Trends in Population Growth

Population refers to the people living in a given country or region. It is always changing due to births, deaths, and migration.

1. Absolute Growth: Total number of people added between two counts.
2. Growth Rate (Annual %): Percentage increase in population each year, based on the previous total.

India’s population rose sharply from 361 million in 1951 to 1,210 million in 2011. The growth rate was over 2% between 1971–2001, but declined to 1.64% by 2011.

1. Stagnant Phase (1901–1921): Low or negative growth due to epidemics (“Year of Great Divide”).
2. Steady Growth (1921–1951): Improvement in survival rates.
3. Population Explosion (1951–1981): High birth rates, falling deaths, rapid increase.
4. Declining Growth (Post 1981): Lower birth rates, but total population still grows due to a large base.

Population growth is like students joining a class: even if the joining rate slows, a big class adds more students overall, crowding the room.

• Population changes due to births, deaths, and migration.
• India’s population greatly increased after 1951.
• Growth rate is slowing but total additions remain large.
• Regional differences exist due to geography, resources, and other factors.
• Understanding these trends helps plan for resources and development.