The Demographic Structure of the Indian Society | Class 12 Sociology Notes

2.2 SIZE AND GROWTH OF INDIA'S POPULATION

India is the world's second most populous country with 1.21 billion people as per the 2011 Census. Historical population growth in India was modest before independence, with an average annual growth rate below 1.33% between 1901 and 1951. Notably, between 1911 and 1921, the population slightly declined (-0.03%) due to the devastating influenza epidemic of 1918-19, which killed approximately 12.5 million people (5% of the population). Post-independence, population growth accelerated, reaching 2.2% annual growth during 1961-1981, though it has since declined to 1.63% in 2011. The birth and death rates diverged after 1921-31, with death rates falling sharply due to better control of famines and epidemics, while birth rates declined more slowly because they are influenced by sociocultural factors. Major epidemic diseases historically included fevers, plague, smallpox, and cholera, with the 1918-19 influenza pandemic being the deadliest. Improvements in medical care, vaccination, sanitation, and famine relief have reduced mortality. Famines, caused by poverty, malnutrition, and environmental vulnerability, were also major mortality causes but have declined due to agricultural productivity improvements, better communication, and state interventions like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Fertility rates vary widely across Indian states: some like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Punjab have fertility rates below replacement level (around 1.7 children per woman), while others like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan have higher fertility rates (above 2.7). Bihar and Uttar Pradesh alone are projected to contribute nearly half of India's population increase by 2041. These regional disparities reflect differences in socioeconomic development, education, and cultural factors. The demographic transition in India is incomplete, with mortality rates falling faster than birth rates, leading to continued population growth.

📊 Diagram: Table on page 9 (13×4); Source: National Commission on Population, Government of India. website: http://populationcommission.nic.in/facts1.htm# National Health Profile 2018, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government; See table_1 and figure_5.

🔗 Connection: This section provides data on population size and growth, leading into the analysis of age structure in the next section.

Table on page 9 (13×4)