Demographics of India

Demographic Structure of Indian Society

Age Structure

• Youth dominant: 65% of India's population is below the age of 35
• Dependency ratio: High, with a large proportion of dependent population (children and elderly) compared to working-age population
• Age pyramid: Triangular, indicating a high birth rate and a large proportion of young population

Population Distribution

• Rural-urban divide: 70% of the population lives in rural areas, while 30% lives in urban areas
• Regional disparities: Population density varies greatly across regions, with highest density in the northern and eastern states

Sex Ratio

• Feminization of population: The proportion of females in the population is increasing, but still lower than the global average
• Gender imbalance: Sex ratio is skewed, with some states having a significantly lower number of females than males

Caste and Tribe

• Caste system: A complex system of social hierarchy, with four main castes (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras) and several sub-castes
• Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs): Constitutionally recognized groups facing social and economic discrimination

Religion

• Hindu majority: Around 80% of the population identifies as Hindu
• Minority religions: Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jain populations make up the remaining 20%

Education and Occupation

• Literacy rate: Increasing, but still below the global average
• Occupational structure: Primary sector (agriculture) dominates, followed by secondary sector (industry) and tertiary sector (services)

Demographic Structure of Indian Society

Age Structure

• 65% of India's population is below 35 years old, making the population youth dominant
• The dependency ratio is high, meaning there are more dependents (children and elderly) compared to the working-age population
• The age pyramid in India is triangular, indicating a high birth rate and a large proportion of young population

Population Distribution

• 70% of India's population resides in rural areas, while 30% lives in urban areas, highlighting a significant rural-urban divide
• There are regional disparities in population density, with the highest density found in the northern and eastern states

Sex Ratio

• Although the proportion of females in the population is increasing, it is still lower than the global average, indicating feminization of population
• The sex ratio is skewed, with some states having a significantly lower number of females than males, resulting in gender imbalance

Caste and Tribe

• India's caste system is a complex social hierarchy with four main castes (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras) and several sub-castes
• Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) are constitutionally recognized groups that face social and economic discrimination

Religion

• Hindus make up around 80% of India's population, making them the majority
• The remaining 20% comprise minority religions, including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains

Education and Occupation

• India's literacy rate is increasing, but still lags behind the global average
• The occupational structure in India is dominated by the primary sector (agriculture), followed by the secondary sector (industry), and then the tertiary sector (services)