India's Population Policies and Perspectives, Planning Commission

Abstract

One of the most crucial problems facing the nation today is high growth rate of population. The 1981 census accounted India's population at 685 million; the population having doubled since Independence (342 million in 1947). The population of India today is estimated to be 807 million (as on 1-3-1989). and the more alarming fact is that we are adding 17 million persons to our population every year. This annual increase is the highest of all the countries in the world including China which is the most populous country at present. If the present rate of population growth continues, the population of India may again double by 2035 AD or so and we may become the most populous country in the world overtaking China. This has to be viewed in the light of the fact that while we have only 2.4% of the world area, India has 15% of world population. Though China is, at present, the most populous country in the world but India is more densely populated than China. The density of population in India (1987) is estimated to be 256 persons per sq. km as against 120 for that of China for 1987.