Demography

Demography stands for population size and its growth in a country. Populations form an essential component of the geographical account of a region or a country. Population is an important resource and it determines the distribution production and utilization of the natural resources of an area.  India accounts for 2.4% of world’s surface area and 16.7% of the world population. According to the results of census of India 2001, the population of India is 1,027,015,247 with a growth rate of 21.34%. India thus the second largest country in the world only after China to cross one billion mark.  

Punjab is a small state having an area of 50362 square kilometers, which is 1.56% of the total area of India. According to the 2001 census there lived about 2.4% people of India in Punjab. It shows that Punjab accommodates more people than its capacity. Punjab ranks 15^th population wise in India. The total population of Punjab on 1st March 2001 stood at 24,289,296 persons as per the results of the Census of India 2001. The State has registered a lower decennial growth rate of 19.76% when compared to national average of 21.34%. The sex ratio of population has come down from 882 in 1991 to 874 in the present census. Total literacy rose to 69.95% from 58.51% during 1991 Census. 

The state is facing some severe environmental problems, ranging from air and water pollution to deforestation and desertification, and its large population is putting a strain on its natural resources. Most of the other problems like over exploitation of shrinking natural resources, hunger and malnutrition, increasing unemployment and socio-economic insecurity, rising human-resource exploitation, frustration/ indiscipline/disorders, inadequate infrastructure, etc in our country and this state have emerged mainly because of ever increasing population. 

If the growth of population is not checked drastically, it would not be possible to ensure the removal of food, nutrition and socio-economic insecurity in our country that is expected to have more than 160 crore persons by 2050. The rate of growth of population is already much higher than that of food production/availability. More than 60 per cent of our population is already suffering from capability-poverty i.e not capable of performing even the minimum expected human functions. Population growth has created pressure on the environment and makes it difficult to raise the standard of living generally.  

Its is important that for development objectives of economic growth & environment protection,  we must attain goals like betterment of life support system and hence population. This can be achieved only by controlling the population and efficient use of natural resources.