Economics · Ch 7 — Population
Age Composition, Sex Ratio and Literacy
Age Composition, Sex Ratio and Literacy
Age Composition
Census 2011 divides India's population into three broad age groups:
| Age Group | Approximate Share (2011) |
|---|---|
| 0–14 years (children) | ~29% |
| 15–59 years (working age) | ~63% |
| 60 years and above (elderly) | ~8% |
The large 15–59 age group is the basis of India's claimed 'demographic dividend' — but a dividend is only realised if this group is educated, healthy and finds productive employment; otherwise, the same large working-age group becomes a burden of unemployment.
The dependency ratio measures how many dependents (children + elderly) each 100 working-age persons must support:
Sex Ratio
Sex ratio is the number of females per 1,000 males. India's sex ratio improved from 933 (2001) to 943 (2011) — still below the biologically natural ratio, reflecting continuing gender imbalance in parts of the country. Gujarat's 2011 sex ratio (919) remained below the national figure, a long-standing concern flagged in state policy documents.