Population of India

India is the second-most populated country in the world after China, with a population over 1.2 billion. Yet, all of these people live in a country roughly 1/3 the size of the U.S., ranking seventh overall in the world in square miles. Population is far more than just a number, though. If you wish to understand how India's population breaks down, study demographic information for a better idea of how so many people are able to live in such a relatively small area.

Is Rapid Population Growth a New Trend for India?

The population of India surpassed 400 million in the 1950s, making it one of the most populated countries in the world even then. Since that time, population growth has continued at a tremendous pace. In fact, India is expected to overtake China as the most populated country in the world by 2030, as China's growth curve is flattened out due to government policies limiting population growth. With a median age of 26.7, much of India's population is young, meaning rapid growth will continue.

Why is India's Population so High?

A number of factors contribute to India's fast rate of population growth. Improvements in healthcare and living conditions have caused India's life expectancy to increase from about 33 in the mid-1940s to about 70 today. While the birth rate has been declining, it has not been doing so at a fast enough pace to make up for the increase in life expectancy. There is also cultural perception that the more children a family has, the more hands to help support the family and to take care of the elders in their old age. There is also a cultural perception that children are a gift from God and the more, the better. Issues related to gender and poverty have stood in the way of literacy, which is necessary not only for improving standard of living, but for population control. Finally, there is a lack of knowledge on birth control methods. The government of India has not made education on birth control a top priority.

What Language Groups are Present in India?

Over 72 percent of the people of India are Indo-Aryan. Another 25 percent are Dravidian, which refers to a language group spoken mostly in southern and eastern India. The other roughly 3 percent of the population is Mongoloid. The people of India overwhelmingly speak Hindi, although English is still taught and is a subsidiary official language. Other major languages include Bengali and Tegulu.

Do Most People Live in Rural or Urban Areas?

India is 30 percent urban, with the capital, New Delhi, having a population of nearly 22 million people. Annually, another 2.4 percent of the population moves to urban environments, stressing already overcrowded areas. Cities are seen as places of progress for many Indians though, while rural areas suffer from poor infrastructure and limited employment opportunities. Other major cities include Mumbai, with a population over 19 million, and Kolkata, population 15 million.

How Does India's Population Compare to the Rest of the World?

The world population recently passed 7 billion, meaning India is home to roughly one-sixth of the world's people. China's population is roughly 1.3 billion, and the third-most populated country is the United States, with around 315 million. That puts India's population at roughly four times that of the U.S., making it extremely unlikely that India's population total will be overtaken. Indonesia and Brazil round out the most populous countries in the world, with 250 and 200 million people, respectively.

While the population of India is not growing quite as explosively as it once did, the sheer numbers of people, and especially young people, suggests that India will eventually become the most populous country in the world. There is little indication that any of the several drivers of population growth will change significantly in the short-term. Although India has experienced economic growth and has become a land of opportunity for some, much of the population experiences poor living conditions, including unimproved sanitation, high risk of disease, and malnourishment. Over 40 percent of Indian children under the age of 5 are underweight due to lack of food.