Geography · Ch 9 — Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition
Density of Population
Density of Population
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. This number helps us move beyond just knowing where people live (distribution) to understanding how crowded or sparse a region is in relation to its land area.
For India as a whole, the density of population in 2011 stood at 382 persons per sq km. This figure has risen steadily over the past six decades. In 1951, the density was just 117 persons per sq km — meaning the density has increased by more than 200 persons per sq km in the last 50 years alone.
The national average of 382 persons per sq km hides enormous variation across states and union territories. The range is extreme: from a low of 17 persons per sq km in Arunachal Pradesh to a high of 11,297 persons per sq km in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Regional patterns of density
Among the northern Indian states, the highest densities are found in:
- Bihar — 1,102 persons per sq km
- West Bengal — 1,029 persons per sq km
- Uttar Pradesh — 828 persons per sq km
Among the peninsular Indian states, the higher densities are seen in:
- Kerala — 859 persons per sq km
- Tamil Nadu — 555 persons per sq km
States with moderate densities include Assam, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Odisha.
The hill states of the Himalayan region and most of the northeastern states (excluding Assam) have relatively low densities. In contrast, the Union Territories — with the exception of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands — have very high densities of population.
Why density alone is not enough
The density of population, as discussed above, is a crude measure of the relationship between people and land. It simply divides total population by total area. But for a country like India, where a large proportion of the population depends on agriculture, this measure does not tell us the real pressure of population on the land that actually produces food.
To get a better insight into the human-land ratio — specifically, the pressure of population on total cultivable land — two more refined measures are used:
- Physiological density = total population divided by net cultivated area. This tells us how many people are supported by each unit of land that is actually cultivated. …
The map is a choropleth of India titled INDIA – DENSITY OF POPULATION, 2011. It uses the standard graticule (68°E–96°E longitude, 8°N–36°N latitude), marks the Tropic of Cancer, and labels neighbouring countries. The legend is headed PERSONS PER SQ. KM and shows five shading classes, from darkest to lightest:
- Above 1201
- 801 – 1200
- 401 – 800
- 101 – 400
- Less than 100 (shown with a hatched pattern)
The darkest shades (above 1201 persons per sq km) fall over the Ganga plain states — Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh. The peninsular interior is in the middle classes (401–800 and 801–1200). The north-eastern hill states (excluding Assam) and parts of the Himalayas are hatched as the lowest class (less than 100 persons per sq km).
The map does not show individual cities, towns, or physical features like rivers or mountains — only the density classes by state/region.
What this map teaches is that population density in India is highly uneven. The Ganga plain has the highest densities because of fertile alluvial soil, flat terrain, and a long history of settlement. The peninsular interior has moderate densities, reflecting a mix of agriculture, industry, and urbanisation. The Himalayan and north-eastern hill states have the lowest densities due to rugged terrain, poor accessibility, and limited arable land. …