Demographic Trends

In the last two decades, the Punjab had made great progress in almost every field of life but still there remain shortage of everything because population continued to increase more rapidly. The shortage of educational and health facilities as well as food and water can never be overcome till the rate of population growth is contained. 

Except for the periods 1901-11 and 1941-51 during which the population decreased, it has been increasing steadily. However during the period 1901 t0 1911 because of droughts and epidemics( plague etc.) and during 1941-51 as a result of large  migration, deaths, etc. resulting from the partition of the country, the population of Punjab decreased. The population of Punjab in 1901 was 75.5 lakh. It rose to 91.6 lakh in 1951. The first census of reorganized Punjab in 1971 recorded its total population as 1,35,51,000. It increased to   1,67,88,915 in 1981 and to 2,02,81,969 in 1991 and 2,42,89,296 in 2001.

                                Growth of Population of Punjab 1901-2001

                                   Source: Statistical abstract of Punjab 1978-98 & 2001-2002

The above table show that the trend on population growth of Punjab has been different from the trend in the growth of population of India.  The growth rate for punjab during the periods 1901-11 and 1941-51 was negative whereas for India it was positive. The growth rate of Population of Punjab up to 1941 was more than that of India, but it remained lower than that of India from 1960-2001. This can be attributed to small size families resulting from 'Green revolution' induced prosperity and raised standard of living in Punjab(Source:Geography of Punjab by Manku, D.S). The growth was steady upto 1971, it accelerated during 1971-81 and declined during 1980-81, it was due to general disturbed conditions in the state and small size of the families. The growth rate decreased from 23.89% during 1971-81 to 20.81% during 1981-91. It has further declined to 19.76% during 1991-2001 period.