Geography · Class 12 Arts
Ch 9Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition — Class 12 Geography, concept-first.
The study of population begins with a simple but powerful idea: people are the most important component of a country. India, with a total population of 1,210 million as of the 2011 Census, is the second most populous country in the world, after China.
Key concepts
Hover a concept to preview it and jump to its most relevant Q&A.
Population Data Recall
Imagine you are a census officer. You have a massive list of every person in a city — their age, income, education. That complete list is your population data.
Most relevant Q&A
- India’s population as per 2011 census is : (a) 1028 million (b) 3182 million (c) 3287 million (d) 1210 millionFree
- Which one of the following states has the highest density of population in India? (a) West Bengal (b) Kerala (c) Uttar Pradesh (d) BiharFree
- Which one of the following states has the highest proportion of urban population in India according to 2011 Census? (a) Tamil Nadu (b) Mahar…Preview
Chapter contents
The NCERT structure, section by section. Open a section to see its questions, then read the concept-first solution.
Introduction
The study of population begins with a simple but powerful idea: people are the most important component of a country.
Distribution of Population
The distribution of population across India is highly uneven. If you look at a map showing where people live, you will see that some areas are densely crowded while others are nearly empty.
Density of Population
Density of population is a simple but powerful measure: it tells us the number of persons living per unit area, usually per square kilometre.
Growth of Population
Population growth is simply the change in the number of people living in a particular area between two points in time. It is usually expressed as a percentage.
Regional Variation in Population Growth
The growth of India’s population is not uniform across the country. Different states and union territories show very different rates of population increase, and this pattern has been consistent over r…
Population Composition
Population composition is the study of who makes up a population — not just how many people there are, but their age, sex, where they live, what language they speak, their religion, literacy, occupati…
Rural – Urban Composition
The division of a country’s population into those living in rural areas (villages) and those in urban areas (towns and cities) is one of the most basic ways to understand its social and economic chara…
Linguistic Composition
India is a land of immense linguistic diversity. The Linguistic Survey of India, conducted by George Grierson between 1903 and 1928, recorded 179 languages and as many as 544 dialects across the count…
Linguistic Classification
The speakers of India’s major languages do not belong to a single family. Instead, they are spread across four distinct language families, each with its own sub-families, branches, or groups.
Religious Composition
Religion is one of the most powerful forces shaping the cultural and political life of most Indians. It touches nearly every aspect of family and community life — from daily rituals to marriage, diet,…
Composition of Working Population
The economic status of India’s population is understood by dividing people into three groups based on their work: main workers, marginal workers, and non-workers.
Multiple Choice Questions
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- Q1India’s population as per 2011 census is : (a) 1028 million (b) 3182 million (c) 3287 million (d) 1210 millionFree
- Q2Which one of the following states has the highest density of population in India? (a) West Bengal (b) Kerala (c) Uttar Pradesh (d) BiharFree
- Q3Which one of the following states has the highest proportion of urban population in India according to 2011 Census? (a) Tamil Nadu (b) Mahar…Preview
- Q4Which one of the following is the largest linguistic group of India? (a) Sino – Tibetan (b) Indo – Aryan (c) Austric (d) DravidianPreview
CBSE Sample Papers
Questions from official CBSE sample papers.
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- Q1Define the term ‘literacy’. OR Define the term ‘Age Structure’.Preview
- Q2Study the following table and answer the questions that follow : Decadal Growth Rates in India, 1901 – 2011 | Census Years | Total Populatio…Preview
- Q3Examine any five factors which are responsible for population flow from rural to urban areas in India.Preview
- Q4Why is Phase III (1951 – 1981) of growth of population referred to as the period of population explosion in India ? Explain by giving any th…Preview
- Q5(a) Analyse the rural-urban characteristics of Indian population. OR (b) Analyse the main features of the composition of working population…Preview
More questions
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- Q1Very hot and dry and very cold and wet regions of India have low density of population. In this light, explain the role of climate on the di…Free
- Q2Which states have large rural population in India? Give one reason for such large rural population.Free
- Q3Why do some states of India have higher rates of work participation than others?Preview
- Q4‘The agricultural sector has the largest share of Indian workers.’ – Explain.Preview