India is the second
largest populated country in the world. India’s share in the world population
is 17.5%. The population of India, at 121 crore, is almost equal to combined
population of USA, Indonesia, Brazil,
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Japan. In 1991,
population of India was 84.64 crore
and in 2001 it was 102.87 crore. Thus, during 1991 to 2001 we added 18.23 crore people
and during 2001 to 2011 we added another
18.14 crore people. Thus, decade after decade, the size of our population
is growing at explosive rates. But the average annual growth rate has recorded
a decline from 1.97 percent in 2001
to 1.64 percent in 2011. But this
decline is very modest and we are still in the danger zone as far as growth
rate of population is concerned. The addition of 1.8 crore population every
year will end up India being the most populated country in the world. According
to the United Nations, India is set to replace China as the most populated
country by 2022.
The growth rate of
population started rising till 1951 though it was not a cause of concern. But
after 1951, there was an alarming rise in the population. It continued till
1981. Since 1981, though population has been growing in absolute numbers,
growth rate has been declining, offering a slight relief to the policy makers
of the country. The growth of India’s population can be divided into four
periods.
i.
Period of Stable Population (1891-1921). During the period
from 1891 to 1921, growth of Indian population was very slow and it was almost
stable. During this period, only 1.27
crore persons were added to the total population. The size of the
population increased from 23.87 crore in
1891 to 25.14 crore in 1921. The decades of 1891-1901 and 1911-1921
witnessed negative growth of population because of famines. During the decade
of 1901-1911, there was positive growth of population.
ii.
Period of Steady Rise in Population (1921-1951). The year 1921 was
referred as the year of ‘Great Divide.’
From 1921 onwards India’s population started rising steadily. The average
annual growth rate of population during this 30 years period increased to 1.22 percent. In absolute number,
population of India increased by 10.96 crore during this period.
iii. Period of Population Explosion (1951-1981). Population Explosion
is a situation in which size of population tends to become enormous owing to a
widening gulf between birth rate and death rate. During the phase of 1951-1981,
India witnessed population explosion. Growth rate of population reached to 2.2% by 1981. Average annual growth rate
of the population during this period reached to 2.15%.
iv. Period of Declining Growth Rate of
Population (1981 Onwards). From 1981 onwards, India’s population
is growing consistently but growth rate of population has been falling. Average
annual growth rate of population was 1.64
percent in 2011. It was 2.16 in 1991
and 1.97 in 2001. But in its absolute size, population continues to rise.
From 1981 to 2011 53 crore people were added to our population.
The future
of human population growth curve is difficult to predict. It may stabilize and
become sigmoid when birth rate and death rates are balanced; or may decline
rapidly to form J-shaped growth
curve.
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