.
3 The four phases of population growth
| Phase | Period | What happened and why |
|---|---|---|
| I | 1901-1921 | Stagnant/stationary, even negative in 1911-21; poor health services, illiteracy, poor food distribution → both birth and death rates high |
| II | 1921-1951 | Steady growth; health/sanitation/transport improvements brought mortality down, birth rate stayed high; despite the Great Depression and WWII |
| III | 1951-1981 | “Population explosion”, average annual growth 2.2%; rapid fall in mortality, high fertility rate; migration from Tibet/Bangladesh/Nepal/Pakistan added to it |
| IV | Post-1981 | Growth rate still high but slowing gradually; falling crude birth rate, linked to a higher marriage age and improved female education |
Projection to 2025: the World Development Report projects India’s population will touch 1,350 million by 2025.
4 Where population is concentrated, and where it isn’t
- Highest population (in order): Uttar Pradesh > Maharashtra > Bihar > West Bengal
- Small population share despite large area: Jammu & Kashmir (1.04%), Uttarakhand (0.84%), Arunachal Pradesh (0.11%, lowest)
- Density extremes (2011): lowest state Arunachal Pradesh (17/sq km), highest state Bihar (1,102/sq km); the NCT of Delhi (11,297/sq km) is higher still but is a Union Territory
- Map work (CBSE 2026-27): on an outline map of India, mark Bihar as the state with the highest and Arunachal Pradesh as the state with the lowest population density (2011)
- High-density states: Bihar (1,102), West Bengal (1,029), Uttar Pradesh (828), Kerala (859), Tamil Nadu (555)
- Low-growth states (<20% per decade): Kerala (9.4%, lowest), Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Puducherry, Goa
- High-growth belt (20-25%): Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand
- Largest fall 2001-2011: Maharashtra (−6.7 percentage points); smallest fall: Andhra Pradesh (−3.5 points); increased: Tamil Nadu (+3.9), Puducherry (+7.1)
5 Language families, in one table (Table 1.2)
| Language family | % | Main speech areas |
|---|---|---|
| Indo-European (Aryan) | 73% | Most north-central states, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa |
| Dravidian | 20% | Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha |
| Austric (Nishada) | 1.38% | Meghalaya, Nicobar Islands, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam |
| Sino-Tibetan (Kirata) | 0.85% | Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland |
Source: Ahmed, A. (1999), Social Geography, Rawat Publication, New Delhi. According to Grierson’s Linguistic Survey of India (1903-1928), India had 179 languages and 544 dialects; about 22 languages are scheduled in modern India.
6 Religious composition, in one table (Table 1.3, 2011)
| Religious community | Population (million) | % |
|---|---|---|
| Hindus | 966.3 | 79.8 |
| Muslims | 172.2 | 14.2 |
| Christians | 27.8 | 2.3 |
| Sikhs | 20.8 | 1.7 |
| Buddhists | 8.4 | 0.7 |
| Jains | 4.5 | 0.4 |
| Other Religions and Persuasions | 7.9 | 0.7 |
| Religion Not Stated | 2.9 | 0.2 |
7 Rural-urban and adolescent population, in numbers
- Rural population 68.8%; urban 31.16% (2011)
- Villages: 640,867, of which 93.2% are inhabited (597,608)
- High rural share: Himachal Pradesh, Bihar · Low rural share: Goa, Mizoram, Union Territories (Dadra and Nagar Haveli, 53.38%, is the exception)
- Village size: under 200 (NE hill states, Western Rajasthan, Rann of Kuchchh) to as high as 17,000 (Kerala, parts of Maharashtra)
- Adolescents (10-19 years) = 20.9% of population (2011): 52.7% male, 47.3% female
- National Youth Policy (NYP-2014, February 2014): youth = 15-29 years · Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (2015)
8 Working population, in one table (Table 1.4, 2011)
| Sector | % of workers |
|---|---|
| Primary (cultivators + agricultural labourers) | 54.6 |
| Secondary (household industries) | 3.8 |
| Tertiary (other workers) | 41.6 |
- Workers (main + marginal) = 39.8%; non-workers ≈ 60%
- Agricultural sector’s share is falling: 58.2% in 2001 → 54.6% in 2011
- More cultivators: Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland · More agricultural labourers: Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh
- More “other services”: Delhi, Chandigarh, Puducherry (highly urbanised)
UNDP’s Human Development Report (1995): “If development is not engendered, it is endangered.” The Government of India’s “Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao” campaign is its answer to that.
- Census: every 10 years · first 1872 · first complete 1881
- Density 2011 = 382/sq km (117 in 1951) · lowest state Arunachal Pradesh (17) · highest state Bihar (1,102); NCT of Delhi (11,297) is a Union Territory
- Annual growth rate 1.64% (2011) · only negative decade: 1911-21 (−0.31%)
- Four phases: 1901-21 stagnant, 1921-51 steady growth, 1951-81 explosion (2.2%), 1981+ slowing
- Kerala has the lowest growth rate (9.4%) · population projected at 1,350 million by 2025
- Rural 68.8%, urban 31.16% · adolescents 20.9% (52.7% + 47.3%)
- Language families: Aryan 73%, Dravidian 20%, Austric 1.38%, Sino-Tibetan 0.85% (179 languages, 544 dialects, 22 scheduled)
- Religion: Hindus 79.8%, Muslims 14.2%, Christians 2.3%, Sikhs 1.7%, Buddhists 0.7%, Jains 0.4%
- Workers 39.8% (main ≥183 days, marginal <183 days) · WPR 29.1%-51.9%
- Sectors: primary 54.6%, secondary 3.8%, tertiary 41.6% (agriculture 2001: 58.2% → 2011: 54.6%)