Class 9 Geography Notes: Population
Class 9 Geography Notes: Population
Welcome to the final chapter of our Class 9 Geography study series: Chapter 6: Population.
We have spent a lot of time talking about mountains, rivers, and forests. But what about the people who live among them? The people are the ones who make resources useful. In fact, human beings are the most important resource on the planet!
In this chapter, we will look at three major questions regarding India's population: How many people are there? How is the population changing? And what are the characteristics (like age, literacy, and health) of our population? Let’s break it down!
(Note: The data in your NCERT textbook is primarily based on the 2011 Census of India, so these notes reflect those exact figures to ensure you get full marks in your exams.)
1. Population Size and Distribution
India has a massive population, but it is not spread evenly across the country.
A. Population Size
The Big Number: According to the 2011 Census, India's population was 1,210 million (1.21 billion).
Global Share: We account for 17.5% of the world's total population.
Most Populous State: Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state with 199 million people (accounting for about 16% of the country's population).
Least Populous: Sikkim has a population of just about 0.6 million, and the island union territory of Lakshadweep has only 64,429 people.
The Top 5: Almost half of India's population lives in just five states: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh.
B. Population Density
Population density is calculated as the number of persons per unit area (usually per square kilometer). This gives us a better picture of how crowded a place is.
India's Average Density: 382 persons per sq km (in 2011).
Highest Density: Bihar (1,102 persons per sq km).
Lowest Density: Arunachal Pradesh (Only 17 persons per sq km!).
Why is the population unevenly distributed?
Rugged terrain and unfavorable climate (like in Arunachal Pradesh or Rajasthan) lead to sparse populations.
Flat plains, fertile soil, and abundant rainfall (like the Northern Plains and Kerala) lead to very high population densities.
2. Population Growth and Processes of Population Change
Population is never static; it is always changing. This change is driven by three main processes: Births, Deaths, and Migration.
A. Birth Rate and Death Rate
Birth Rate: The number of live births per 1,000 persons in a year. In India, the birth rate has always been higher than the death rate, which is the main reason for our population growth.
Death Rate: The number of deaths per 1,000 persons in a year. The rapid decline in death rates in India (due to better healthcare and food distribution) has been the main cause of the rapid population growth.
B. Migration
Migration is the movement of people across regions and territories.
Internal Migration: Movement within the country (from one state or city to another). This does not change the total population of the country, but it changes the distribution of the population within the nation.
International Migration: Movement between different countries. This changes both the total population and the distribution.
The Trend in India: Most internal migration in India is from rural to urban areas because of the "push" factors in villages (poverty, lack of jobs) and the "pull" factors in cities (better employment and living conditions).
3. Characteristics of the Population
What does our population look like? Let's look at the key qualities of the Indian demographic:
A. Age Composition
The population of a nation is generally grouped into three broad categories:
Children (generally below 15 years): They are economically unproductive and need to be provided with food, clothing, education, and medical care.
Working Age (15 – 59 years): They are economically productive and biologically reproductive. They form the working population.
Aged (Above 59 years): They can be economically productive though they may have retired. They may be working voluntarily but they are not available for employment through recruitment.
B. Sex Ratio
Definition: The number of females per 1,000 males in the population. It is an important social indicator to measure the extent of equality between males and females in a society.
The Data: India's sex ratio has historically been unfavorable to females (943 females per 1000 males in 2011).
State Highlights:
Kerala has a sex ratio of 1084 females per 1000 males (highest), while Haryana has just 877 (lowest).
C. Literacy Rates
A person aged 7 years and above, who can read and write with understanding in any language, is treated as literate.
Overall Literacy (2011): 73%
Male Literacy: 80.9%
Female Literacy: 64.6% (The gap is due to historical and social reasons, though it is steadily improving).
D. Occupational Structure
The distribution of the population according to different types of occupation is referred to as the occupational structure.
Primary Sector: Agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, fishing, mining. (More than half of India's population is engaged here).
Secondary Sector: Manufacturing industry, building, construction work.
Tertiary Sector: Transport, communications, commerce, administration, and other services. (This sector is seeing the fastest growth in India).
4. National Population Policy (NPP) 2000
The Government of India initiated a comprehensive Family Planning Programme in 1952. Evolving from that, the National Population Policy 2000 provides a policy framework for:
Imparting free and compulsory school education up to 14 years of age.
Reducing infant mortality rate to below 30 per 1000 live births.
Achieving universal immunization of children against all vaccine-preventable diseases.
Promoting delayed marriage for girls.
Making family welfare a people-centered program.
Focus on Adolescents: The NPP 2000 identified adolescents (aged 10-19 years) as a major section of the population that needs special attention, specifically regarding nutritional requirements and protection from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Quick Revision Summary 📝
India's population in 2011 was 1.21 billion. Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state.
Population growth is driven by Birth Rates, Death Rates, and Migration.
The working-age population (15-59 years) is the economically productive segment.
Kerala has the highest sex ratio; Bihar has the highest population density.
The National Population Policy 2000 focuses on free education, lowering infant mortality, and adolescent health.
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