Topic 82: Population of India – Growth,

Q: Explain the phase of "high population growth with declining trend" in India (1981–2011). (PYQ 2023 style)

During 1981–2011, India's population growth rate **declined decade by decade** (23.79% → 21.54% → 17.64%) due to rising female literacy, improved contraceptive access, and government family planning. Yet **absolute additions remained massive** (~18 crore per decade) because demographic momentum — the large young cohort entering reproductive age — kept absolute growth high. This paradox: falling rate but large numbers = "high growth with declining trend" — a characteristic of Phase IV of India's demographic transition.

Study Material

Paper Paper II

Unit 3

1. Census 2011 Population and World Rank - India's population: 1,21,08,54,977 (121 crore / 1.21 billion) - World's 2nd most populous at that time, after China - By 2023, India surpassed China → world's most populous country (~144 crore, UN estimates)
2. Decadal Growth Rate 2001–2011 - Growth rate: 17.64% (2001–2011) — declining from 21.54% (1991–2001) - Absolute population added: 181 million in 2001–2011 - This was the largest ever decadal increment (directly tested in PYQ 2023)
3. Population Density 2011 - Overall density: 382 persons per sq km — up from 324 (2001) - Lowest: Arunachal Pradesh (17/sq km) - Highest state: Bihar (1,106/sq km) - Highest UT: Delhi (11,320/sq km)
4. Sex Ratio 2011 - National sex ratio: 943 females per 1,000 males — improved from 933 (2001) - Best: Kerala (1,084 F per 1,000 M); Worst: Haryana (879 F/1,000 M) - Child sex ratio (0–6 years): 919 girls per 1,000 boys — alarming decline from 927 in 2001
5. Literacy Rate 2011 - National rate: 74.04% — male: 82.14%, female: 65.46% - Improved from 64.84% (2001); gender gap: 16.68 percentage points - Kerala highest (94.0%); Bihar lowest (63.82%)
6. Four Phases of Population Growth - Phase I — Stagnant (1901–1921): high birth + high death rate; 1921 = "Year of the Great Divide" - Phase II — Steady increase (1921–1951) - Phase III — Rapid/Explosive growth (1951–1981) - Phase IV — High but declining growth (1981–2011)
7. Most and Least Populous States (2011) - Most populous state: Uttar Pradesh (199.8 million — 16.5% of India's population) - Least populous state: Sikkim (610,577) - Least populous UT: Lakshadweep (64,429); Most populous UT: Delhi (16.8 million)
8. Population Distribution Pattern - Northern Plains and Peninsular Coasts are most densely populated (>300 persons/sq km) - Himalayas, Western Rajasthan, and northeast hilly states are sparsely populated (<50 persons/sq km) - Distribution is highly uneven, driven by physiography, agriculture, and urban employment
9. Total Fertility Rate (TFR) - TFR in 2011: 2.4 children per woman — declined to 2.0 (NFHS-5, 2019–21) - Now below the replacement level of 2.1 - Indicates India is approaching demographic stabilisation
10. Urbanisation (2011) - Urban population: 37.7 crore (31.16% of total) — up from 28.6 crore (2001) - India has 7,935 cities/towns; Mumbai UA (~18.4 million) is the largest city - Urban population share expected to reach 50% by 2050
11. Dependency Ratio and Demographic Dividend - ~52% in working age group (15–64 years); 31% below 15; 5% above 65 (2011) - Creates a demographic dividend opportunity - Must be harnessed through education and employment
12. Census 2021 Status - Census 2021 was delayed due to COVID-19; not yet completed as of 2026 exam context - All official India population data refers to Census 2011 figures - NFHS-5 (2019–21) provides some updated indicators

Key facts

Census 2011 Population and World Rank — India's population: 1,21,08,54,977 (121 crore / 1.21 billion)
Decadal Growth Rate 2001–2011 — Growth rate: 17.64% (2001–2011) — declining from 21.54% (1991–2001)
Population Density 2011 — Overall density: 382 persons per sq km — up from 324 (2001) — Lowest: Arunachal Pradesh (17/sq km)
Sex Ratio 2011 — National sex ratio: 943 females per 1,000 males — improved from 933 (2001)
Literacy Rate 2011 — National rate: 74.04% — male: 82.14%, female: 65.46% — Improved from 64.84% (2001); gender gap: 16.68 percentage points

Key Points at a Glance

1
Census 2011 Population and World Rank
- India's population: 1,21,08,54,977 (121 crore / 1.21 billion)
- World's 2nd most populous at that time, after China
- By 2023, India surpassed China → world's most populous country (~144 crore, UN estimates)
2
Decadal Growth Rate 2001–2011
- Growth rate: 17.64% (2001–2011) — declining from 21.54% (1991–2001)
- Absolute population added: 181 million in 2001–2011
- This was the largest ever decadal increment (directly tested in PYQ 2023)
3
Population Density 2011
- Overall density: 382 persons per sq km — up from 324 (2001)
- Lowest: Arunachal Pradesh (17/sq km)
- Highest state: Bihar (1,106/sq km)
- Highest UT: Delhi (11,320/sq km)
4
Sex Ratio 2011
- National sex ratio: 943 females per 1,000 males — improved from 933 (2001)
- Best: Kerala (1,084 F per 1,000 M); Worst: Haryana (879 F/1,000 M)
- Child sex ratio (0–6 years): 919 girls per 1,000 boys — alarming decline from 927 in 2001
5
Literacy Rate 2011
- National rate: 74.04% — male: 82.14%, female: 65.46%
- Improved from 64.84% (2001); gender gap: 16.68 percentage points
- Kerala highest (94.0%); Bihar lowest (63.82%)
6
Four Phases of Population Growth
- Phase I — Stagnant (1901–1921): high birth + high death rate; 1921 = "Year of the Great Divide"
- Phase II — Steady increase (1921–1951)
- Phase III — Rapid/Explosive growth (1951–1981)
- Phase IV — High but declining growth (1981–2011)
7
Most and Least Populous States (2011)
- Most populous state: Uttar Pradesh (199.8 million — 16.5% of India's population)
- Least populous state: Sikkim (610,577)
- Least populous UT: Lakshadweep (64,429); Most populous UT: Delhi (16.8 million)
8
Population Distribution Pattern
- Northern Plains and Peninsular Coasts are most densely populated (>300 persons/sq km)
- Himalayas, Western Rajasthan, and northeast hilly states are sparsely populated (<50 persons/sq km)
- Distribution is highly uneven, driven by physiography, agriculture, and urban employment
9
Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
- TFR in 2011: 2.4 children per woman — declined to 2.0 (NFHS-5, 2019–21)
- Now below the replacement level of 2.1
- Indicates India is approaching demographic stabilisation
10
Urbanisation (2011)
- Urban population: 37.7 crore (31.16% of total) — up from 28.6 crore (2001)
- India has 7,935 cities/towns; Mumbai UA (~18.4 million) is the largest city
- Urban population share expected to reach 50% by 2050
11
Dependency Ratio and Demographic Dividend
- ~52% in working age group (15–64 years); 31% below 15; 5% above 65 (2011)
- Creates a demographic dividend opportunity
- Must be harnessed through education and employment
12
Census 2021 Status
- Census 2021 was delayed due to COVID-19; not yet completed as of 2026 exam context
- All official India population data refers to Census 2011 figures
- NFHS-5 (2019–21) provides some updated indicators

What makes India's population scale significant for development and RPSC exams?

India's population scale matters because a very large population concentrated on a small share of the world's land creates both severe development pressures and a rare demographic-dividend opportunity.

Scale of India's Population

India is home to one of humanity's greatest demographic stories. Covering only 2.4% of the world's land area, India sustains 17.5% of the world's population, a density paradox that defines its development challenges and opportunities alike.

At Census 2011, India's population stood at 121.09 crore (1.21 billion), growing from 102.87 crore in 2001. By April 2023, according to UN projections, India surpassed China to become the world's most populous nation (~144 crore), though this awaits confirmation from Census 2021, which is still pending as of the 2026 exam context. The United Nations Population Fund's India Population 2025 dashboard puts India's total population at 1,463,900,000, underlining why India now anchors most global population discussions.

Why This Matters

India's population size creates both enormous pressures (on land, water, food, employment, urbanisation) and extraordinary opportunities (the demographic dividend, a young workforce that, if educated and employed, can drive rapid economic growth).

Relevance for RPSC

PYQ 2023 directly asked about the 1981-2011 "high growth with declining trend" phase
Census data (sex ratio, literacy, density, growth rate) is tested in both 2-mark and 5-mark questions
The interaction of population with physiography and resources is a recurring theme (T089 covers Rajasthan specifically)
Policy questions on the National Population Policy, demographic dividend, and urbanisation are increasingly common

Sign up free to claim an intro topic

The first gated topic you open stays yours; the rest needs a Study Pack or Complete Course.

PREDICTED Predicted RAS Questions

Based on PYQ trends and 2026 syllabus analysis

1 5M Explain the phase of "high population growth with declining trend" in India (1981–2011). (PYQ 2023 style) 5 marks · 50 words

Model Answer

During 1981–2011, India's population growth rate declined decade by decade (23.79% → 21.54% → 17.64%) due to rising female literacy, improved contraceptive access, and government family planning. Yet absolute additions remained massive (~18 crore per decade) because demographic momentum — the large young cohort entering reproductive age — kept absolute growth high. This paradox: falling rate but large numbers = "high growth with declining trend" — a characteristic of Phase IV of India's demographic transition.

~50 words • 5 marks