Mention the salient demographic indicators of China, Pakistan and India.
Mention the salient demographic indicators of China, Pakistan and India.
The
important demographic indicators of Indian, China and Pakistan are tabulated as
below.
Demographic Indicators, 2000-01
Country
Estimated Population (in millions)
Annual Growth Rate of Population (1990-2003)
Density (per sq. km)
Sex Ratio
Fertility Rate
Urbanisation
India
1103.6
1.7
358
933
3.0
27.8
China
1303.7
1.0
138
937
1.8
36.1
Pakistan
162.4
2.5
193
922
5.1
33.4
Source: NCERT Book Chapter- 10, Pg- 185
The
important demographic indicators are as follows:
a)
Total Population: China is the largest populated country in the world
followed by India. The above table depicts that China’s population in 2000-01
was approximately 1303.7 million and that of India and Pakistan was 1103.6
million and 162.4 million respectively.
b)
Annual Growth Rate
of Population: Although China is the
largest populated country but a strong positive point for China is that, its
annual growth rate of population is just 1% per annum while that of India and
Pakistan is 1.7% and 2.5% per annum. With such a high growth rate it would not
be wrong to expect that in the forthcoming decades India will surpass the total
population of China.
c)
Density of
Population: In spite of the fact that China
is highly populated and geographically occupying the largest area among the
three nations, its density of population is the lowest. It is as low as 138
persons per square kilometer of area compared to 358 and 193 persons in India
and Pakistan respectively. Lower the degree of density of population the lower
is the pressure on the country’s natural resources and higher is the
probability of sustainable development.
d)
Sex Ratio: This ratio counts the number of females per 1000 males.
The sex ratios in all the three countries are almost same with China having a
marginally higher sex ratio of 937 females per 1000 males. This depicts the low
economic and social status of women in India and Pakistan.
e)
Fertility Rate: This rate refers to the number of children a woman gives
birth to during her lifetime. China enjoys an upper hand in this case. The
fertility rate of Chinese woman is only 1.8 whereas those of India and Pakistan
are 3.0 and 5.1. This implies that in India and Pakistan a woman usually gives
birth to approximately 3 and 5 children. This is the most important concern for
both India and Pakistan, as with such a high fertility rate, population in the
coming decades will surpass that of China.
f)
Urbanisation: Lastly, China is comparatively more urbanised
than India and Pakistan. The rate of urbanisation in
China is 36.1% while that in India and Pakistan is 27.8% and 33.4%
respectively. The degree of urbanisation depicts the standard and quality of living of
people of a particular country. Also, this confirms the shift in the economic
structure of an economy. Higher degree of urbanisation
reveals higher industrialisation and development of
tertiary sector in the economy.
Thus to sum up, although China is the largest populated
country but its other demographic indicators are stronger than those of both
India and Pakistan. It would not be
wrong to expect a decline in China’s population in the coming decades due to
implementation of various policy measures and also due to low annual growth
rate of population.
The
important demographic indicators of Indian, China and Pakistan are tabulated as
below.
|
Demographic Indicators, 2000-01 |
||||||
|
Country |
Estimated Population (in millions) |
Annual Growth Rate of Population (1990-2003) |
Density (per sq. km) |
Sex Ratio |
Fertility Rate |
Urbanisation |
|
India |
1103.6 |
1.7 |
358 |
933 |
3.0 |
27.8 |
|
China |
1303.7 |
1.0 |
138 |
937 |
1.8 |
36.1 |
|
Pakistan |
162.4 |
2.5 |
193 |
922 |
5.1 |
33.4 |
Source: NCERT Book Chapter- 10, Pg- 185
The
important demographic indicators are as follows:
a)
Total Population: China is the largest populated country in the world
followed by India. The above table depicts that China’s population in 2000-01
was approximately 1303.7 million and that of India and Pakistan was 1103.6
million and 162.4 million respectively.
b)
Annual Growth Rate
of Population: Although China is the
largest populated country but a strong positive point for China is that, its
annual growth rate of population is just 1% per annum while that of India and
Pakistan is 1.7% and 2.5% per annum. With such a high growth rate it would not
be wrong to expect that in the forthcoming decades India will surpass the total
population of China.
c)
Density of
Population: In spite of the fact that China
is highly populated and geographically occupying the largest area among the
three nations, its density of population is the lowest. It is as low as 138
persons per square kilometer of area compared to 358 and 193 persons in India
and Pakistan respectively. Lower the degree of density of population the lower
is the pressure on the country’s natural resources and higher is the
probability of sustainable development.
d)
Sex Ratio: This ratio counts the number of females per 1000 males.
The sex ratios in all the three countries are almost same with China having a
marginally higher sex ratio of 937 females per 1000 males. This depicts the low
economic and social status of women in India and Pakistan.
e)
Fertility Rate: This rate refers to the number of children a woman gives
birth to during her lifetime. China enjoys an upper hand in this case. The
fertility rate of Chinese woman is only 1.8 whereas those of India and Pakistan
are 3.0 and 5.1. This implies that in India and Pakistan a woman usually gives
birth to approximately 3 and 5 children. This is the most important concern for
both India and Pakistan, as with such a high fertility rate, population in the
coming decades will surpass that of China.
f)
Urbanisation: Lastly, China is comparatively more urbanised
than India and Pakistan. The rate of urbanisation in
China is 36.1% while that in India and Pakistan is 27.8% and 33.4%
respectively. The degree of urbanisation depicts the standard and quality of living of
people of a particular country. Also, this confirms the shift in the economic
structure of an economy. Higher degree of urbanisation
reveals higher industrialisation and development of
tertiary sector in the economy.
Thus to sum up, although China is the largest populated
country but its other demographic indicators are stronger than those of both
India and Pakistan. It would not be
wrong to expect a decline in China’s population in the coming decades due to
implementation of various policy measures and also due to low annual growth
rate of population.
