Question

What do you mean by population density? Give a brief assessment of India's population distribution by density.

Answer 1

(i) By population density, we mean the number of persons per unit area. India is one of the most densely populated countries of the world.
(ii) The population density of India in the year $2001$ was $304$ persons per sq. km. Densities vary from $904$ persons per sq. km in West Bengal to only $13$ persons per sq. km in Arunachal Pradesh.
(iii) Rugged terrain and unfavourable climate conditions are primarily responsible for sparse population in some parts of the country.
(iv) Assam and most of the peninsular states have moderate population densities. Hilly dissected and rocky nature of the terrain, moderate to low rainfall, shallow and less fertile soil have influenced population densities in these areas.
(v) The Northern plains and Kerala in the south have very high population densities because of the flat plains with fertile soils and abundant rainfall.