Population Growth & Population Distribution

• Population growth is a temporal concept while Population Distribution is a spatial concept.
• Population growth refers to the population change by birth rate, death rate & migration.It is measured by annual exponantial growth rate, decadal growth rate, etc.
• Population distribution means the concentration of population cluster over space. Population distribution is measured by population density.

Population Growth in the World

     Stage I(Agricultural revolution phase) - 10000 BC to 1779

• Population growth was very slow because birth rate & death rate both were high.
• Malnutrition, famine, wars, etc.
• The total population is estimated by Durrand was 5 million during 8000 BC which became 500 million in 1560 & by 1779 it was 750 million.

     Stage II(Industrial revolution phase) - 1779 to 1930

• In 1850, population became 1 billion. Thus in 200 years the population doubled itself due to control over resources & development in medical  science, control over famine, malnutrition, etc.

     Stage III(Scientific Revolution phase) - 1930 to 1975

• The total population became 2 billion in 1930 and 4 billion in 1975. Thus it took 45 years to double the population.
• The explosive increase was witnessed in the 3rd world countries. After Independence, death rate was controlled by imported medicine & the green revolution mitigated the food crisis.
• In 1950, population was 2.5 billion. After 1950, the 1.5 billion population was added by the counties like India, China, west asia,South east Asia, etc.

     Stage IV(Technological Phase) - 1975 to Present

• Total population raised to 6 billion in 2001 & presently it is more than 7 billion. By 2025, it is projected to be 8 billion.
• Population explosion has continued in the developing countries.

Population Distribution of the World

1. High Density Region(>200)
   1. Primary Concentration(>750): Bangladesh, Singapore, etc.
   2. Secondary Concentration(>500): South east china, India, etc.
   3. Tertiary concentration(>200): Java, Malaysia, India, etc.
2. Medium Density Region(50-200)
3. Low Density Region(10-50)
4. Very Low density Region(<10)

Population Distribution on the basis of habitat

• The world can be divided into Ecumene which means human habitat. It is divided into:
• 1. Intensive ecumene: like metropolitan city, delta, flood basin, etc.
  2. Extensive ecumene: mainly rural area, sub-humid region, forest area, etc.
  3. Exploitation ecumene: Cumbering area, forestry area, mining area, etc.
  4. Sporadic ecumene: Semi-arid tracks, tribal region, climatically hazardous region, etc.
  5. Non-ecumene: Land which is unfit for human habitation. eg. desert.

---

Population growth in India

     Stage I(High Stationary Phase) - 1881 to 1921

• In 1901, the population growth rate was 0.1 average annual exponential while decadal growth rate was 5.1 which became 5.7 in 1911. But in 1921 it was recorded -0.3 which means the total  population reduced to 251 million from 252 million because of epidemics famine & world war.
• 1921 is considered the great demographic divide because since then the population of India has been exponentially rising.

     Stage II(Early Expanding Phase) - 1921 to 1951

• In 1951, population became 36 crore despite the partition of India.
• The reason for population growth was control over famine & better nutrition.

     Stage III(Explosive Growth Phase) - 1951 to 1981

• In 1951, India wittnessed the highest population growth rate 24.8 & in 1971 24.7. 
• UP had double explosion & it experienced highest decadal growth rate during 1971-81. It was more due to coercive population policy of forced sterilization.

     Stage IV(Late Expanding Phase) - 1981 to Present

• The total population is on rise because of the demographic momentum & the higher replacement level.
• In 1991, decadal growth rate was 23.8. In 2001 = 21.3 and in 2011 = 17.64.
• The reason for decline is increase in education & awareness of family planning.
• The southern states have reached the replacement level. The higher growth rate is recorded in the gangatic plains.

Population Distribution in India

1. Very High population concentration(>750)
2. High Population concentration(500-750)
3. Medium population concentration(250-500)
4. Low population concentration(100-250)
5. Very Low population concentration(<100)