‘World Population Day’ is an annual event observed on 11th July every year since 1989 and seeks to raise awareness of issues relating to population.
Population Trends – India
In terms of population India is the second largest in the world, next to China. As per Census 2011, India has a population of 1,211 million and this number is almost equal to the combined population of USA, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Japan. India accounts for 2.4 percent of the world’s surface area and sustains 17.5 percent of the world population. In India, population has increased from 238 million in 1901 to 1,211 million in 2011. During this period of 110 years the population of India has multiplied five times. The first – half of the 20th century saw an increase by one and a half times from 238 million in 1901 to 361 million in 1951. The later period has recorded a phenomenal increase (more than three-fold) in population from 361 million in 1951 to 1,211 million in 2011.
The absolute increase in India’s population was relatively small in the first half of the 20th century as both the birth rate and mortality rate were very high. During 1941-51, India had a birth rate of 39.9 and death rate of 27.4 per 1,000 persons. In the post independence period there has been a sharp decline in mortality while birth rate has been falling gradually. During 1951-2001, population in India saw an increase of 667 million which was nearly three times the increase recorded during the preceding 50 years. The birth rate declined from 41.7 per 1000 during 1951-61 to 25.8 per 1000 in 2000; the corresponding decline in mortality rate was 22.8 to 8.5 per 1000. During 2001-2011, the population of India increased from 1029 million to 1,211 million exhibiting an increment of 182 million at a growth rate of 17.7 percent. During this decade the birth rate in India has declined from 25.4 in 2001 to 22.1 per 1000 in 2010 and the corresponding decline in mortality rate is from 8.4 to 7.2. At this rate of population increase, India is likely to be the most populous country by 2028.
Population Trends – Punjab
The pace of population increase in Punjab is comparatively slower in Punjab. During the period of 110 years from 1901-2011, population of Punjab has recorded about four-fold increase from 75 lacs in 1901 to 277 lacs in 2011. Population in Punjab grew by 16 lacs during 1901-51 and by 152 lacs during 1951-2001. The decade 2001-11 has added another 34 lacs at a decadal growth rate of 13.9 per cent which is the lowest ever since 1961 after independence. In 1901, Punjab had a population of 75 lacs and comprised 3.2 per cent of country’s total population. In these 110 years, the population of Punjab has increased to 277 lacs and its share in total population of India is 2.3 per cent. During 2001-10, birth rate in Punjab has declined from 21.2 per 1000 in 2001 to 16.6 per 1000 in 2010 by 4.6 points; the decline in birth rate at national level during this period is of 3.3 points, from 25.4 to 22.1 per 1000. The mortality rate in 2010 in India (7.2 per 1000) and Punjab (7 per 1000) is nearly the same.
Release of Primary Census Abstract (PCA) 2011 – Punjab
Today, on World Population Day - 2013, Smt. Seema Jain, IAS, Joint-Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India and Director Census, Punjab released the publication ‘Primary Census Abstract (PCA) - Data Highlights’ of Punjab giving final data of Census 2011.PCA gives data on Population by sex, Child population in age group 0-6 years, Scheduled Caste population, Literates and illiterates, Workers and Non-workers and Industrial category of workers into four broad categories viz; Cultivators, Agricultural labourers, Household Industry Workers and Other Workers at the level of village and ward is now available for use by the user agencies. Shesaid that the use of technology in data processing has helped in placing the data in public domain on full count basis in record time. As a result of innovative use of technology and processes for data processing, the time taken for release of final census data has been considerably reduced.
HIGHLIGHTS – PUNJAB
Distribution and Growth
Highlighting some of the salient features of the data, Smt. Seema Jain said Punjab ranks 15th in terms of population and accounts for 2.3 percent of total population of India. Ludhiana with a population of 34.99 lacs is the most populous district and 12.6 per cent of the state’s total population is residing in this district. Barnala, with a population of 5.96 lacs, is the least populous district in the state. Distribution pattern in terms of regions shows that 59.93 percent of the population is concentrated in Malwa, 21.30 percent in Majha and 18.77 percent in Doaba. During 2001-2011, the decadal population growth rate of 13.9 per cent is lower than that of the 20.1 per cent recorded during 1991-2001. The growth rate is the highest in SAS Nagar district at 33.2 per cent and the lowest in SBS Nagar district at 4.2 per cent.
Urbanisation
Punjab is experiencing rapid urbanization. The increase in urban population at 25.9 per cent is more than thrice the increase of rural population by 7.8 per cent. Punjab is relatively more urbanised having 37.5 per cent of its population as urban. Urban component of population in the state has increased from 33.9 percent in 2001 to 37.5 percent in 2011. All the districts in Punjab have recorded an increase in percentage of urban population and the increase is most significant in SAS Nagar by 16.5 percentage points, from 38.3 percent in 2001 to 54.8 percent in 2011. In the State, Ludhiana is the most urbanised district with 59.2 percent of its population residing in urban areas. SAS Nagar, Amritsar, Jalandhar districts are also predominantly urban having more than one-half of their population as urban.
Urban population in Punjab is distributed over 217 towns/Urban agglomerations (UAs). Out of total towns, 143 have statutory status and 74 are census towns. In Census, towns are classified as Class I (100,000 and above), Class II (50,000-99,999), Class III (20,000-49,999), Class IV (10,000-19,999), Class V (5,000-9,999) and Class VI (Below 5,000). There are 16 Class I cities/UAs are in Punjab and together they account for 57.2 percent of the total urban population in the state. Ludhiana M.Corp. and Amritsar UA are two million + cities in the State and contain 26.7 percent of the total urban population.
Sex Ratio
Punjab has a sex ratio of 895 compared to 876 in 2001 which is a gain by 19 points. All the districts have registered an increase in sex ratio, except Bathinda which recorded a marginal decline of two points from 870 to 868. Child sex ratio in Punjab shows an increase from 798 to 846 (48 points) during 2001-2011. It, however, is the second lowest among states/UTs. The proportion of child population to total population is now 11.1% whereas it was 13.0% in 2001.
Scheduled Caste Population
In Punjab, the percentage of scheduled castes population in total population is 31.9 per cent and this percentage is the highest among States/UTs in the country. Punjab accounts for 4.4 per cent of the total scheduled caste population in India. During this decade, two more castes namely, Mochi and Mahatam, Rai Sikh castes have been notified as scheduled castes in Punjab.
Literacy
The literacy rate in Punjab is 75.8% in 2011 which is an increase from 69.7% in 2001. Male literacy rate is 80.4 per cent and female literacy rate is 70.7 per cent. During the last decade, female literacy rate has increased by 7.3 percentage points (Rural, 8.0 percentage points and Urban, 4.7 percentage points) and male-female literacy gap has reduced from 11.8 points in 2001 to 9.7 points in 2011.
Workers
Work Participation Rate (WPR) of 35.7 per cent in 2011 in Punjab is lower than 37.5 per cent in 2001. Male WPR has increased from 53.6 percent in 2001 to 55.2 percent in 2011 and female WPR has decreased from 19.1percent to 13.9 per cent. In Census 2011, out of total workers, the share of ‘Other’ workers is the largest at 59.9 lacs i.e. 60.5% of total workers. 19.3 lacs are cultivators, 15.9 lacs are agricultural labourers and 3.9 lacs are household industry workers. There has been a decline in percentage of workers engaged in agricultural sector from 38.9% in 2001 to 35.5% in 2011. Amongst the total workers in Punjab the largest proportion of workers is engaged in ‘Other’ work i.e. 60.5% and this percentage is the second highest among major states in the country, next only to Kerala which is 80.5%.