Dynamics of Population Class 8 Notes SST Part 2 Chapter 6

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Class 8 Dynamics of Population Notes

Dynamics of Population Notes Class 8

Demography

• Demography is the study of the human population.
• It studies the size, structure and composition of the population. It also studies the patterns and trends of population change over time.
• The population changes due to births, deaths, and migration.

Components of Demography:

• The size of population refers to the total number of people living in a place.
• The structure and composition of population refer to the age, gender, education, occupation, and religion of people.
• The pattern and trend of population refer to how the population changes over time.

Importance of Demography:

Demography helps governments plan infrastructure like schools, hospitals, roads and housing and municipal facilities. For example, services like water supply, electricity, waste management, etc. For example,

• It helps governments understand whether more schools or hospitals are needed in an area.
• It helps in creating more jobs when the working-age population is large.
• It helps businesses understand customers and design suitable products.
• It helps to better allocate and manage resources.

The census is conducted in India every ten years. It collects information about age, gender, education, language, religion, occupation and income.

Population at a Glance

• In 2023, India became the most populous country in the world surpassing China.
• Indians constitute around 17% of the world’s population.
• The world population grew from 2.5 billion in 1950 to about 8.2 billion in 2025.
• The world population is expected to reach about 9.7 billion by 2050.
• Medical improvements have helped people live longer and increased the population.
• According to the United Nations4, the world population will peak at 10.3 billion in the mid-2080s and then slowly decline.
• Countries like China, }apan and Italy are facing shrinking populations. At the same time, the population in several African nations such as Nigeria and Ethiopia are experiencing rapid population growth.

→ Population Growth and Advancements

• Rapid growth in world population began from the 1950s onwards.
• Several medical advancements occurred, including
  • Use of antibiotics
  • Development and wider use of vaccines
  • Introduction of oral rehydration solutions
• Other advancements during this period included
• Improved access to clean water and better sanitation facilities for more people.
• Reduction in child deaths from diseases like malaria and diarrhoea.
• Economic prosperity benefits reached larger populations in several countries.

Factors that Determine Population

The population of a country changes because of births, deaths and migration.

→ Birth Rate

• The birth rate shows the number of babies born per 1,000 people in a year.
• It helps predict whether a population will grow, shrink or stay stable.
• A high birth rate causes the population to grow quickly A low birth rate causes the population to grow slowly or decrease.

→ Fertility Rate

• The average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime is called fertility rate.
• Replacement Level Fertility Rate is the average number of children a woman must have to replace herself and her partner, keeping the population stable.
• A fertility rate of 2.1 is needed to maintain a stable population.
  • It the fertility rate is above 2.1, the population is likely to grow.
  • If the fertility rate is below 2.1, the Population might shrink over time.
• Together, birth and fertility rates are closely linked and are crucial to determine the Population growth. When fertility rates fall, the birth rate also drops.
• Many factors have contributed to falling fertility and birth rates. For example
  • Education and Employment of Women: As girls receive better education and women join formal jobs, they tend to marry later and have fewer children.
  • Urbanisation and Living Costs: High costs of living in cities encourage families to have fewer children.

→ Population Control and Fertility Trends

• In the 1970s, China was worried that fast population growth could cause food and housing shortages.
• In 1979, China started the One Child Policy, allowing most families to have only one child. Families who broke the rule faced fines or lost jobs.
• China’s fertility rate dropped from 7.5 in 1963 to 1 in 2025.
• China’s population reached 1.43 billion in 2022 and is expected to fall to 1.31 billion by 2050.
• People are living longer and the number of older people (65+) is expected to rise from 14% in 2023 to 26% by 2050.
• With fewer young workers, economic growth may slow down.
• The policy affected families, creating many children without siblings and smaller family networks.
• Even after the policy ended in 2016 and families can now have up to three children, fertility is still below the level needed to keep the population stable.
• In India, campaigns like ‘Hum Do, Humare Do’ (from 1952) encouraged families to have only two children.
• Though the population is still growing in India, the fertility rate substantially fell from 5.7 in 1950 to 1.9 in 2025.
• Other countries like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Russia, China, Italy and Spain also have low fertility rates.

→ Death or Mortality Rate

• The death rate shows the number of deaths per 1,000 people in a year.
• A lower death rate shows better healthcare and nutrition in a country.
• India has reduced child mortality due to better medical care and sanitation.
• India has made great progress in reducing child mortality, from 271 per 1,000 in 1950 to 28 per 1,000 in 2023.
• Life expectancy at birth has increased from 30 years at independence to 70 years in 2024.
• Life expectancy is the average number of years a newborn is expected to live if they grow up with the same health, safety and living conditions as people in the country today.
• For example, a life expectancy of 70 years means that most babies born today in India are expected to live around 70 years on average, though not everyone will live exactly that long.

→ Migration

• Migration refers to the movement of people from one place to another.
• People migrate to other areas in search of better jobs , education and so on. Sometimes, natural disasters and political problems force people to migrate.
• Cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru have grown rapidly due to migration.
• Migration increases pressure on housing, water, transport and the environment in cities.

Demographic Transition

• Countries experience changes in population patterns as they develop.
• Improved healthcare, education and greater participation of women in household decisions have influenced population trends.

→ Demographic Transition Stages

• Stage 1 – High birth and death rates. Both birth and death rates are high, so population growth is very slow or stagnant.
  Example: India was in this stage during 1901-1921 due to poor healthcare and low literacy.
• Stage 2 – Falling death rate, high birth rate. During this stage, the death rate declines due to better healthcare facilities, but birth rate remains high, which leads to rapid population growth.
  Example: After 1951, India’s population grew rapidly as the death rate declined but the birth rate remained high.
• Stage 3 – Low death rate, falling birth rate. In this stage, the death rate remains low and birth rate starts to decline, which slows down growth.
  • Factors for declining birth rate are urbanisation, higher income, education, women working and having fewer children.
  • If fertility drops below replacement level, population may shrink (seen in Italy, Japan, South Korea).
    Example: India’s fertility began to decline after mid-1980s.

→ India’s Population Composition

• India is the most populous country in the world with a diverse population spread across states.
• Population composition includes characteristics like age, gender, occupation and education, which help understand people better.

→ Improvement in India’s Sex Ratio

• The sex ratio is a key demographic indicator representing the number of females per 1,000 males in a population.
• The sex ratio in India improved from 933 in 2001 to 943 in 2011, with women forming 48.5% of the total population.
• A balanced sex ratio is important for social stability and equitable development.
• Some states such as Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu have better sex ratios.

→ Understanding Population Structure Diagrams

• A population structure diagram (or population pyramid) shows the number of people in a country by age groups and gender.
• It helps us understand how a population changes over time.
• A wide base of the pyramid shows a young and growing population like India and Nigeria.
• A wide middle part shows a stable population with many working adults.
• A wide top shows an ageing population like Japan.
• In the 1950s, India’s population pyramid looked like a narrow triangle. This shows there were many children and young people, but fewer older people.
• The birth rate was high because families had many children.
• Life expectancy (average age people lived to) was low, around 30-35 years, due to poor healthcare and nutrition.
• The shape of India’s population pyramid has changed from triangular to bell-shaped over time.
• Families are having fewer children than before.
• India has a large working-age population (15-60 years). This is called the demographic dividend because it provides a large workforce that supports economic growth.
• More people are living longer due to better healthcare, nutrition and living conditions.
• Overall, India’s population has shifted from a young, fast-growing population to a more balanced one.
• In the future, the population may start ageing slowly, similar to countries like Japan or China.

India’s Demographic Dividend

• India has a large young population in the age group of 16-30 years, which is known as youth bulge.
• India has a large working-age population, which can work in farms, factories, offices or start businesses.
• In India,
  • Nearly 27% of the population is under the age of 15 years.
  • Around 65% of the population is in the working-age group (15-59 years).
• More working people increase economic activities, helping the country grow.
• Working-age people earn money and pay taxes, which the government uses for schools, hospitals, roads and parks.
• The economic growth potential from a young and productive population is called the demographic dividend.
• This creates a window of opportunity to boost economic growth if the workforce is healthy, skilled and well-educated.
• The demographic dividend is limited because the growth of the young population is expected to decline after 2050.
• The number of children below five years of age reached its highest level in 2007 and has been declining since then.
• Similarly, the population below 15 years of age reached its highest level in 2011 and has also been declining since then.
• After 2050, India’s population will shift toward an older population.
• States like Kerala and Tamil Nadu are experiencing significant population ageing, unlike Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

→ Challenges of an Ageing Population

• An ageing population means more elderly people who need care and fewer young people working to support them.
• Ageing populations increase pressure on healthcare systems and slow down the economy due to fewer workers.
• Governments face challenges paying pensions and providing services with fewer young taxpayers.
• Developed countries, like Japan, support ageing populations by raising retirement age, using technology and automation, and providing community centres and AI assistants for elderly care.

→ Challenges for Developing Countries

• Developing countries need to harness the demographic dividend through investment in education, skilling and healthcare.
• Women often face a double burden of job responsibilities and household duties, which can limit workforce participation.
• Supportive family systems and childcare infrastructure, such as daycare centres, help increase women’s participation in the workforce.
• Policies to increase fertility rates have been attempted but have not been very successful.

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