Geography Class 10 Notes Chapter 6 Population Maharashtra Board

Introduction

• Population: The total number of people living in a region, an important resource for a country’s growth.
• A qualitative population (healthy, educated, skilled) is key to economic and social progress.
• This chapter compares the population of India and Brazil, focusing on distribution, density, sex ratio, age structure, growth rate, life expectancy, and literacy rate.
• Key skills: Reading maps, graphs, and understanding population characteristics.

Population of India

Overview

• Population (2011 Census): Around 121 crores (1.21 billion), making India the second most populous country in the world.
• Global Share: India has 17.5% of the world’s population but only 2.41% of the world’s land area.
• Population Density: Average of 382 persons per sq. km (2011 Census).
• Distribution: Very uneven due to physiography (landforms) and climate.

Population Distribution (Figure 6.1a and 6.1b)

High-Density Areas:

• Northern Plains: Fertile land, availability of water, and flat terrain support agriculture (e.g., Uttar Pradesh, Bihar).
• Coastal Regions: Ports and industries attract people (e.g., Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata).
• Urban Centers: Cities like Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru due to jobs and facilities.

Low-Density Areas:

• Himalayas: Mountainous, cold, and inaccessible (e.g., Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh).
• Thar Desert: Dry, lack of water (e.g., Western Rajasthan).
• Dense Forests: Inaccessible, limited facilities (e.g., parts of Northeast India).

Key States:

• Highest Density: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal.
• Lowest Density: Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh.

Factors Affecting Distribution

Favorable Factors:

• Fertile land (e.g., Ganga Plains).
• Availability of water (rivers, canals).
• Flat plains (easy for settlements).
• Industries and trade (urban centers).

Unfavourable Factors:

• Rugged terrain (mountains, hills).
• Dry climate (deserts).
• Dense forests (inaccessibility).
• Lack of facilities (roads, schools).

Correlation with Climate and Physiography

Climate: Moderate climate in the plains supports agriculture and settlements, while extreme cold (Himalayas) or aridity (Rajasthan) limits population.

Physiography: Flat, fertile plains (e.g., Ganga Plains) attract dense populations, whereas mountains and deserts have sparse populations.

Population of Brazil

Overview

• Population (2010 Census): Around 19 crores (190 million), making Brazil the fifth most populous country in the world.
• Global Share: Brazil occupies 5.6% of the world’s land but has only 2.78% of the world’s population.
• Population Density: Average of 23 persons per sq. km, much lower than India.
• Distribution: Very uneven, concentrated near the coast.

Population Distribution (Figure 6.2a and 6.2b)

High-Density Areas:

• Southeast Coast: Fertile land, industries, and ports (e.g., Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro).
• Eastern Coastal Plain: Agriculture and trade flourish (e.g., Pernambuco, Bahia).

Low-Density Areas:

• Amazon Basin: Unfavorable climate, heavy rainfall, dense forests, and inaccessibility (e.g., Amazonas, Roraima).
• Central and Western Brazil: Highlands with moderate density (e.g., Mato Grosso, Goias).

Key States:

• Highest Density: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Pernambuco.
• Lowest Density: Amazonas, Roraima, Acre.

Map Type: Dot map (distribution) and choropleth map (density).

Factors Affecting Distribution

Favorable Factors:

• Nearness to the sea (ports, trade).
• Fertile land (agriculture).
• Industries and urban centers.
• Moderate climate.

Unfavorable Factors:

• Dense forests (Amazon Basin).
• Heavy rainfall and inaccessibility.
• Lack of roads and facilities.
• Rugged highlands.

Population Composition

Sex Ratio (Figure 6.3)

Definition: Number of females per 1000 males in a region.

Brazil:

• Sex ratio is above 1000 (more females than males) since decades.
• Number of women has increased significantly since 2001.

India:

• Sex ratio is below 1000 (more males than females).
• Slight increase in sex ratio after 1991, but men still outnumber women.

Reasons for Low Sex Ratio (India):

• Gender discrimination, female infanticide, and neglect of girls.
• Not all Indian states have low sex ratios (e.g., Kerala has a higher sex ratio).

Age and Sex Pyramid (Figure 6.4)

Definition: A graph showing the distribution of males and females across age groups, also called a population pyramid.

Brazil (2016):

• Population is slowly aging.
• Higher proportion of older people (above 80 years).

India (2016):

• Higher proportion of youth, indicating a larger working population.
• More children compared to Brazil.

Use: Helps understand the proportion of children, youth, and elderly, and plan for education, jobs, and healthcare.

Population Growth Rate (Figure 6.5)

Brazil:

• Growth rate is declining significantly.
• Population may stop growing in the next two decades.

India:

• Growth rate was high until 1971, then stabilized.
• Population grew by 18.2 crores from 2001 to 2011, but growth rate is now declining.

Key Point: A downward trend in growth rate does not mean population is decreasing; it means growth is slower than before.

Life Expectancy (Figure 6.6)

Definition: Average number of years a person is expected to live.

Brazil:

• Average life expectancy: 75 years (2016).
• Higher due to better healthcare and living conditions.

India:

• Average life expectancy: 68 years (2016), up from 41 years in 1960.
• Improving due to better health facilities and nutrition.

Significance: Higher life expectancy indicates social and economic development.

Relation to Population Growth: Increased life expectancy can lead to slower population growth as people live longer but have fewer children.

Literacy Rate (Figure 6.7)

Brazil:

• Higher literacy rate compared to India.
• Steady increase over decades due to education policies.

India:

• Literacy rate is improving but lower than Brazil.
• Significant progress since 1960 due to government efforts.

Importance: A literate population contributes to economic growth and social development.

Comparison of India and Brazil

Population Size and Density

India:

• Population: 121 crores (2011), second highest globally.
• Density: 382 persons per sq. km, high due to limited land and large population.

Brazil:

• Population: 19 crores (2010), fifth highest globally.
• Density: 23 persons per sq. km, low due to large land area and sparse interior regions.

Distribution

Similarities:

• Both have uneven population distribution.
• High density in fertile, coastal, and urban areas.
• Low density in inaccessible or harsh regions (forests, deserts, mountains).

Differences:

• India: Dense in northern plains and urban centers; sparse in Himalayas and deserts.
• Brazil: Dense in southeast and eastern coasts; sparse in Amazon Basin and central highlands.

Sex Ratio

• Brazil: More females than males (sex ratio >1000).
• India: More males than females (sex ratio <1000).

Age Structure

• Brazil: Aging population, more elderly.
• India: Younger population, more youth and children.

Growth Rate

• Brazil: Declining rapidly, may stabilize soon.
• India: Declining but still growing significantly.

Life Expectancy

• Brazil: Higher (75 years).
• India: Lower (68 years) but improving.

Literacy Rate

• Brazil: Higher literacy rate.
• India: Lower but improving.

Importance of Population

Why Population is a Resource:

• A large, skilled population drives economic growth (e.g., labor for industries, innovation).
• A youthful population (like India’s) provides a strong workforce.
• Educated and healthy people contribute to social progress.

Challenges:

• High population density (India) strains resources like food, water, and housing.
• Low density (Brazil’s interior) limits development in those areas.
• Gender imbalance (India) affects social equality.
• Aging population (Brazil) increases dependency on the working population.

Solutions for Population Management

Utilizing Manpower:

• Provide education and skill training to youth (e.g., vocational programs).
• Create job opportunities in rural and urban areas.

Improving Sex Ratio:

• Promote gender equality through campaigns like “Save Girl, Teach Girl.”
• Enforce laws against female infanticide and ensure girls’ education.

Controlling Population Growth:

• Spread awareness about family planning and contraception.
• Improve healthcare to reduce infant mortality, encouraging smaller families.