Population Density, Distribution and Growth
Population density = population divided by area (persons per sq km). Distribution is very uneven: the Indo-Gangetic plain, the coasts and deltas are crowded; the mountains, deserts and forests are sparse.
Density in Census 2011
| Group | Highest | Lowest |
|---|---|---|
| States | Bihar (1,106), West Bengal (1,028), Kerala (859), Uttar Pradesh (829) | Arunachal Pradesh (17), Mizoram (52), Sikkim (86), Nagaland (119) |
| UTs | Delhi (11,297), Chandigarh (9,252), Puducherry | Andaman and Nicobar (46) |
| Districts | North East Delhi (about 37,000), Kolkata (about 24,000), Mumbai | Dibang Valley (1) (Arunachal) |
- National density: 382. In 1951 it was 117.
- Density classes: very high (above 500), high (250-500), moderate (100-250), low (below 100).
Distribution
- Uttar Pradesh has the largest population (about 19.98 crore in 2011), around 16.5 percent of India.
- Top ten states by population (2011): Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh (the pre-bifurcation figures differ).
- Together, UP, Maharashtra and Bihar hold nearly one-third of India's people.
- Least populous state: Sikkim; least populous UT: Lakshadweep.
Growth
- Highest decadal growth (2001-11) among states: Meghalaya (about 27.95 percent); among UTs: Dadra and Nagar Haveli (about 55.9 percent).
- Lowest growth: Nagaland (a negative figure, about minus 0.58 percent); Kerala has the lowest among those with positive growth (about 4.9 percent).
- States with a growth above the national average: Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya.
Factors affecting distribution
- Physical: relief, climate, soil, water.
- Economic: industry, mining, trade.
- Social and historical: culture, long settlement history.
Keep practising
Notes are only half the work. Test yourself with questions and discuss doubts with other aspirants.
Prepared for exam revision from NCERT, standard geography textbooks, the Census of India 2011, the India State of Forest Report, IMD, Ministry of Agriculture and other official sources. Maps are schematic teaching maps, not Survey of India maps, and zone boundaries are approximate. Figures such as production, capacity, counts of parks and ports, and census status change, so check the latest official source before relying on them. Found a mistake? Tell us.