Geography
Population and Settlement
Census 2011 Highlights: Size, Growth and Distribution
India in Census 2011: 121 crore people, growth 17.7%, density 382, four phases of growth since 1901, extreme states and districts, and Census 2027 status.
Prerequisites
- India: Location and Physiography: the plains, plateaus and mountains that pull people in or keep them out
- Climate: rainfall decides where intensive farming, and hence dense population, is possible
- Census 2011 at a Glance (Chhattisgarh): the same census seen from the state; it also explains how the census is run
The Hook: One Count, Every Ten Years
Connect
In May 2026, enumerators went from house to house across Chhattisgarh with a mobile app for the houselisting phase of Census 2027. At the last full count, in February 2011, enumerators found 121 crore Indians. India had added about 18.2 crore people in ten years, close to the entire population of Brazil at the time.
Yet the same census also said India’s growth was slowing faster than at any time since Independence. How big is India, how fast is it growing, and why do some regions hold ten times as many people per square kilometre as others?
Why it matters: Prelims asks the headline numbers and the “highest/lowest state” facts directly. Mains GS-III (Paper V) asks you to explain the distribution and growth of population and to evaluate population policy.
The Census in Brief
The census (जनगणना) is conducted under the Census Act, 1948 by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, under the Ministry of Home Affairs. “Census” is in the Union List. India’s first census was taken in 1872 (not synchronous); the first synchronous census was in 1881, and a census has been taken every ten years since. For the full machinery, see Census 2011 at a Glance.
| Feature | Census 2011 |
|---|---|
| Number | 15th census of India; 7th since Independence |
| Census Commissioner | C. Chandramouli |
| Phase I | Houselisting and Housing Census, April–September 2010 (the National Population Register was also prepared with it) |
| Phase II | Population enumeration, 9–28 February 2011 |
| Reference date | 00:00 hours, 1 March 2011 (earlier date for snow-bound areas) |
| Units counted | 28 states, 7 UTs, 640 districts, 7,935 towns, 6,40,867 villages |
| Results | Provisional totals in 2011; final figures (Primary Census Abstract) in 2013; migration, religion and language tables released later |
Census 2027: status as of October 2026
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number | 16th census (8th since Independence). The 2021 round was postponed, so there is no Census 2021 |
| Phase I | Houselisting and Housing Census, April–September 2026, each state choosing a 30-day window (Chhattisgarh: self-enumeration 16–30 April, houselisting 1–30 May 2026) |
| Phase II | Population enumeration in February 2027; reference date 1 March 2027. Ladakh and snow-bound areas of J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand were enumerated in September 2026 with a reference date of 1 October 2026 |
| Firsts | First digital census (mobile app), first with online self-enumeration, and the first general caste enumeration since 1931 (SCs and STs were always counted) |
Headline Numbers: India in Census 2011
| Indicator | Census 2011 (final) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,21,08,54,977 | Males 62,32,70,258; females 58,75,84,719 |
| Share of the world | About 17.5% of people on 2.4% of land | Second only to China in 2011; UN estimates show India overtook China in 2023 |
| Added 2001–2011 | About 18.2 crore | The first decade since 1911–21 to add fewer people than the decade before |
| Decadal growth | 17.7% (2001–2011) | Down from 21.5% (1991–2001): the sharpest fall since Independence |
| Average annual exponential growth | About 1.64% | Down from about 1.97% in 1991–2001 |
| Density | 382 per sq km | 325 in 2001 |
| Rural / urban | 68.86% / 31.14% | 83.37 crore rural, 37.71 crore urban |
Most and least populous states (Census 2011)
| Rank | State | Population | Share of India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uttar Pradesh | 19.98 crore | 16.5% |
| 2 | Maharashtra | 11.24 crore | 9.3% |
| 3 | Bihar | 10.41 crore | 8.6% |
| 4 | West Bengal | 9.13 crore | 7.5% |
| 5 | Andhra Pradesh (undivided) | 8.46 crore | 7.0% |
| Least (state) | Sikkim | 6.1 lakh | 0.05% |
| Least (UT) | Lakshadweep | about 64,000 | — |
Chhattisgarh was 16th among states with 2.55 crore (2.11%).
Old boundaries
Census 2011 used the map of 2011: undivided Andhra Pradesh (Telangana was formed in 2014), Jammu and Kashmir as a state (reorganised in 2019) and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu as two UTs (merged in 2020). India now has 28 states and 8 UTs (as of 2026). Exam questions on 2011 figures use the 2011 units.
Four Phases of Population Growth since 1901
India’s population was about 23.8 crore in 1901 and 36.1 crore in 1951; it then more than tripled to 121 crore by 2011.
| Phase | Period | What happened | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| I. Stagnant | 1901–1921 | Very slow growth; 1911–21 was negative (about −0.3%) | High birth and high death rates; famines, epidemics (the 1918 influenza), poor health care |
| II. Steady growth | 1921–1951 | Steady growth (about 1% a year) | Death rate fell with better sanitation, health care and transport (famine relief); birth rate stayed high |
| III. Population explosion | 1951–1981 | Fastest growth; peak decadal growth 24.8% in 1961–71 | Death rate fell sharply after Independence (public health, development) while birth rate stayed high |
| IV. High but slowing | 1981–2011 | Growth still high but declining: 23.9% → 21.5% → 17.7% | Falling fertility: female literacy, age at marriage, family planning, urbanisation |
1921: the year of the Great Divide
1921 is called the “year of the Great Divide” (महाविभाजक वर्ष) in Indian demography. Before it, population barely grew and even fell; after it, population has risen in every single census. That is why the 1911–21 decade is the only one with negative growth.
timeline
title India's population growth phases
1901-1921 : Stagnant : 1911-21 negative growth
1921-1951 : Steady growth : death rate falls
1951-1981 : Population explosion : peak 24.8% in 1961-71
1981-2011 : High but slowing : 17.7% in 2001-11The demographic transition. These phases follow the classic demographic transition model: high birth and death rates (stage 1), falling death rates with high birth rates (stage 2, explosive growth), then falling birth rates (stage 3). India as a whole is now late in stage 3: NFHS-5 (2019–21) put India’s total fertility rate (TFR) at 2.0, just below the replacement level of 2.1. States differ widely: the southern states reached low fertility decades ago, while Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Meghalaya still have TFRs above replacement.
Distribution and Density
Density (जनसंख्या घनत्व) = population ÷ area. India’s density rose from 325 (2001) to 382 (2011) per sq km.
Extremes (Census 2011)
| Measure | Highest | Lowest |
|---|---|---|
| Density, states | Bihar (1,106), then West Bengal (1,028) and Kerala (860) | Arunachal Pradesh (17) |
| Density, UTs | NCT of Delhi (about 11,300) | Andaman and Nicobar Islands (46) |
| Density, districts | North East Delhi (37,346) | Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh (1) |
| Population, districts | Thane, Maharashtra (about 1.1 crore) | Dibang Valley (about 8,000) |
| Decadal growth, states | Meghalaya (27.9%) | Nagaland (−0.58%), the only state with negative growth; Kerala (4.9%) lowest positive |
| Decadal growth, UTs | Dadra and Nagar Haveli (about 56%) | — |
Why population is unevenly distributed
| Factor | Dense where… | Sparse where… |
|---|---|---|
| Relief | Flat, fertile plains: the Ganga plain, coastal plains, deltas | Himalayas, Thar desert, rugged plateaus (Bastar, Chotanagpur’s forests) |
| Climate and water | Adequate rainfall or irrigation (Punjab, Haryana, deltas) | Very dry (western Rajasthan) or very cold (Ladakh) |
| Soil | Alluvial soils supporting intensive rice and wheat farming | Thin, infertile soils |
| Economic activity | Industrial and urban regions (Mumbai–Pune, Delhi NCR, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru), mining belts | Areas with only subsistence farming or forest |
| History and social factors | Long-settled river valleys, pilgrimage and trade centres | Areas long isolated, with poor transport |
Density zones of India (Census 2011, in words):
- Very high (above 1,000): Bihar, West Bengal; Delhi, Chandigarh and other urban UTs.
- High (about 500–1,000): Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Assam.
- Moderate (about 250–500): the peninsular states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura.
- Low (below 250): Chhattisgarh (189), Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, the north-eastern hill states; lowest Arunachal (17).
Physiological and agricultural density
Arithmetic density hides how many people depend on each hectare of farmland. Geographers also use:
- Physiological density = total population ÷ net cultivated area
- Agricultural density = agricultural (rural farming) population ÷ net cultivated area
High agricultural density, as in Bihar and the Ganga plain, signals pressure on land and disguised unemployment, a useful Mains point.
Population Policy
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1952 | India launched a National Family Planning Programme, often described as the world’s first |
| 1976 | First National Population Policy statement (during the Emergency); the 42nd Amendment froze seat allocation on the 1971 census |
| 2000 | National Population Policy 2000: immediate goal, meet unmet need for contraception and health infrastructure; medium-term, bring TFR to 2.1 by 2010; long-term, a stable population by 2045 |
| 2000 | National Commission on Population, chaired by the Prime Minister |
| 2019–21 | NFHS-5: national TFR 2.0, below replacement |
The freeze on seat allocation by state, extended by the 84th Amendment (2001) until the first census after 2026, is why Census 2027 also matters for delimitation of Lok Sabha seats.
Analysis for Mains
- Slowing but still large: growth fell to 17.7%, but a large young base (population momentum) means the absolute numbers keep rising for some decades.
- Regional divergence: the south and west have low fertility and ageing populations, the Hindi heartland still grows fast. This shapes migration (north to south and west), federal finance and the delimitation debate.
- Demographic dividend: a bulge in working ages is an opportunity only if matched by jobs, skills and health. Otherwise it becomes a liability.
- Pressure on land and resources: high densities in the Ganga plain mean small holdings, water stress and flood exposure.
- Chhattisgarh contrast: the state grew faster than India (22.61% vs 17.7%) but has half its density (189 vs 382): land-rich, still early in its demographic transition.
Memory Tricks
'121 crore, 17.7, 382'
Read India’s 2011 profile as a phone number: 121 – 17.7 – 382. Population 121 crore, growth 17.7%, density 382.
Four phases: 'Sleepy, Steady, Sprint, Slowdown'
Stagnant (1901–21) → Steady (1921–51) → Sprint or explosion (1951–81) → Slowdown (1981–2011). The line between Sleepy and Steady is 1921, the Great Divide.
Extremes in one breath
“Bihar is Busiest, Arunachal is Alone”: Bihar densest (1,106), Arunachal sparsest (17). Meghalaya Multiplies fastest (27.9%), Nagaland went Negative.
Don’t Confuse
| This | vs | That |
|---|---|---|
| Census 2011 = 15th census, 7th after Independence | vs | Census 2027 = 16th, 8th after Independence |
| First census 1872 (non-synchronous) | vs | First synchronous census 1881 |
| Growth 17.7% (2001–11) | vs | Growth 21.5% (1991–2001) |
| Density 382 (2011) | vs | Density 325 (2001) |
| Bihar highest density among states | vs | Delhi highest among UTs; North East Delhi highest district |
| Nagaland negative growth 2001–11 | vs | 1911–21 negative growth for all India |
| Peak decadal growth 1961–71 (24.8%) | vs | 1971–81 (24.66%), almost equal but slightly lower |
Common Mistakes
Trap 1: Census 2021
There is no Census 2021. The round was postponed and is being held as Census 2027. Any statement citing “Census 2021 data” is wrong.
Trap 2: 1921 is not the year of fastest growth
1921 is the Great Divide because growth was negative in the decade before it and positive ever since. The fastest decadal growth was in 1961–71.
Trap 3: Kerala's density
Kerala has a high density (860) but the lowest decadal growth among large states (4.9%). Do not assume high density means high growth; Bihar has both, Kerala does not.
Trap 4: provisional figures
Many books still print provisional 2011 figures (literacy 74.04%, sex ratio 940, child sex ratio 914). The final figures are 72.98%, 943 and 918. If both appear in options, prefer the final one.
Practice
All questions below are original practice questions in CGPSC style. They are not previous-year questions.
Level 1: Foundation
- Census 2011 was India’s ________ census and the ________ after Independence.
- The year ________ is known as the “year of the Great Divide” in India’s population history.
- Among states, the highest population density in Census 2011 was in ________ and the lowest in ________.
Answers
- 15th; 7th
- 1921
- Bihar (1,106); Arunachal Pradesh (17)
Level 2: Prelims MCQs
Q1. Consider the following statements about India’s population as per Census 2011:
- The decadal growth rate during 2001–2011 was lower than that during 1991–2001.
- The absolute number of people added during 2001–2011 was larger than that added during 1991–2001.
- Nagaland recorded a negative decadal growth rate during 2001–2011.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 3 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer and explanation
(b) 1 and 3 only. Growth fell from 21.5% to 17.7% (statement 1 correct). India added about 18.2 crore people in 2001–11, slightly fewer than in 1991–2001, the first such decline since 1911–21, so statement 2 is wrong. Nagaland was the only state with negative growth (about −0.58%).
Q2. Match List I (Phase of population growth) with List II (Period):
| List I | List II |
|---|---|
| A. Stagnant population | 1. 1951–1981 |
| B. Steady growth | 2. 1981–2011 |
| C. Population explosion | 3. 1901–1921 |
| D. High growth with definite slowing | 4. 1921–1951 |
- (a) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
- (b) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2
- (c) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
- (d) A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
Answer and explanation
(a) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2. 1901–21 was stagnant (with negative growth in 1911–21); 1921–51 steady; 1951–81 the explosion, with the peak decadal growth of 24.8% in 1961–71; 1981–2011 still high but declining.
Q3. Which one of the following districts had the highest population density in India according to Census 2011?
- (a) Kolkata
- (b) Chennai
- (c) North East Delhi
- (d) Mumbai Suburban
Answer and explanation
(c) North East Delhi, with about 37,346 persons per sq km. Kolkata and Chennai are very dense too, which is why they are tempting distractors. The least dense district was Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh (about 1 per sq km).
Q4. The National Population Policy, 2000 set which long-term objective?
- (a) Replacement-level TFR by 2045
- (b) A stable population by 2045
- (c) Zero population growth by 2010
- (d) A stable population by 2030
Answer and explanation
(b) A stable population by 2045. NPP 2000 had three tiers: immediate (meet unmet need for contraception), medium-term (TFR 2.1 by 2010) and long-term (stable population by 2045). Option (a) mixes the medium-term target with the long-term year.
Q5. Arrange the following states in decreasing order of population as per Census 2011:
- Bihar
- Maharashtra
- West Bengal
- Uttar Pradesh
- (a) 4, 1, 2, 3
- (b) 4, 2, 1, 3
- (c) 4, 2, 3, 1
- (d) 2, 4, 1, 3
Answer and explanation
(b) 4, 2, 1, 3. Uttar Pradesh (19.98 crore) > Maharashtra (11.24 crore) > Bihar (10.41 crore) > West Bengal (9.13 crore).
Level 3: Mains Answer Writing
Q1. (60 words) Why is 1921 called the “year of the Great Divide” in India’s demographic history?
Model answer outline
- Definition: before 1921 population was stagnant; the 1911–21 decade even recorded negative growth (about −0.3%) due to famines and the 1918 influenza pandemic.
- After 1921: population has grown in every census as death rates fell with better sanitation, health care and famine relief.
- Conclusion: 1921 thus divides a stagnant past from continuous growth.
Q2. (150–200 words) Explain the factors responsible for the uneven distribution of population in India. Illustrate with examples, including Chhattisgarh.
Model answer outline
- Intro: India’s average density was 382 per sq km in 2011, but it ranged from 1,106 in Bihar to 17 in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Physical factors: relief (Ganga plain vs Himalayas), climate and water (deltas and irrigated Punjab vs Thar and Ladakh), soils (alluvium vs thin plateau soils).
- Economic factors: industrial and urban regions (Mumbai–Pune, NCR, Kolkata), mining belts, irrigation.
- Social and historical factors: long-settled river valleys, pilgrimage centres, transport access.
- Chhattisgarh angle: density 189; dense Mahanadi plains (Raipur–Durg–Bilaspur, Janjgir-Champa) vs sparse forested Bastar plateau and northern hills (Narayanpur, Bijapur).
- Conclusion: physical factors set the base, but economic development now drives concentration, which policy should spread through balanced regional growth.
Quick Revision Table
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Census 2011 | 15th census, 7th after Independence; Commissioner C. Chandramouli |
| Reference date | 00:00 hrs, 1 March 2011 |
| Population | 1,21,08,54,977; 17.5% of the world on 2.4% of land |
| Growth 2001–11 | 17.7% (21.5% in 1991–2001); about 18.2 crore added |
| Density | 382 (325 in 2001) |
| Most / least populous state | Uttar Pradesh (16.5%) / Sikkim |
| Densest / sparsest state | Bihar 1,106 / Arunachal Pradesh 17 |
| Densest / sparsest district | North East Delhi 37,346 / Dibang Valley 1 |
| Highest / lowest growth state | Meghalaya 27.9% / Nagaland −0.58% |
| Great Divide | 1921 |
| Peak decadal growth | 24.8% in 1961–71 |
| NPP 2000 | TFR 2.1 by 2010; stable population by 2045 |
| NFHS-5 TFR | 2.0 (2019–21) |
| Census 2027 | 16th; reference date 1 March 2027; first digital census; caste enumeration |
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- Census 2011 counted 121 crore people: growth 17.7%, density 382, both easy to confuse with Chhattisgarh’s 22.61% and 189.
- Growth passed through four phases; 1921 is the Great Divide and 1961–71 the peak.
- Bihar is the densest state, Arunachal the sparsest; Uttar Pradesh is the most populous.
- Distribution follows relief, water and soil first, and economic opportunity increasingly.
- Census 2027 is under way (reference date 1 March 2027); until its results are out, Census 2011 is the exam’s source.
What’s Next
- Population Composition: sex ratio, literacy, religion, language, workers
- Migration: how people move between regions
- Distribution and Density in Chhattisgarh: the state-level version of this page
- Population and Settlement — Quick Revision
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