Geography
Human and Population Geography
GS Paper I
Human and Population Geography — Quick Revision
One-page UPSC revision of India's population geography: Census 2011 figures, growth phases, NFHS-5, migration, rural settlement types and urban definitions.
SyllabusGS I · Social geography of India — population and associated issues, distribution, migration and settlements; urbanisation
A last-week revision sheet for population and settlements. Always quote the source and year with a number.
Census 2011 at a Glance
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population | 121.09 crore |
| Decadal growth 2001–11 | About 17.7% |
| Density | 382 per sq km (Bihar 1,106 highest; Arunachal Pradesh 17 lowest) |
| Sex ratio | 943 (Kerala 1,084 highest; Haryana 879 lowest among States) |
| Child sex ratio (0–6) | 919 |
| Literacy (7+) | 74.04% (provisional, as in NCERT); Kerala highest, Bihar lowest |
| SC / ST | 16.6% / 8.6% |
| Urban share | About 31% |
| Towns | 7,935 (4,041 statutory + 3,894 census) |
| Million-plus UAs/cities | 53 |
| Most / least populous State | Uttar Pradesh / Sikkim |
Growth Phases
| Phase | Period | Character |
|---|---|---|
| I | 1901–21 | Stagnant; 1911–21 saw a decline |
| II | 1921–51 | Steady; 1921 = year of the great divide |
| III | 1951–81 | Population explosion |
| IV | 1981 onwards | High but slowing growth |
Other Sources
| Source | Key figure |
|---|---|
| NFHS-5 (2019–21) | TFR 2.0 (replacement 2.1); 1,020 women per 1,000 men (survey) |
| UN DESA (April 2023) | India overtakes China as most populous |
| Next Census | Reference date 1 March 2027 (1 October 2026 in snow-bound areas); includes caste |
Settlements
| Rural type | Where (NCERT) |
|---|---|
| Clustered | Northern plains; north-east; Bundelkhand, Rajasthan |
| Semi-clustered | Gujarat plains, parts of Rajasthan |
| Hamleted (panna, para, palli, nagla, dhani) | Middle and lower Ganga plain, Chhattisgarh, lower Himalayan valleys |
| Dispersed | Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala |
| Urban term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Statutory town | Has a municipality, corporation, cantonment board or notified town area committee |
| Census town | 5,000+ people; 75%+ male main workers non-agricultural; 400+ per sq km |
| Urban agglomeration | Town plus outgrowths, or contiguous towns |
High-yield facts
- Child sex ratio (919) is lower than the overall sex ratio (943).
- Rural-to-rural is the largest migration stream; women migrate mainly on marriage, men for work.
- Functional towns: Mhow (garrison), Kandla (port), Roorkee (education), Digboi (mining), Chandigarh (administration).
Common Traps
Watch for these
- NFHS sex ratio (1,020) is a survey figure; the Census 2011 figure is 943.
- UP is most populous; Bihar is densest.
- Census towns have no municipal body.
Related Topics
- Population Distribution and Settlements
- Human and Population Geography — practice questions
- Population and Associated Issues
- All quick revision sheets
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