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Composition of Age-wise World Population, 2000
Region 0–14 15–64 65+ All Age Groups
Low Income Countries 37% 59% 4% 100%
Middle Income Countries 27% 66% 7% 100%
High Income Countries 18% 67% 15% 100%
India 34% 61% 5% 100%
(approximate figures)
In the low and middle income countries, young POPULATION DISTRIBUTION
people are greater in number. In the high income The number of people living per square kilometre
group, the number of elderly persons is more. Just
of land area is described as the density of
compare India as compared to other low, middle
population. Population is not evenly distributed in
and high income group countries.
the world. Some regions are very densely
Literacy populated, while others are sparsely populated.
There can be different reasons for this variation.
The term ‘literacy’ refers to the ability to read,
write and understand a simple text in any one or Factors Influencing the Distribution of
more than one language. In India, a person above Population
the age of seven years is considered literate if
The world is not uniform in structure. There are
he/she can read and write a simple text. A person differences with respect to climate, land features,
who can read but cannot write is considered
soil, vegetation etc. This great diversity continues
illiterate. Presently, more than one-third of the
to be reflected in the variation in the distribution
world’s population is illiterate. As per the Census of population across the world. The factors that
of India, 2011, 74.04 percent of India’s total
affect population distribution can be divided into
population is literate. The male literacy rate was two major factors—geographical factors and socio-
82.41 percent and female literacy rate was 65.46 economic factors.
percent in 2011. India is making great efforts to
enable all children to attend school. Geographical Factors
The most important factors that influence the
distribution of population are geographical factors.
People prefer to live in those regions where
natural conditions are favourable for human
activity. Suitable relief features, climate, natural
vegetation, soil and availability of water are
essential. This is the reason that plains and valleys
attract a larger population than mountains and
high plateaus. Plains are more suitable because it
is easier to build infrastructure, like roads,
railways, dams etc.; while considerable difficulty
Anganwadi programme for child education is faced in these human activities in hills and
F ind Outind Out plateaus. Some geographical features are quite
inhospitable, such as in high mountains, deserts
Find out the names of states in India which occupy etc. where the climate is either too cold or too
the first and second rank with regard to female hot. Climate has direct effect on human
literacy rate. population as excessive heat, cold and dryness
restrict human settlement.
Contemporary Social Science-8
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