Analyzing Census Data On Populations By Age Group

The age structure of the population has to be analyzed properly so that the policymakers can take up short-term and long-term measures to handle socioeconomic issues. Studying and analyzing the population by age group is also needed for future demographic projections. 

AGE DISTRIBUTION IN INDIA

India is the 2nd most populous country globally, and the population is constantly increasing though the growth rate is slower compared to the census period 1991-2001. 

MEDIAN AGE

In 2015, the median age in India was 26.8 years. It means half of the population of India was older than the median age and half of the population was younger than this age. In 1950, the median age was 19.3 years. As per the projection, the median age of India will become 38.1 years by 2050. 

AGING IN INDIA

As the population growth in India has been significant in the past some years, the age distribution remained in favor of the younger age group. The population growth was rapid, but life expectancy was lower. The life expectancy at birth has increased from 67.13 in 2011 to 69.66 in 2019. 

ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF A YOUNG POPULATION

• If the number of people below 30 is on the rise in India, then it has significant effects on the country’s economy. The government has to provide education to this age group to make them market-ready for the future. With the right kind of education and skills training, the nation can get a productive workforce, positively affecting the national economy. 
• When the country has more number of people above 60, then the government has to invest more in the health sector. 

The distribution of the population by age group is also helpful in predicting potential political issues. When the number of young people is growing, it could lead to the problem of unemployment which may have political implications in the future. 

POPULATION PYRAMID

The sex and age structure of a country’s population can be illustrated through a population pyramid. This structure provides insights into social and political stability in the country in the coming years. This structure is also helpful in providing insights into the economic development during the forecast period. 

• The horizontal axis shows the population.
• The numbers of males are shown on the left and the females on the right.
• The female and male population is broken down into five year age groups represented along the vertical axis as horizontal bars. 
• The youngest age group remains at the bottom. 
• The oldest age group remains at the top.
• Based on the factors like mortality, fertility, and international trends, the shape of the population pyramid evolves.

General information about Population by Age group

Based on the Sample Registration System 2018, which was prepared by the Census Commissioner of India and the Registrar General, the information based on the data of population by age group is given below.

• More than 50% of the population of India is 25 years old or more.
• The total percentage of people in India below25 years is 46.9%. The percentage of females is 46.3%, and the percentage of males is 47.4%. 
• The population under 25 years of age is slightly higher than the national average in Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. 
• About 52.7% of the population in Uttar Pradesh is below 25 years of age. Uttar Pradesh has the 2nd highest fertility rate at 2.9%. 
• Kerala has 37.4% of people below 25 years and has a fertility rate of 1.7%
• The population below 25 years of age in the urban areas is lesser than that of the rural areas owing to the low fertility rate.
• The highest birth rate is in Bihar, which is 26.2%.
• The lowest birth rate is in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 11.2 per 1000 inhabitants.
• The highest death rate is in Chhattisgarh, which is 8 deaths per 1000 inhabitants .
• The lowest death rate is in Delhi, which is 3.3 per 1000. India has witnessed a significant decrease in the death rate over the last 40 years since 1971. The death rate declined to 6.2% in 2018 compared to 14.9% in 1971. 
• The fertility of a population is measured by its birth rate. The birth rate is also an essential factor determining population growth. The birth rate in India has declined over the last four decades. 

CONCLUSION

• Like the rest of the world, India’s population composition is changing. The data on population by age group indicates that the elderly population in India is increasing steadily. It indicates higher life expectancy at birth and 60 years or more. The steady growth of older adults also indicates a decline in mortality and fertility.