SIZE, DISTRIBUTION BY NUMBERS AND BY DENSITY

SIZE, DISTRIBUTION BY NUMBERS AND BY DENSITY

India’s Population Size and Distribution by Numbers

India’s population as on March 2011 stood at 1,210.6 million, which account for 17.5 percent of the world’s population. These 1.21 billion people are unevenly distributed over our country’s vast area of 3.28 million square km, which accounts for 2.4 percent of the world’s area (Figure 6.1).

Figure 6.1: India’s Share of World’s Area and Population

The 2011 Census data reveal that Uttar Pradesh with a population size of 199 million is the most populous state of India. Uttar Pradesh accounts for about 16 percent of the country’s population. On the other hand, the Himalayan state of Sikkim has a population of just about 0.6 million and Lakshadweep has only 64,429 people.

Almost half of India’s population lives in just five states. These are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. Rajasthan, the biggest state in terms of area, has only 5.5 percent of the total population of India (Figure 6.2).

Figure 6.2:  Distribution of Population

India’s Population Distribution by Density

Population density provides a better picture of the uneven distribution. Population density is calculated as the number of persons per unit area. India is one of the most densely populated countries of the world.

The population density of India in the year 2011 was 382 persons per sq km. Densities vary from 1,102 persons per sq km in Bihar to only 17 persons per sq km in Arunachal Pradesh. A study of Figure 6.3 shows the pattern of uneven distribution of population densities at the State level.

Figure 6.3:   Note: Telangana became the 29th State of India in June 2014.

* State of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two union territories namely Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on 05.08.19.

Note the States with population densities below 250 persons per square km. Rugged terrain and unfavourable climatic conditions are primarily responsible for the sparse population in these areas. Which states have a density below 250 persons per square km?

Assam and most of the Peninsular states have moderate population densities. Hilly, dissected and rocky nature of the terrain, moderate to low rainfall, shallow and less fertile soils have influenced population densities in these areas.

The Northern plains and Kerala in the south have high to very high population densities because of the flat plains with fertile soils and abundant rainfall. Identify the three states of the Northern Plains with high population densities.

More to know 

Only Bangladesh and Japan have higher average population densities than India.

Let's find out 

1.  Find out the population densities of Bangladesh and Japan.

2.  What could be the reason of the uneven distribution of the population in India?

Source: This topic is taken from NCERT TEXTBOOK