Demographics of India

(Redirected from Demography of India)

India is the most populous country in the world with one-sixth of the world's population. According to estimates from the United Nations (UN), India has overtaken China as the country with the largest population in the world, with a population of 1,425,775,850 at the end of April 2023.[6][7][8][9]

Demographics of India
India population pyramid in 2020
PopulationIncrease 1,425,775,850[1](2023 est.)
Density473.42 people per.km2 (2021 est.)[2]
Growth rate0.68% (2022 est.)[2]
Birth rate16.1 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)[2]
Death rate6.6 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)[2]
Life expectancyIncrease 70.0 years (2023 est.)[3]
 • male70.5 years (2023 est.)
 • female73.6 years (2023 est.)
Fertility rateDecrease 2.00 children born per woman (2023)[2]
Infant mortality rate29.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2018)[4]
Age structure
0–14 years25.68% (male 183,695,000/female 166,295,000) (2021 est.)
15–64 years67.49% (male 472,653,000/female 447,337,000) (2021 est.)
65 and over6.83% (male 44,275,000/female 48,751,000) (2021 est.)
Sex ratio
Total1.06 male(s)/female (2023)[5]
At birth1.1 male(s)/female (2023)[5]
Under 151.11 male(s)/female (2023)[5]
15–64 years1.07 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
65 and over0.85 male(s)/female (2023)[5]
Nationality
Major ethnicSee Ethnic groups of India
Language
OfficialSee Languages of India
Spoken

Between 1975 and 2010, the population doubled to 1.2 billion, reaching the billion mark in 2000. According to the UN's World Population dashboard, India's population now stands at slightly over 1.428 billion, edging past China's population of 1.425 billion people, as reported by the news agency Bloomberg.[9] Its population is set to reach 1.7 billion by 2050.[10][11] In 2017 its population growth rate was 0.98%, ranking 112th in the world; in contrast, from 1972 to 1983, India's population grew by an annual rate of 2.3%.[12]

In 2022, the median age of an Indian was 28.7 years,[13] compared to 38.4 for China and 48.6 for Japan; and, by 2030; India's dependency ratio will be just over 0.4.[14] However, the number of children in India peaked more than a decade ago and is now falling. The number of children under the age of five peaked in 2007, and since then the number has been falling. The number of Indians under 15 years old peaked slightly later (in 2011) and is now also declining.[15]

India has many ethnic groups,[16] and every major religion is represented, as are four major families of languages (Indo-European, Dravidian, Austroasiatic and Sino-Tibetan languages) as well as two language isolates: the Nihali language,[17] spoken in parts of Maharashtra, and the Burushaski language, spoken in parts of Jammu and Kashmir. 1,000,000 people in India are Anglo-Indians and 700,000 United States citizens are living in India.[18] They represent over 0.1% of the total population of India. Overall, only the continent of Africa exceeds the linguistic, genetic and cultural diversity of the nation of India.[19]

The sex ratio was 944 females for 1000 males in 2016, and 940 per 1000 in 2011.[20] This ratio has been showing an upwards trend for the last two decades after a continuous decline in the 20th century.[21]

History

Historical population of India and China since 1100 with projection to 2100

Prehistory to early 19th century

The following table lists estimates for the population of India (including what are now Pakistan and Bangladesh) from prehistory up until 1820. It includes estimates and growth rates according to five economic historians, along with interpolated estimates and overall aggregate averages derived from their estimates.[22][23]

YearMaddison (2001)[24]Clark (1967)[25][26][27]Biraben (1979)[26][28][29]Durand (1974)[30][26]McEvedy (1978)[31][26]Aggregate averagePeriodAverage
 % growth
/ century
Population% growth
/ century
Population% growth
/ century
Population% growth
/ century
Population% growth
/ century
Population% growth
/ century
Population% growth
/ century
10,000 BC100,000100,000Stone Age3.9
4000 BC1,000,0003.91,000,0003.9
2000 BC6,000,0009.46,000,0009.4Bronze Age9.4
500 BC25,000,0001025,000,00010Iron Age10.2
400 BC30,000,00026,600,0006.328,300,00013.2
200 BC55,000,00035.430,000,0006.342,500,00022.5Maurya era22.5
1 AD75,000,00070,000,00046,000,000–9.375,000,00034,000,0006.560,000,00018.8Classical
era
5.3
20075,000,000072,500,0001.745,000,000–1.175,000,000039,000,0007.161,300,0001.1
40075,000,000075,000,0001.732,000,000–18.675,000,000045,000,0007.460,400,000–0.7
50075,000,000075,000,000033,000,0003.175,000,000048,000,0006.561,200,0001.3
60075,000,000075,000,000037,000,00012.175,000,000051,000,0006.562,600,0002.3Early
medieval
era
1.9
70075,000,000075,000,000050,000,00035.175,000,000056,500,00010.366,300,0005.9
80075,000,000075,000,000043,000,000–16.375,000,000062,000,00010.366,000,000–0.5
90075,000,000072,500,000–3.538,000,000–13.275,000,000069,500,00011.466,000,0000
100075,000,000070,000,000–3.540,000,0005.375,000,000077,000,00011.467,400,0002.1
110081,000,000872,500,0003.551,000,00027.581,300,0008.480,000,0003.973,200,0008.6Late
medieval
era
8.1
120087,500,000875,000,0003.565,100,00027.588,200,0008.483,000,0003.879,800,0009
130094,500,000875,000,000083,000,00027.595,700,0008.488,000,000687,200,0009.3
1400102,000,000877,000,0003.388,800,0007103,700,0008.494,000,0006.892,900,0007
1500110,000,000879,000,0003.395,000,0007112,500,0008.4100,000,0006.499,300,0007
1600135,000,00022.8100,000,00026.6145,000,00052.6135,800,00020.7130,000,00030129,200,00030.1Mughal era31.9
1650150,000,00022.2150,000,000125160,000,00020.7149,100,00020.7145,000,00024.4150,800,00036.2
1700165,000,00022.2200,000,00077.8175,000,00020.7163,900,00020.7160,000,00021.8172,800,00031.3
1750182,100,00021.8200,000,0000182,700,0009180,000,00020.7170,000,00012.9183,000,00012.1Colonial
era
12.2
1800200,900,00021.8190,000,000–10.8190,700,0009185,000,00018.4190,400,0008
1820209,000,00021.8190,000,0000194,000,0009200,000,00047.7198,300,00022

The population grew from the South Asian Stone Age in 10,000 BC to the Maurya Empire in 200 BC at a steadily increasing growth rate,[32] before population growth slowed down in the classical era up to 500 AD, and then became largely stagnant during the early medieval era era up to 1000 AD.[24][26] The population growth rate then increased in the late medieval era (during the Delhi Sultanate) from 1000 to 1500.[24][26]

Under the Mughal Empire, India experienced a high economic and demographic upsurge,[32] due to Mughal agrarian reforms that intensified agricultural production.[33] 15% of the population lived in urban centres, higher than the percentage of the population in 19th-century British India[34] and contemporary Europe[34] up until the 19th century.[35] These estimates by Abraham Eraly[34] and Paolo Malanima[35] have been criticised by Tim Dyson, who considers them exaggerations and estimates urbanisation of the Mughal Empire to be less than 9% of the population.[36]

Under the reign of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605) in 1600, the Mughal Empire's urban population was up to 17 million people, larger than the urban population in Europe.[37] By 1700, Mughal India had an urban population of 23 million people, larger than British India's urban population of 22.3 million in 1871.[38] Nizamuddin Ahmad (1551–1621) reported that, under Akbar's reign, Mughal India had 120 large cities and 3,200 townships.[34] A number of cities in India had a population between a quarter-million and half-million people,[34] with larger cities including Agra (in Agra Subah) with up to 800,000 people[39] and Dhaka (in Bengal Subah) with over 1 million people.[40] Mughal India also had a large number of villages, with 455,698 villages by the time of Aurangzeb (reigned 1658–1707).[37]

Late 19th century to early 20th century

The total fertility rate is the number of children born per woman. It is based on fairly good data for the entire years. Sources: Our World in Data and Gapminder Foundation.[41]

Years188018811882188318841885188618871888188918901902[41]
Total Fertility Rate in India5.955.925.895.865.825.794.385.765.765.755.755.75
Years1921192219231924192519261927192819291930[41]
Total Fertility Rate in India5.7615.775.785.795.85.815.825.835.855.86

Life expectancy from 1881 to 1950

Years188118911901190519111915192119251931193519411950[42]
Life expectancy in India25.424.323.524.023.224.024.927.629.331.032.635.4

The population of India under the British Raj (including what are now Pakistan and Bangladesh) according to censuses:

Census yearPopulationGrowth (%)
1871[43]238,830,958
1881[44]253,896,3306.3
1891[43]287,223,43113.1
1901[43]293,550,3102.2
1911[45]315,156,3967.4
1921[45]318,942,4801.2
1931[45]352,837,77810.6
1941[45]388,997,95510.2

Studies of India's population since 1881 have focused on such topics as total population, birth and death rates, geographic distribution, literacy, the rural and urban divide, cities of a million, and the three cities with populations over eight million: Delhi, Greater Mumbai (Bombay), and Kolkata (Calcutta).[46]

Mortality rates fell in the period 1920–45, primarily due to biological immunisation. Suggestions that it was the benefits of colonialism are refuted by academic thinking: "There can be no serious, informed belief… that… late colonial era mortality diminished and population grew rapidly because of improvements in income, living standards, nutrition, environmental standards, sanitation or health policies, nor was there a cultural transformation…".[47]

Salient features

Crude birth rate trends in India
(per 1000 people, national average)[48][49][50]
Infant mortality rate trends in India
(per 1000 births, under age 1, national average)

India occupies 2.41% of the world's land area but supports over 18% of the world's population. At the 2001 census 72.2% of the population[51] lived in about 638,000 villages[52] and the remaining 27.8%[51] lived in more than 5,100 towns and over 380 urban agglomerations.[53]

India's population exceeded that of the entire continent of Africa by 200 million people in 2010.[54] However, because Africa's population growth is extremely high compared to the rest of the world,[55][56] it is expected to surpass both China and India by the early 2030s.[57]

Comparative demographics

Comparative demographics
CategoryGlobal rankingReferences
Area7th[58]
Population1st[58]
Population growth rate102nd of 212in 2010[59]
Population density24th of 212in 2010[59]
Male to Female ratio, at birth12th of 214in 2009[60]

List of states and union territories by demographics

Population growth of India per decade[61]
Census yearPopulationChange (%)
1951361,088,003
1961439,235,00021.6
1971548,160,00024.8
1981683,329,00024.7
1991846,387,88823.9
20011,028,737,43621.5
20111,210,193,42217.7
Population distribution by states/union territories (2011)
RankState/UTPopulation[62]Percent (%)MaleFemaleDifference between male and femaleSex ratioRural[63]Urban[63]Area[64] (km2)Density (per km2)
1Uttar Pradesh199,812,34116.50104,480,51095,331,8319,148,679930155,111,02244,470,455240,928828
2Maharashtra112,374,3339.2858,243,05654,131,2774,111,77992961,545,44150,827,531307,713365
3Bihar104,099,4528.6054,278,15749,821,2954,456,86291892,075,02811,729,60994,1631,102
4West Bengal91,276,1157.5446,809,02744,467,0882,341,93995062,213,67629,134,06088,7521,030
5Madhya Pradesh72,626,8096.0037,612,30635,014,5032,597,80393152,537,89920,059,666308,245236
6Tamil Nadu72,147,0305.9636,137,97536,009,055128,92099637,189,22934,949,729130,058555
7Rajasthan68,548,4375.6635,550,99732,997,4402,553,55792851,540,23617,080,776342,239201
8Karnataka61,095,2975.0530,966,65730,128,640838,01797337,552,52923,578,175191,791319
9Gujarat60,439,6924.9931,491,26028,948,4322,542,82891934,670,81725,712,811196,024308
10Andhra Pradesh49,386,7994.0824,738,06824,648,73189,33799634,776,38914,610,410160,205308
11Odisha41,974,2183.4721,212,13620,762,082450,05497934,951,2346,996,124155,707269
12Telangana35,193,9782.9117,704,07817,489,900214,17898821,585,31313,608,665114,840307
13Kerala33,406,0612.7616,027,41217,378,649−1,351,237108417,445,50615,932,17138,863859
14Jharkhand32,988,1342.7216,930,31516,057,819872,49694825,036,9467,929,29279,714414
15Assam31,205,5762.5815,939,44315,266,133673,31095826,780,5264,388,75678,438397
16Punjab27,743,3382.2914,639,46513,103,8731,535,59289517,316,80010,387,43650,362550
17Chhattisgarh25,545,1982.1112,832,89512,712,303120,59299119,603,6585,936,538135,191189
18Haryana25,351,4622.0913,494,73411,856,7281,638,00687916,531,4938,821,58844,212573
19Delhi (UT)16,787,9411.398,887,3267,800,6151,086,711868944,72712,905,7801,48411,297
20Jammu and Kashmir12,541,3021.046,640,6625,900,640740,0228899,134,8203,414,106222,23656
21Uttarakhand10,086,2920.835,137,7734,948,519189,2549637,025,5833,091,16953,483189
22Himachal Pradesh6,864,6020.573,481,8733,382,72999,1449726,167,805688,70455,673123
23Tripura3,673,9170.301,874,3761,799,54174,8359602,710,051960,98110,486350
24Meghalaya2,966,8890.251,491,8321,475,05716,7759892,368,971595,03622,429132
25Manipur2,855,7940.241,438,6871,417,10721,5809851,899,624822,13222,327128
26Nagaland1,978,5020.161,024,649953,85370,7969311,406,861573,74116,579119
27Goa1,458,5450.12739,140719,40519,735973551,414906,3093,702394
28Arunachal Pradesh1,383,7270.11713,912669,81544,0979381,069,165313,44683,74317
29Puducherry (UT)1,247,9530.10612,511635,442−22,9311037394,341850,1234792,598
30Mizoram1,097,2060.09555,339541,86713,472976529,037561,99721,08152
31Chandigarh (UT)1,055,4500.09580,663474,787105,87681829,0041,025,6821149,252
32Sikkim610,5770.05323,070287,50735,563890455,962151,7267,09686
33Andaman and Nicobar Islands (UT)380,5810.03202,871177,71025,161876244,411135,5338,24946
34Dadra and Nagar Haveli (UT)343,7090.03193,760149,94943,811774183,024159,829491698
35Daman and Diu (UT)243,2470.02150,30192,94657,35561860,331182,5801122,169
36Lakshadweep (UT)64,4730.0133,12331,3501,77394614,12150,308322,013
Total (India)1,210,854,977100623,724,248586,469,17435,585,741943833,087,662377,105,7603,287,240382

Religious demographics

The table below summarises India's demographics (excluding the Mao-Maram, Paomata and Purul subdivisions of Senapati district of Manipur state due to cancellation of census results) according to religion at the 2011 census in per cent. The data are "unadjusted" (without excluding Assam and Jammu and Kashmir); the 1981 census was not conducted in Assam and the 1991 census was not conducted in Jammu and Kashmir. Missing citing/reference for "Changes in religious demagraphics over time" table below.

Religious populations' numbers (2011)[65]
ReligionPopulationPercentage (%)
Hindus966,378,86879.80
Muslims172,245,15814.23
Christians27,819,5882.30
Sikhs20,833,1161.72
Buddhists8,442,9720.70
Jains4,451,7530.37
Others7,937,7340.66
Not Stated2,867,3030.24
Changes in religious demographics over time
Religious
group
Population
% 1951
Population
% 1961
Population
% 1971
Population
% 1981
Population
% 1991
Population
% 2001
Population
% 2011[66]
Hinduism84.1%83.45%82.73%82.30%81.53%80.46%79.80%
Islam9.8%10.69%11.21%11.75%12.61%13.43%14.23%
Christianity2.3%2.44%2.60%2.44%2.32%2.34%2.30%
Sikhism1.79%1.79%1.89%1.92%1.94%1.87%1.72%
Buddhism0.74%0.74%0.70%0.70%0.77%0.77%0.70%
Jainism0.46%0.46%0.48%0.47%0.40%0.41%0.37%
Zoroastrianism0.13%0.09%0.09%0.09%0.08%0.06%n/a
Others/Religion not specified0.43%0.43%0.41%0.42%0.44%0.72%0.9%
Characteristics of religious groups[66]
Religious
group
Population (2011)
%
Growth
(2001–2011)[67][68]
Sex ratio (2011)
(total)[69]
Sex ratio (2011)
(rural)
Sex ratio (2011)
(urban)
Sex ratio (2011)
(child)[70]
Literacy (2011)
(%)[71]
Work participation (2011)
(%)[69][72]
Hinduism79.80%16.8%93994692191373.3%41.0%
Islam14.23%24.6%95195794194368.5%32.6%
Christianity2.30%15.5%10231008104695884.5%41.9%
Sikhism1.72%8.4%90390589882875.4%36.3%
Buddhism0.70%6.1%96596097393381.3%43.1%
Jainism0.37%5.4%95493595988994.9%35.5%
Others/Religion Not Specified0.90%n/a959947975974n/an/a
Percentage of total population of India's administrative divisions made up by Muslims (2011)[73]

Neonatal and infant demographics

Male to female sex ratio for India, based on its official census data, from 1941 through 2011.[74] The data suggest the existence of high sex ratios before and after the arrival of ultrasound-based prenatal care and sex screening technologies in India.

The table below represents the infant mortality rate trends in India, based on sex, over the last 15 years. In the urban areas of India, average male infant mortality rates are slightly higher than average female infant mortality rates.[75]

Infant mortality rate trend (deaths per 1000) As per NFHS & UNICEF Data.
YearMaleFemaleTotal
1998[76]69.873.571.6
2005[75]56.35857[77]
2009[78]4952
2014[79]43.737.9040.7[77]
2018[80]29.9529.8829.94[80]

India's 2011 census shows a serious decline in the number of girls under the age of seven – activists posit that eight million female fetuses may have been aborted between 2001 and 2011.[81]

Population within the age group of 0–6

Population between age 0–6 by state/union territory[82]
State or UT codeState or UTTotalMaleFemaleDifference
1Jammu and Kashmir2,008,6701,080,662927,982152,680
2Himachal Pradesh763,864400,681363,18337,498
3Punjab2,941,5701,593,2621,348,308244,954
4Chandigarh117,95363,18754,7668,421
5Uttarakhand1,328,844704,769624,07580,694
6Haryana3,297,7241,802,0471,495,677306,370
7Delhi1,970,5101,055,735914,775140,960
8Rajasthan10,504,9165,580,2124,924,004656,208
9Uttar Pradesh29,728,23515,653,17514,075,0601,578,115
10Bihar18,582,2299,615,2808,966,949648,331
11Sikkim61,07731,41829,6591,759
12Arunachal Pradesh202,759103,43099,3304,100
13Nagaland285,981147,111138,8708,241
14Manipur353,237182,684170,55312,131
15Mizoram165,53683,96581,5712,394
16Tripura444,055227,354216,70110,653
17Meghalaya555,822282,189273,6338,556
18Assam4,511,3072,305,0882,206,21998,869
19West Bengal10,112,5995,187,2644,925,335261,929
20Jharkhand5,237,5822,695,9212,541,661154,260
21Odisha5,035,6502,603,2082,432,442170,766
22Chhattisgarh3,584,0281,824,9871,759,04165,946
23Madhya Pradesh10,548,2955,516,9575,031,338485,619
24Gujarat7,564,4643,974,2863,519,890454,396
25Daman and Diu25,88013,55612,3141,242
26Dadra and Nagar Haveli49,19625,57523,6211,954
27Maharashtra12,848,3756,822,2626,026,113796,149
28Andhra Pradesh8,642,6864,448,3304,194,356253,974
29Karnataka6,855,8013,527,8443,327,957199,887
30Goa139,49572,66966,8265,843
31Lakshadweep7,0883,7153,373342
32Kerala3,322,2471,695,8891,626,35869,531
33Tamil Nadu6,894,8213,542,3513,352,470189,881
34Puducherry127,61064,93262,6782,254
35Andaman and Nicobar Islands39,49720,09419,403691
Total (India)158,789,28782,952,13575,837,1527,114,983

Population above the age of seven

Population above the age of seven by state/union territory[82]
State or UT codeState or UTTotalMaleFemale
1Jammu and Kashmir
2Himachal Pradesh
3Punjab
4Chandigarh
5Uttarakhand
6Haryana22,055,35711,703,08310,352,274
7Delhi14,782,7257,920,6756,862,050
8Rajasthan58,116,09630,039,87428,076,222
9Uttar Pradesh169,853,24288,943,24080,910,002
10Bihar85,222,40844,570,06740,652,341
11Sikkim546,611290,243256,368
12Arunachal Pradesh1,179,852616,802563,050
13Nagaland1,694,621878,596816,025
14Manipur2,368,5191,187,0801,181,439
15Mizoram925,478468,374457,104
16Tripura3,226,9771,644,5131,582,464
17Meghalaya2,408,1851,210,4791,197,706
18Assam26,657,96513,649,83913,008,126
19West Bengal81,235,13741,740,12539,495,012
20Jharkhand27,728,65614,235,76713,492,889
21Odisha36,911,70818,598,47018,313,238
22Chhattisgarh21,956,16811,002,92810,953,240
23Madhya Pradesh62,049,27032,095,96329,953,307
24Gujarat52,889,45227,507,99625,381,456
25Daman and Diu217,031136,54480,487
26Dadra and Nagar Haveli293,657167,603126,054
27Maharashtra99,524,59751,539,13547,985,462
28Andhra Pradesh76,022,84738,061,55137,961,296
29Karnataka54,274,90327,529,89826,745,005
30Goa1,318,228668,042650,186
31Lakshadweep57,34129,39127,950
32Kerala
33Tamil Nadu65,244,13732,616,52032,627,617
34Puducherry1,116,854545,553571,301
35Andaman and Nicobar Islands340,447182,236158,211
Total (India)1,051,404,135540,772,113510,632,022

Literacy rate

Literacy rate map of India, 2011.[83]
Literacy rate by state/union territory[82]
State or UT codeState or UTOverall (%)Male (%)Female (%)
1Jammu and Kashmir68.7476.7558.01
2Himachal Pradesh83.7890.8376.60
3Punjab86.6081.4871.34
4Chandigarh86.4390.5481.38
5Uttarakhand79.6388.3370.70
6Haryana76.6485.3866.77
7Delhi86.3491.0380.93
8Rajasthan67.0680.5152.66
9Uttar Pradesh69.7279.2459.26
10Bihar63.8273.3953.33
11Sikkim82.2087.2976.43
12Arunachal Pradesh66.9573.6959.57
13Nagaland80.1183.2976.69
14Manipur79.8586.4973.17
15Mizoram91.5893.7289.40
16Tripura87.7592.1883.15
17Meghalaya75.4877.1773.78
18Assam73.1878.8167.27
19West Bengal77.0882.6771.16
20Jharkhand67.6378.4556.21
21Odisha72.9082.4064.36
22Chhattisgarh71.0481.4560.59
23Madhya Pradesh70.6380.5360.02
24Gujarat79.3187.2370.73
25Daman and Diu87.0791.4879.59
26Dadra and Nagar Haveli77.6586.4665.93
27Maharashtra83.2089.8275.48
28Andhra Pradesh[84]67.3574.7759.96
29Karnataka75.6082.8568.13
30Goa87.4092.8181.84
31Lakshadweep92.2896.1188.25
32Kerala93.9196.0291.98
33Tamil Nadu80.3386.8173.86
34Puducherry86.5592.1281.22
35Andaman and Nicobar Islands86.2790.1181.84
Overall (India)74.0382.1465.46

Linguistic demographics

Mother tongue languages of India (2011)

  Hindi (26.6%)
  Bengali (7.94%)
  Marathi (6.84%)
  Telugu (6.68%)
  Tamil (5.69%)
  Gujarati (4.55%)
  Urdu (4.19%)
  Bhojpuri (4.18%)
  Kannada (3.59%)
  Malayalam (2.87%)
  Others (26.87%)

According to the 2001 census, 41.03% of the Indians spoke Hindi natively, while the rest spoke Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Maithili, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and a variety of other languages. There are a total of 122 languages and 234 mother tongues spoken in India. Of these, 22 languages are specified in the Eighth Schedule of Indian Constitution, while 100 are non-specified.

The table below excludes Mao-Maram, Paomata and Purul subdivisions of Senapati District of Manipur state due to cancellation of census results.

Languages of India by number of native speakers at the 2001 census[85]
RankLanguageSpeakersPercentage (%)
1Hindi[note 1]422,048,64241.030
2Bengali83,369,7698.110
3Telugu74,002,8567.190
4Marathi71,936,8946.990
5Tamil60,793,8145.910
6Urdu51,536,1115.010
7Gujarati46,091,6174.480
8Kannada37,924,0113.690
9Malayalam33,066,3923.210
10Odia33,017,4463.210
11Punjabi29,102,4772.830
12Assamese13,168,4841.280
13Maithili12,179,1221.180
14Bhili/Bhilodi9,582,9570.930
15Santali6,469,6000.630
16Kashmiri5,527,6980.540
17Nepali2,871,7490.280
18Gondi2,713,7900.260
19Sindhi2,535,4850.250
20Konkani2,489,0150.240
21Dogri2,282,5890.220
22Khandeshi2,075,2580.200
23Kurukh1,751,4890.170
24Tulu1,722,7680.170
25Meitei (Manipuri)1,466,7050.140
26Bodo1,350,4780.130
27Khasi – Garo1,128,5750.112
28Mundari1,061,3520.105
29Ho1,042,7240.103
30Tripuri1,011,2940.103

Largest cities of India

Vital statistics

UN estimates

United Nations, World Population Prospects: The 2022 revision – India[87]
YearMid-year populationBirths per yearDeaths per yearNatural change per yearCrude birth rate
(per 1000)
Crude death rate
(per 1000)
Natural change
(per 1000)
Total Fertility rateInfant mortality (per 1000)Life expectancy
1950357,021,00015,651,0007,942,0007,709,00043.822.221.65.73181.241.7
1951364,922,00016,042,0008,171,0007,871,00044.022.421.65.77180.141.7
1952372,997,00016,458,0008,293,0008,165,00044.122.221.95.82177.542.0
1953381,228,00016,857,0008,442,0008,415,00044.222.122.15.87175.342.2
1954389,731,00017,247,0008,414,0008,833,00044.221.622.75.91172.243.0
1955398,578,00017,549,0008,468,0009,081,00044.021.222.85.91169.743.4
1956407,657,00017,844,0008,533,0009,310,00043.820.922.85.91167.343.8
1957416,935,00018,128,0008,618,0009,510,00043.520.722.85.91165.044.1
1958426,296,00018,370,0008,673,0009,696,00043.120.322.75.90162.744.4
1959435,900,00018,593,0008,688,0009,905,00042.619.922.75.89160.344.9
1960445,955,00018,958,0008,756,00010,201,00042.519.622.95.92158.245.2
1961456,352,00019,301,0008,874,00010,427,00042.319.422.85.94156.445.4
1962467,024,00019,663,0008,969,00010,693,00042.119.222.95.95154.545.7
1963477,934,00020,031,0009,064,00010,966,00041.919.022.95.97152.745.9
1964489,059,00020,407,0009,177,00011,230,00041.718.823.05.98151.146.2
1965500,114,00020,679,0009,824,00010,855,00041.319.621.75.94156.445.0
1966510,993,00020,913,0009,886,00011,027,00040.919.321.65.88154.745.3
1967521,987,00021,193,0009,963,00011,231,00040.619.121.55.83153.145.7
1968533,432,00021,454,0009,486,00011,968,00040.217.822.45.76145.047.5
1969545,315,00021,704,0009,551,00012,154,00039.817.522.35.68143.347.9
1970557,501,00022,043,0009,606,00012,437,00039.517.222.35.62141.748.2
1971569,999,00022,483,0009,658,00012,825,00039.416.922.55.57139.948.6
1972582,838,00022,835,0009,702,00013,133,00039.216.622.55.48138.549.0
1973596,107,00023,230,0009,701,00013,529,00039.016.322.75.40136.349.5
1974609,722,00023,559,0009,628,00013,931,00038.615.822.85.33133.350.2
1975623,524,00023,660,0009,592,00014,068,00037.915.422.65.20130.750.8
1976637,451,00024,021,0009,572,00014,449,00037.715.022.75.13127.951.4
1977651,686,00024,042,0009,555,00014,487,00036.914.722.25.01124.951.9
1978666,268,00024,243,0009,520,00014,723,00036.414.322.14.89121.752.5
1979681,248,00024,699,0009,515,00015,184,00036.314.022.34.81118.453.1
1980696,828,00025,235,0009,530,00015,705,00036.213.722.54.78115.253.6
1981712,869,00025,683,0009,532,00016,151,00036.013.422.74.70112.154.2
1982729,169,00025,964,0009,512,00016,452,00035.613.022.64.62109.354.7
1983745,827,00026,329,0009,487,00016,842,00035.312.722.64.57106.755.3
1984762,890,00526,777,0009,471,00017,307,00035.112.422.74.52104.255.8
1985780,242,00027,001,0009,444,00017,558,00034.612.122.54.43101.856.3
1986797,879,00027,522,0009,434,00018,088,00034.511.822.74.4099.456.8
1987815,716,00027,478,0009,400,00018,077,00033.711.522.24.3197.057.3
1988833,730,00027,654,0009,369,00018,286,00033.211.221.94.2294.657.8
1989852,013,00027,733,0009,335,00018,398,00032.511.021.64.1392.258.2
1990870,452,00027,692,0009,306,00018,386,00031.810.721.14.0589.858.7
1991888,942,00027,937,0009,295,00018,642,00031.410.521.03.9687.659.1
1992907,574,00028,057,0009,285,00018,772,00030.910.220.73.8885.559.5
1993926,351,00028,055,0009,283,00018,772,00030.310.020.33.8083.559.8
1994945,262,00028,207,0009,270,00018,937,00029.89.820.03.7281.460.2
1995964,279,00028,314,0009,269,00019,044,00029.49.619.73.6579.360.6
1996983,281,00028,305,0009,262,00019,043,00028.89.419.43.5877.161.0
19971,002,335,00028,341,0009,251,00019,090,00028.39.219.03.5174.861.4
19981,021,435,00028,381,0009,245,00019,136,00027.89.118.73.4572.561.8
19991,040,500,00028,365,0009,235,00019,130,00027.38.918.43.3870.262.2
20001,059,634,00028,615,0009,221,00019,394,00027.08.718.33.3567.862.7
20011,078,971,00028,843,0009,235,00019,608,00026.78.618.23.3065.463.1
20021,098,313,00028,648,0009,186,00019,462,00026.18.417.73.2263.163.6
20031,117,415,00028,356,0009,150,00019,206,00025.48.217.23.1260.864.1
20041,136,265,00028,099,0009,136,00018,963,00024.78.016.73.0558.664.5
20051,154,639,00027,646,0009,096,00018,550,00023.97.916.12.9656.365.0
20061,172,374,00027,229,0009,080,00018,149,00023.27.715.52.8654.165.4
20071,189,692,00027,030,0009,095,00017,935,00022.77.615.12.7851.965.8
20081,206,735,00026,890,0009,123,00017,767,00022.37.614.72.7249.666.1
20091,223,640,00026,848,0009,154,00017,694,00021.97.514.52.6747.466.5
20101,240,614,00026,599,0009,162,00017,437,00021.47.414.12.6045.266.9
20111,257,621,19126,342,0009,139,00017,203,00020.97.313.72.5443.067.4
20121,274,487,21526,027,0009,072,00016,954,00020.47.113.32.4740.867.9
20131,291,132,06325,740,0008,987,00016,753,00019.97.013.02.4138.768.5
20141,307,246,50924,899,0008,876,00016,023,00019.06.812.32.3136.769.1
20151,322,866,50524,828,0008,826,00016,003,00018.86.712.12.2934.769.6
20161,338,636,34024,783,0008,839,00015,944,00018.56.611.92.2732.870.1
20171,354,195,68024,254,0008,928,00015,326,00017.96.611.32.2031.170.5
20181,369,003,30624,168,0009,098,00015,070,00017.76.611.02.1829.470.7
20191,383,112,05023,583,0009,281,00014,302,00017.06.710.32.1127.970.9
20201,396,387,12723,139,00010,262,00012,876,00016.67.49.22.0526.670.1
20211,407,563,84223,114,00013,300,000 9,814,00016.49.47.02.0325.567.2
20221,417,173,17323,056,02712,862,01510,194,01216.39.17.22.01

Census of India: sample registration system

Total fertility rate map: average births per woman by states and union territories, 2012[88]
Total fertility rate map: average births per woman by districts, 2011
Census of India: sample registration system[89][90][91][92]
YearAverage population
Live births1Deaths1Natural changeCrude birth rate
(per 1000)
Crude death rate
(per 1000)
Natural change
(per 1000)
Total fertility rate
1981716,493,00024,289,0008,956,00015,333,00033.912.521.44.52
1982733,152,00024,781,0008,725,00016,056,00033.811.921.94.5
1983750,034,00025,276,0008,925,00016,351,00033.711.921.84.5
1984767,147,00026,006,0009,666,00016,340,00033.912.621.34.5
1985784,491,00025,810,0009,257,00016,553,00032.911.821.14.3
1986802,052,00026,147,0008,903,00017,244,00032.611.121.54.15
1987819,800,00026,316,0008,936,00017,380,00032.110.921.24.1
1988837,700,00026,388,0009,215,00017,173,00031.511.020.54.0
1989855,707,00026,185,0008,814,00017,371,00030.610.320.33.9
1990873,785,00026,388,0008,476,00017,912,00030.29.720.53.8
1991891,910,00026,133,0008,741,00017,392,00029.39.819.53.64
1992910,065,00026,392,0009,192,00017,200,00029.010.118.93.6
1993928,226,00026,640,0008,633,00018,007,00009.319.43.5
1994946,373,00027,161,0008,801,00018,360,00028.79.319.43.5
1995964,486,00027,295,0008,680,00018,615,00028.39.019.33.5
1996982,553,00026,824,0008,745,00018,079,00027.38.918.43.40
19971,000,558,00027,215,0008,905,00018,310,00027.28.918.33.3
19981,018,471,00026,989,0009,166,00017,823,00026.59.017.53.2
19991,036,259,00026,943,0009,015,00017,928,00026.08.717.33.2
20001,053,898,00027,191,0008,958,00018,233,00025.88.517.33.2
20011,071,374,00027,213,0009,000,00018,213,00025.48.417.03.10
20021,088,694,00027,217,0008,818,00018,399,00025.08.116.93.0
20031,105,886,00027,426,0008,847,00018,579,00024.88.016.83.0
20041,122,991,00027,064,0008,422,00018,642,00024.17.516.62.9
20051,140,043,00027,133,0008,664,00018,469,00023.87.616.22.9
20061,157,039,00027,190,0008,678,00018,512,00023.57.516.02.79
20071,134,024,00026,195,9548,391,77817,804,17623.17.415.72.7
20081,150,196,00026,224,4698,511,45017,713,01922.87.415.42.6
20091,166,228,00026,240,1308,513,46417,726,66622.57.315.22.6
20101,182,108,00026,124,5878,511,17817,613,40922.17.214.92.5
20111,197,658,00026,108,9448,503,37217,605,57221.87.114.72.44
20121,212,827,00026,197,0638,489,78917,707,27421.67.014.62.38
20131,227,012,00026,258,0578,589,08417,668,97321.47.014.42.34
20141,243,542,00025,904,3778,264,73017,639,64721.06.714.32.32
20151,259,108,00026,189,4468,184,20218,005,24420.86.514.32.27
20161,273,986,00025,989,3148,153,51017,835,80420.46.414.02.26
2017[93]1,288,522,00026,028,1448,117,68917,910,45520.26.313.92.18
20181,324,609,00026,492,1808,212,57618,279,60420.06.213.82.15
20191,338,995,00024,820,8867,641,07617,179,81018.55.712.82.08[94]
20201,353,378,00024,222,4448,115,88216,106,56217.96.011.92.03
1 The numbers of births and deaths were calculated from the birth and death rates and the average population.

Life expectancy

Life expectancy map of India for 2019-2021, according to NFHS[95]
Life expectancy in India since 1960
with calculated sex gap[96]
PeriodLife expectancy in
Years
1950–195536.6
1955–196039.7
1960–196542.7
1965–197046.0
1970–197549.4
1975–198052.5
1980–198554.9
1985–199056.7
1990–199559.1
1995–200061.5
2000–200563.5
2005–201065.6
2010–201567.6

Source: UN World Population Prospects[97]

Structure of the population

Structure of the population (Census 9.II.2011)

Population by age group
Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercentage (%)Cumulative Percentage
0–458,632,07454,174,704112,806,7789.329.32
5–966,300,46660,627,660126,928,12610.4819.8
10–1469,418,83563,290,377132,709,21210.9630.76
15–1963,982,39656,544,053120,526,4499.9540.71
20–2457,584,69353,839,529111,424,2229.2049.91
25–2951,344,20850,069,757101,413,9658.3858.29
30–3444,660,67443,934,27788,594,9517.3265.61
35–3942,919,38142,221,30385,140,6847.0372.64
40–4437,545,38634,892,72672,438,1125.9878.62
45–4932,138,11430,180,21362,318,3275.1583.77
50–5425,843,26623,225,98849,069,2544.0587.82
55–5919,456,01219,690,04339,146,0553.2391.05
60–6418,701,74918,961,95837,663,7073.1194.16
65–6912,944,32613,510,65726,454,9832.1896.34
70–749,651,4999,557,34319,208,8421.5997.93
75–794,490,6034,741,9009,232,5030.7698.69
80–842,927,0403,293,1896,220,2290.5199.2
85–891,120,1061,263,0612,383,1670.2099.4
90–94652,465794,0691,446,5340.1299.52
95–99294,759338,538633,2970.0599.57
100+289,325316,453605,7780.0599.62
Unknown2,372,8812,116,9214,489,8020.3799.99
Total623,270,258587,584,7191,210,854,977100.00
Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–14194,351,375178,092,741372,444,11630.76
15–64394,175,879373,559,847767,735,72663.40
65+32,370,12333,815,21066,185,3335.47

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (03.III.2016) (Data are projections based on the 2011 Population Census.):[98]

Age GroupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total664,184,000626,890,0001,291,074,000100
0–462,872,00056,038,000118,910,0009.21
5–961,499,00056,969,000118,468,0009.18
10–1465,142,00059,682,000124,824,0009.67
15–1967,223,00060,871,000128,094,0009.92
20–2463,521,00057,356,000120,877,0009.36
25–2957,272,00053,357,000110,629,0008.57
30–3450,782,00049,250,000100,032,0007.75
35–3945,318,00044,787,00090,105,0006.98
40–4441,280,00040,497,00081,777,0006.33
45–4936,602,00035,107,00071,709,0005.55
50–5430,738,00029,016,00059,754,0004.63
55–5924,403,00023,307,00047,710,0003.70
60–6419,133,00019,288,00038,421,0002.98
65–6915,198,00016,114,00031,312,0002.43
70–7411,002,00011,723,00022,725,0001.76
75–797,703,0008,367,00016,070,0001.24
80+4,496,0005,161,0009,657,0000.75
Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–14189,513,000172,689,000362,202,00028.05
15–64436,272,000412,836,000849,108,00065.77
65+38,399,00041,365,00079,764,0006.18

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.III.2021) (Includes data for the Indian-held part of Jammu and Kashmir, the final status of which has not yet been determined. Data are projections based on the 2011 Population Census.):[99]

Age GroupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total700 623 000662 383 0001 363 006 000100
0–460 153 00054 120 000114 273 0008.38
5–962 276 00055 390 000117 666 0008.63
10–1461 266 00056 785 000118 051 0008.66
15–1964 862 00059 420 000124 282 0009.12
20–2466 770 00060 474 000127 244 0009.34
25–2962 944 00056 956 000119 900 0008.80
30–3456 614 00052 961 000109 575 0008.04
35–3950 027 00048 836 00098 863 0007.25
40–4444 450 00044 315 00088 765 0006.51
45–4940 204 00039 903 00080 107 0005.88
50–5435 235 00034 331 00069 566 0005.10
55–5929 082 00028 062 00057 144 0004.19
60–6422 465 00022 079 00044 544 0003.27
65–6916 823 00017 583 00034 406 0002.52
70–7412 546 00013 904 00026 450 0001.94
75–798 269 0009 294 00017 563 0001.29
80+6 637 0007 970 00014 607 0001.07
Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–14183 695 000166 295 000349 990 00025.68
15–64472 653 000447 337 000919 990 00067.50
65+44 275 00048 751 00093 026 0006.83

Fertility rate

From the Demographic Health Survey:[100]

TFR of India to 2016
Crude birth rate and total fertility rate (wanted fertility rate)
YearCBR – TotalTFR – Total1CBR – UrbanTFR – Urban1CBR – RuralTFR – Rural1
1992–199328.73.39 (2.64)24.12.70 (2.09)30.43.67 (2.86)
1998–199924.82.85 (2.13)20.92.27 (1.73)26.23.07 (2.28)
2005–200623.12.68 (1.90)18.82.06 (1.60)25.02.98 (2.10)
2015–201619.02.18 (1.8)15.81.75 (1.5)20.72.41 (1.9)
2019–202117.11.99 (1.6)14.01.63 (1.4)18.62.14 (1.7)
CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman). 1Number in parentheses represents the wanted fertility rate.
Total fertility rate (wanted fertility rate) by religion
YearHinduMuslimChristianSikhBuddhist/Neo-BuddhistJainOther
2019–20211.94 (1.6)2.36 (1.8)1.88 (1.7)1.61 (1.4)1.39 (1.2)1.60 (1.5)2.15 (1.7)
CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman). 1Number in parentheses represents the wanted fertility rate.
Crude birth rate and total fertility rate (wanted fertility rate) 2015–2016
State (Population 2011)CBR – TotalTFR – Total1CBR – UrbanTFR – Urban1CBR – RuralTFR – Rural1
Uttar Pradesh (199 812 341)22.62.74 (2.06)18.62.08 (1.62)24.02.99 (2.22)
Maharashtra (112 374 333)16.61.87 (1.57)15.51.68 (1.41)17.52.06 (1.73)
Bihar (104 099 452)27.13.41 (2.48)20.42.42 (1.83)28.03.56 (2.58)
West Bengal (91 276 115)16.61.77 (1.53)14.01.57 (1.38)18.01.85 (1.58)
Madhya Pradesh (72 626 809)20.22.32 (1.82)17.71.95 (1.61)21.32.48 (1.91)
Tamil Nadu (72 147 030)15.51.70 (1.51)13.91.54 (1.38)17.21.86 (1.63)
Rajasthan (68 548 437)20.82.40 (1.81)17.51.94 (1.52)22.02.56 (1.91)
Karnataka (61 095 297)15.91.81 (1.42)15.21.65 (1.30)16.51.92 (1.50)
Gujarat (60 439 692)16.72.03 (1.54)15.31.82 (1.39)17.92.19 (1.64)
Andhra Pradesh (49 386 799)16.11.83 (1.64)13.91.53 (1.39)17.01.96 (1.75)
Odisha (41 974 218)18.12.05 (1.69)15.61.73 (1.50)18.72.12 (1.72)
Telangana (35 193 978)17.11.79 (1.59)17.11.67 (1.53)17.21.88 (1.64)
Kerala (33 406 061)11.21.56 (1.47)11.41.57 (1.47)11.01.55 (1.46)
Jharkhand (32 988 134)21.72.55 (2.06)16.31.78 (1.47)23.52.83 (2.27)
Assam (31 205 576)19.52.21 (1.78)13.21.45 (1.25)20.52.34 (1.87)
Punjab (27 743 338)13.81.62 (1.37)13.51.59 (1.32)14.01.63 (1.39)
Chhattisgarh (25 545 198)20.72.23 (1.88)17.91.78 (1.58)21.52.37 (1.97)
Haryana (25 351 462)18.72.05 (1.63)16.31.78 (1.44)20.22.22 (1.75)
Jammu and Kashmir (12 541 302)17.72.01 (1.67)13.91.58 (1.39)19.42.18 (1.77)
Uttarakhand (10 086 292)19.02.07 (1.60)17.11.80 (1.43)20.02.24 (1.71)
Himachal Pradesh (6 864 602)15.31.88 (1.55)12.01.43 (1.15)15.71.92 (1.59)
Tripura (3 673 917)15.31.69 (1.55)12.71.40 (1.34)16.41.80 (1.62)
Meghalaya (2 966 889)24.63.04 (2.79)16.11.67 (1.57)26.73.47 (3.18)
Manipur (2 855 794)21.22.61 (2.33)17.52.14 (1.96)23.72.92 (2.57)
Nagaland (1 978 502)21.42.74 (2.35)16.31.78 (1.58)24.13.38 (2.86)
Goa (1 458 545)12.81.66 (1.37)13.41.72 (1.37)11.71.55 (1.37)
Arunachal Pradesh (1 383 727)17.92.12 (1.64)17.01.69 (1.26)18.22.29 (1.79)
Mizoram (1 097 206)18.72.26 (2.15)16.91.97 (1.89)21.22.71 (2.54)
Sikkim (610 577)11.41.17 (0.88)12.11.11 (0.82)11.11.21 (0.91)
CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman). 1Number in parentheses represents the wanted fertility rate.
Crude birth rate and total fertility rate (wanted fertility rate) 2019–2021[101]
State (Population 2011)CBR – TotalTFR – Total1CBR – UrbanTFR – Urban1CBR – RuralTFR – Rural1
Uttar Pradesh (199 812 341)20.52.35 (1.77)16.71.88 (1.49)21.82.50 (1.86)
Maharashtra (112 374 333)13.81.71 (1.43)12.61.50 (1.27)15.01.89 (1.58)
Bihar (104 099 452)25.92.98 (2.25)20.42.35 (1.88)27.03.11 (2.31)
West Bengal (91 276 115)15.51.64 (1.42)12.41.39 (1.24)17.01.73 (1.48)
Madhya Pradesh (72 626 809)17.21.99 (1.61)13.71.61 (1.34)18.52.12 (1.69)
Tamil Nadu (72 147 030)13.71.76 (1.59)12.71.61 (1.50)14.61.89 (1.66)
Rajasthan (68 548 437)18.72.01 (1.61)15.31.67 (1.42)19.82.11 (1.65)
Karnataka (61 095 297)14.21.67 (1.38)13.21.50 (1.25)14.91.79 (1.46)
Gujarat (60 439 692)15.01.86 (1.53)13.31.65 (1.39)16.32.0 (1.60)
Andhra Pradesh (49 386 799)13.81.68 (1.55)12.51.47 (1.36)14.31.78 (1.64)
Odisha (41 974 218)15.91.82 (1.52)13.11.48 (1.26)16.51.89 (1.57)
Telangana (35 193 978)15.31.75 (1.55)16.01.75 (1.57)15.31.74 (1.54)
Kerala (33 406 061)11.81.79 (1.68)11.91.82 (1.71)11.61.76 (1.65)
Jharkhand (32 988 134)20.22.26 (1.87)14.21.56 (1.32)22.02.48 (2.04)
Assam (31 205 576)16.81.87 (1.56)13.11.50 (1.37)17.41.93 (1.59)
Punjab (27 743 338)13.31.63 (1.35)12.11.55 (1.29)14.01.68 (1.38)
Chhattisgarh (25 545 198)16.41.82 (1.57)13.61.42 (1.28)17.21.94 (1.66)
Haryana (25 351 462)16.41.91 (1.54)14.11.65 (1.38)17.52.04 (1.62)
Jammu and Kashmir (12 541 302)13.11.41 (1.3)
Uttarakhand (10 086 292)16.71.85 (1.46)16.81.84 (1.47)16.61.86 (1.47)
Himachal Pradesh (6 864 602)12.71.66 (1.43)11.21.43 (1.36)12.91.69 (1.44)
Tripura (3 673 917)14.51.70 (1.49)11.01.39 (1.29)15.81.81 (1.56)
Meghalaya (2 966 889)24.22.91 (2.66)14.81.57 (1.43)26.53.31 (3.04)
Manipur (2 855 794)17.42.17 (1.98)14.71.84 (1.73)19.12.38 (2.13)
Nagaland (1 978 502)15.41.72 (1.57)12.51.21 (1.13)16.82.00 (1.82)
Goa (1 458 545)10.31.30 (1.21)10.31.26 (1.19)10.31.36 (1.24)
Arunachal Pradesh (1 383 727)16.01.80 (1.49)14.81.44 (1.24)16.21.88 (1.54)
Mizoram (1 097 206)15.01.87 (1.78)13.91.63 (1.56)16.42.19 (2.08)
Sikkim (610 577)10.21.05 (0.85)7.80.71 (0.54)11.71.32 (1.11)
Delhi14.81.62 (1.29)14.61.60 (1.27)23.42.47 (2.06)
CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman). 1Number in parentheses represents the wanted fertility rate.

Regional vital statistics

Birth rate, death rate, natural growth rate, and infant mortality rate, by state or UT(2010)[102]
State or UTBirth rateDeath rateNatural growth rateInfant mortality rate
TotalRuralUrbanTotalRuralUrbanTotalRuralUrbanTotalRuralUrban
Andaman and Nicobar Islands15.615.515.84.34.83.311.310.712.6252918
Andhra Pradesh17.918.316.77.68.65.410.29.711.3465133
Arunachal Pradesh20.522.114.65.96.92.314.615.212.3313412
Assam23.224.415.88.28.65.814.915.810.1586036
Bihar28.128.822.06.87.05.621.321.816.4484938
Chandigarh15.621.615.03.93.73.911.617.911.0222023
Chhattisgarh25.326.818.68.08.46.217.318.412.4515244
Dadra and Nagar Haveli26.626.028.64.75.13.321.920.925.3384322
Daman and Diu18.819.118.34.94.94.813.914.213.6231929
Delhi17.819.717.54.24.64.113.615.013.4303729
Goa13.212.613.76.68.15.76.64.58.0101010
Gujarat21.823.319.46.77.55.515.115.814.0445130
Haryana22.323.319.86.67.05.615.716.314.3485138
Himachal Pradesh16.917.511.56.97.24.210.010.37.3404129
Jammu and Kashmir18.319.513.55.75.94.712.613.68.8434532
Jharkhand25.326.719.37.07.45.418.319.313.9424430
Karnataka19.220.217.57.18.15.412.112.112.1384328
Kerala14.814.814.87.07.16.77.87.78.1131410
Lakshadweep14.315.513.26.46.16.78.09.56.5252327
Madhya Pradesh27.329.220.58.39.06.018.920.214.5626742
Maharashtra17.117.616.46.57.55.310.610.211.1283420
Manipur14.914.815.34.24.34.010.710.511.314159
Meghalaya24.526.614.87.98.45.616.618.29.2555837
Mizoram17.121.113.04.55.43.712.515.79.3374721
Nagaland16.817.016.03.63.73.313.213.312.7232420
Odisha20.521.415.28.69.06.611.912.48.6616343
Puducherry16.716.716.77.48.27.09.38.59.6222521
Punjab16.617.215.67.07.75.89.69.59.8343728
Rajasthan26.727.922.96.76.96.020.020.916.9556131
Sikkim17.818.116.15.65.93.812.312.312.3303119
Tamil Nadu15.916.015.87.68.26.98.37.88.9242522
Tripura14.915.611.55.04.85.79.910.85.8272919
Uttar Pradesh28.329.224.28.18.56.320.220.717.9616444
Uttarakhand19.320.216.26.36.75.113.013.511.1384125
West Bengal16.818.611.96.06.06.310.712.65.6313225

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

Map showing the population density in India, per 2011 Census.[103]

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

Total population

1,166,079,217 (July 2009 est. CIA),[104] 1,210 million (2011 census),[105] 1,389,637,446 (May 2022 est.)[106]

Rural population:

62.2%; male: 381,668,992, female: 360,948,755

Age structure:

0–14 years: 27.34% (male 186,087,665/female 164,398,204)
15–24 years: 17.9% (male 121,879,786/female 107,583,437)
25–54 years: 41.08% (male 271,744,709/female 254,834,569)
55–64 years: 7.45% (male 47,846,122/female 47,632,532)
65+ years: 6.24% (male 37,837,801/female 42,091,086) (2017 est.)

Median age:

Total: 28.7 years

Male: 28 years

female: 29.5 years (2020 est.)[107]

Population growth rate :

0.67% (2022 est)[108]

Literacy rate

74% (age 7 and above, in 2011)[109]
81.4% (total population, age 15–25, in 2006)[110]

Per cent of population below poverty line:

22% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

7.8%

Net migration rate:

0.00 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)[107]

Sex ratio:

At birth:1.12 male(s)/female
Under 10 years:1.13 male(s)/female
15–24 years:1.13 male(s)/female
24–64 years:1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.9 male(s)/female
Total population:1.08 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

Total population: 69.7 years
Male: 68.4 years
Female: 71.2 years (2020 est.)[107]

Total fertility rate:

2.35 (2020 est.)[107][111][112]

The TFR (total number of children born per women) by religion in 2005–2006 was: Hindus, 2.7; Muslims, 3.1; Christians, 2.4; and Sikhs, 2.0.[113]

Religious Composition:

Hindus 79.5%, Muslims 15%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.7%, other and unspecified 2% (2011 est.)[107][114][115][116][117]

Scheduled castes and tribes:

Scheduled castes: 16.6% (2011 census);[118][119]scheduled tribes: 8.6% (2011 census)

Languages

See Languages of India and List of languages by number of native speakers in India. There are 216 languages with more than 10,000 native speakers in India. The largest of these is Hindi with some 337 million, and the second largest is Bengali with 238 million. 22 languages are recognised as official languages. In India, there are 1,652 languages and dialects in total.[120][121]

Caste/Tribe

Caste and community statistics as recorded from "Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission" (SEBC) or Mandal Commission of 1979. This was completed in 1983.

India has chosen not to officially count caste population since then.

The following data are from the Mandal report:[citation needed]

Caste/Tribe demographics (1983)
Caste/Tribepopulationpercentagenotes
Total population731,000,000100%*Margin of error 0.34%
Scheduled castes and tribes164,913,60022.56%
Scheduled castes110,015,50015.05%
Scheduled tribes54,898,1007.51%
Non OBC/SC/ST Hindu castes/communities128,509,80017.58%
Brahmin (including Bhumihar)40,351,2005.52%
Kshtriya (Rajput)28,509,0003.90%
Maratha16,155,1002.21%
Jats7,310,0001%
Vaishya, Bania, etc.13,742,8001.88%
Kayasthas7,821,7001.07%
Others14,620,0002%
Non-Hindu communities and groups121,346,00016.6%Non-Hindu scheduled and OBC
Muslim (Non S.T)81,798,90011.19%0.02%
Christian (Non S.T)15,789,6002.16%0.44%
Sikh (Non scheduled)12,207,7001.67%0.22%
Buddhist (Non S.T)4,897,7000.67%0.03%
Jain (Non scheduled)3,435,7000.47%
Other backward classes and communities (OBC)380,120,00052%*OBC is a derived figure
Hindu OBC318,716,00043.60%
Non-Hindu OBC61,404,0008.40%*52% of Non-Hindus

Ethnic groups

The national Census of India does not recognise racial or ethnic groups within India,[122] but recognises many of the tribal groups as Scheduled Castes and Tribes (see list of Scheduled Tribes in India).

According to a 2009 study published by Reich et al.., the modern Indian population is composed of two genetically divergent and heterogeneous populations which mixed in ancient times (about 1,200–3,500 BP), known as Ancestral North Indians (ANI) and Ancestral South Indians (ASI). ASI corresponds to the Dravidian-speaking population of southern India, whereas ANI corresponds to the Indo-Aryan-speaking population of northern India.[123][124] 700,000 people from the United States of any race live in India.[18] Between 300,000 and 1 million Anglo-Indians live in India.[125]

For a list of ethnic groups in the Republic of India (as well as neighbouring countries), see South Asian ethnic groups.

Linguistic groups in India chart[126][127]

  Indo-Aryan (75%)
  Dravidian (20%)
  Kolarian, Tibeto-Burman, Khasi, Tai and others (5%)

Genetics

Y-chromosome DNA

[128]

Y-Chromosome DNA Y-DNA represents the male lineage, The Indian Y-chromosome pool may be summarised as follows where haplogroups R-M420, H, R2, L and NOP comprise generally more than 80% of the total chromosomes.[129]

  • H ~ 30%
  • R1a ~ 34%
  • R2 ~ 15%
  • L ~ 10%
  • NOP ~ 10% (Excluding R)
  • Other Haplogroups 15%

Mitochondrial DNA

[130]

Mitochondrial DNA mtDNA represents the female lineage. The Indian mitochondrial DNA is primarily made up of Haplogroup M[131]

Autosomal DNA

Tripuri children preparing for a dance performance. The Tripuris are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group.

Numerous genomic studies have been conducted in the last 15 years to seek insights into India's demographic and cultural diversity. These studies paint a complex and conflicting picture.

  • In a 2003 study, Basu, Majumder et al. have concluded on the basis of results obtained from mtDNA, Y-chromosome and autosomal markers that "(1) there is an underlying unity of female lineages in India, indicating that the initial number of female settlers may have been small; (2) the tribal and the caste populations are highly differentiated; (3) the Austroasiatic tribals are the earliest settlers in India, providing support to one anthropological hypothesis while refuting some others; (4) a major wave of humans entered India through the northeast; (5) the Tibeto-Burman tribals share considerable genetic commonalities with the Austroasiatic tribals, supporting the hypothesis that they may have shared a common habitat in southern China, but the two groups of tribals can be differentiated on the basis of Y-chromosomal haplotypes; (6) the Dravidian speaking populations were possibly widespread throughout India but are regulated to South India now; (7) formation of populations by fission that resulted in founder and drift effects have left their imprints on the genetic structures of contemporary populations; (8) the upper castes show closer genetic affinities with Central Asian populations, although those of southern India are more distant than those of northern India; (9) historical gene flow into India has contributed to a considerable obliteration of genetic histories of contemporary populations so that there is at present no clear congruence of genetic and geographical or sociocultural affinities."[132]
  • In a later 2010 review article, Majumder affirms some of these conclusions, introduces and revises some other. The ongoing studies, concludes Majumder, suggest India has served as the major early corridor for geographical dispersal of modern humans from out-of-Africa. The archaeological and genetic traces of the earliest settlers in India has not provided any conclusive evidence. The tribal populations of India are older than the non-tribal populations. The autosomal differentiation and genetic diversity within India's caste populations at 0.04 is significantly lower than 0.14 for continental populations and 0.09 for 31 world population sets studied by Watkins et al., suggesting that while tribal populations were differentiated, the differentiation effects within India's caste population was less than previously thought. Majumder also concludes that recent studies suggest India has been a major contributor to the gene pool of southeast Asia.[133][134]
  • Another study covering a large sample of Indian populations allowed Watkins et al. to examine eight Indian caste groups and four endogamous south Indian tribal populations. The Indian castes data show low between-group differences, while the tribal Indian groups show relatively high between-group differentiation. This suggests that people between Indian castes were not reproductively isolated, while Indian tribal populations experienced reproductive isolation and drift. Furthermore, the genetic fixation index data show historical genetic differentiation and segregation between Indian castes population is much smaller than those found in east Asia, Africa and other continental populations; while being similar to the genetic differentiation and segregation observed in European populations.[134]
  • In 2006, Sahoo et al. reported their analysis of genomic data on 936 Y-chromosomes representing 32 tribal and 45 caste groups from different regions of India. These scientists find that the haplogroup frequency distribution across the country, between different caste groups, was found to be predominantly driven by geographical, rather than cultural determinants. They conclude there is clear evidence for both large-scale immigration into ancient India of Sino-Tibetan speakers and language change of former Austroasiatic speakers, in the northeast Indian region.[135][136]
  • The genome studies conducted up until 2010 have been on relatively small population sets. Many are from just one southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana, which was part of the state until June 2014). Thus, any conclusions on demographic history of India must be interpreted with caution. A larger national genome study with demographic growth and sex ratio balances may offer further insights on the extent of genetic differentiation and segregation in India over the millenniums.[133]

Charts

See also

Government

Lists

Notes

References

Bibliography

Medieval India
  • Lal, K. S. (1978). Growth of Muslim population in medieval India (A.D. 1000–1800). Delhi, Research Publications.
  • Lal, K. S. (1995). Growth of scheduled tribes and castes in medieval India. New Delhi: Aditya Prakashan.

External links