Rapid Population Growth and Its Effect o

Shakeel Ahmad Mir, International Journal of Research in Engineering, IT and Social Sciences,
ISSN 2250-0588, Impact Factor: 6.565, Volume 09 Issue 01, January 2019, Page 182-188
Rapid Population Growth and Its Effect on

Economic Development of India
Shakeel Ahmad Mir
(Research scholar Jiwaji University Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India)
Abstract: Persons are resources as well as split ends of economic development. They are an asset if in ample
strength and prove to be a burden if excess in strength. Population has traversed the optimal limit in India and
has grown to be a liability. Over-population has been major dilemma in India. The efforts to remove the
nuisance of population problem have only been partially effective. In significance the rate of population
increase has gone down, but the sense of balance between the optimum population growth and a healthy nation
is far to be attained. Unhealthy living, lack of knowledge, illiteracy, and lack of appropriate recreation have
remained the basis of population trouble in India. The chief endeavor of this effort is to stumble on the effects of
hasty population growth on economic development of India. This is very important because India is second most
populated country in the world and many studies show that India will leave behind china soon based on the
population growth rate in both of these countries. So the study of relationship between these variables may help
the government to think about the effect of population growth on their policies in upcoming or future.
Keywords: Asset, Liability, Optimum Population, Population growth, India
I. INTRODUCTION
According to Cambridge English Dictionary population is defined as “All the people living in a
particular country, area, or place or Population is also used to refer to all the living things of particular type
or group who live in a particular area or environment”. And the population growth is defined by Wikipedia as
“The increase in the number of individuals in population.”To determine whether there has been population
growth, the following formula is used ;( birth rate + immigration) – (death rate + emigration).the science of
population is called demography. India demographics occupy 2nd rank among the world's most populated
countries. With its present population of more than 1.21 billion people (As per Census of India 2011), the
country is predictable to beat China and be the chief populous country in the world. The total population of the
nation is growing at the rate of 1.41 %. India occupies only 2.4 percent of the total land area of the world but
the population of the country is approximately 17% of the total global population. There are a lot of countries
around the world that endure from the problem of being one of the most populated countries in the world. The
data that is presented here in (Table 1.1) offers estimations of population that always changes in different
countries all over the world in a short period of time. Here are the top ten leading countries with the highest
population to recognize which country is ranked as the most populated one.
Table 1.1 Top 10 Highest Population Countries in the World
Rank Country Population % age of the World
1. China 1,354,040,000 19.16%
2. India 1,210,193,422 17.13%
3. United States 315,492,000 4.47%
4. Indonesia 237,641,326 3.36%
5. Brazil 193,946,866 2.74%
6. Pakistan 182,219,000 2.58%
7. Nigeria 166,629,000 2.36%
8. Bangladesh 152,518,015 2.16%
9. Russia 143,369,806 2.03%
10. Japan 127,460,000 1.8%

Source-https://www.whichcountry.co/top-10-populated-countries-in-the-world/
http://indusedu.org Page 182
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Figure 1.1 Top 10 Highest Population Countries in the World
1.4E+09
1.2E+09
1E+09
800000000
600000000
400000000
200000000
Table 2.2 Top 10 Population Countries and their percentage share in the world
RANK COUNTRY PERCENTAGE
1 China 19.16
2 India 17.13
3 United states 4.47
4 Indonesia 3.36
5 Brazil 2.74
6 Pakistan 2.58
7 Nigeria 2.36
8 Bangladesh 2.16
9 Russia 2.03
10 Japan 1.8
China is widely known as the most populated country in the world since its population is estimated to
be approximately. 1,354,040,000. The percentage of population in China compared to the population of the
world is around 19.16% to be the highest on the list. India is the second largest country in the world in provisos
of its population. It has a total population of about1, 210,193,422 and the percentage of population is estimated
to be approximately 17.13% of the total population of the world. The United States is the most dominant
country in the world. It is ranked as the world’s third most populated country as it has a total population of about
315, 492,000. The percentage of population in the United States compared to the population of the world is
around 4.47%.Indonesia has the 4th largest population in the world and its population is estimated to be
approximately 237,641,326. The percentage of population in this country is around 3.36% compared to the total
population of the world. Brazil is the 5th largest country in the world not just by its population, but it is also by
the geographical area. Brazil has a total population of about 193,946,866 and the percentage of population is
approximately 274% compared to the population of the world. Pakistan is ranked as the 6th most populated
country in the world since it has a total population of about 182,219,000. The percentage of population in
Pakistan compared to the population of the world is approximately 2.58%.
Figure 1. 2 Top 10 Population Countries and their percentage share in the world
Russsia, COUNTRY, 0
Bangladesh, 2.03 Japan, 1.8
2.16
Nigeria, 2.36
Pakistan, 2.58
China, 19.16
Brazil, 2.74
Indonesia, 3.36
United states,
4.47
India, 17.13
Nigeria has the 7th largest population in the world as the population of this country is estimated to be
approximately143, 369,806 and the percentage of population that it has is almost 2.36% of the world’s
population. The total population of Bangladesh is about 156,698,000 and is to be the 8th most populated country
in the world. The percentage of population in this country compared to the population of the world is around
2.16%.Russia is the largest country in the world and has the world’s 9 th largest population as its population is
estimated to be approximately 152,518,015 and the percentage of the population in this country is 2.03%
compared to the population of the world. Japan the 10th most populated country in the world; however it is
prominent for being technologically advanced. Japan has a total population of about 127,460,000 and the
percentage of its population compared to the total population of the world is about 1.8%.The fact is population
growth and economic growth always has a close relationship. Over periods, the points of view about positive
and negative sound effects of population on economic development are still intricate problems for most of the
economists. One of these economists is Thomas R Malthus. In his model (1826), he stated that the population
growth can diminish the output per capita for the reason that population increases at a geometrical rate whereas
production increases at an arithmetic rate so that output growth rate cannot maintain the same pace. Another
famous economist is Robert M. Solow (1956). Unlike Malthus, he focused on the term “population growth rate”
instead of the “population level”. He affirmed that an augment in the population growth rate can turn down the
capital per worker as well as the steady-state output per worker. As an end result, elevated population growth
can bring the disadvantage to the productivity and economic growth. India’s population is large and growing.
By 2001, one billion people were living in India, and in 50 years, this number could double. Almost every year,
India adds a population size equal to Australia’s. The situation is just amazing. The production of food cannot
keep rapidity with the distressing increase in numbers. The causes of this problem are not very far away to seek.
Ours is a hot country. So we have a high birth rate .In India the boys and girls nurture and mature sexually
earlier than time. Before time marriages are frequent even today, particularly in the rural areas. Moreover, the
birth of a baby is believed to be the work of God. Illiteracy and lack of knowledge are still uncontrolled marsh
families still carry prestige with them. So the birth rate is relatively high. The medical amenities on the other
hand have augmented a lot since independence. It has led to decrease in the death-rate. The population is,
therefore, increasing at a tremendous speed. As the population rises, so will poverty. Being a developing
country, the growing growth rate is bushed India into a ferocious cycle of poverty and population, which leads
to a development trap. This further increases additional harms like unemployment, illiteracy and inflation.
Abolition of poverty is a very long-term goal in India. Last but not the least, there is a lack of the means of
recreation for the masses. This and many other social factors are at work. They account for this grave problem
facing the country. The trouble of ever mounting numbers must be work out on main concern basis if not solved
our Five Year Plans cannot lift up our standard of living. No plan for employment can be successful in its
absence. The food problem will remain as it is. So, for the future prosperity of the nation, every attempt must
be made to solve it.
Objectives of the paper
 To study the impact of rapid population growth on economic development of India.
 To study the various causes of population growth in India.
 To suggest various measures of controlling population growth in India.
II. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The present study is based on secondary data, as it is quantitative in nature. The data can be obtained
from different published and unpublished sources like Research papers, Articles, Magazines, Relevant websites
available on internet, census of India Etc.
 Growth and Economic Development
The layout of population growth on economic development has fascinated the concentration of
economist ever since Adam Smith wrote in his “Wealth of Nations”. Adam Smith Wrote, “The annual
labor of every nation is the fund which originally supplies it with all the necessaries and conveniences
of life”. It was only Malthus and Ricardo who created an apprehension about the effect of population
growth on the economy. But their fears have proved baseless because population growth in Western
Europe has led to its rapid Industrialization. It is sometimes said that a rising population helps in
economic development by given that an expanding markets for goods. But it is a wrong view. Actually
over-population slows down economic development. All pains at economic development under fast
growing population turn out to be “Writing on sand with waves of population growth washing away all
that we have written”. Population growth hampers the economic development in many ways-
 More stress on Land: growing rate of population growth exerts pressure on land. On the one
hand, per capita availability of land goes on retreating and on the other, the difficulty of sub-
division and division of holdings goes on escalating. It unfavorably affects the economic
development of the country.
 Effect on per Capita Income: Large size of population in India and its fast rate of growth
results into low per capita availability of capital. From 1950-51 to 1980-81. The national
income of India grew at an average annual rate of 3.6 percent per annum. However per capita
income had gone up around one percent. It is due the fact that population growth has increased
by 2.5 percent.
 Shortage of food grains hampers economic development in two ways:
a) People do not get adequate quantity of food due low availability of food which
affects their health and productivity. Low output grounds low per capita income and
accordingly poverty.
b) Scarcity of food-grains induces the under-developed countries to import food grains

from abroad. So a large part of foreign exchange is spent on it. So development work
suffers. So increase in population grounds food crisis.
 Problem of Capital Formation: Composition of population in India slows down the increase
in capital formation. Elevated birth rate and low expectation of life means huge number of
dependents in the total population. 35% of population in India is perched of persons less than
fourteen years of age. Most of these people rely on others for survival. They are sterile
consumers. The burden of dependents lessens the capacity of the people to save. So the rate of
capital formation falls.
 Low down Standard of Living: speedy growth of population accounts for low down standard
of living in India. Even the nude requirements of life are not available sufficiently. According
to Dr. Chandler Shekhar population in India increases by about 1.60 crore. It requires 121 lakh
tones of food grains, 1.9 lakh meters of cloth and 2.6 lakh houses and 52 lakh extra jobs.
 Problem of Unemployment: Large size of population results in large army of labor force.
But due to scarcity of capital resources it becomes hard to provide gainful employment to the
whole working population. Concealed joblessness in rural areas and open joblessness in urban
areas are the ordinary features of an under developed country like India.
 Pressure on Environment: Population explosion show the way to environmental deprivation.
Elevated birth rate conveys more pollution, more lethal wastes and spoils the biosphere. In
brief, population explosion hinders the economic development. It should be illicit
successfully.
 Poverty: Rising population increases poverty in India. People have to use a large portion of
their resources for bringing up of their wards. It consequences into less saving and little rate of
capital formation. Hence enhancement in production technique becomes impossible. It means
low productivity of labor.
 Causes of Population Growth in India
The two main universal causes leading to over population in India are as follows:
 The fertility rate owed to the population policies and other measures has been declining but
still then it is much higher compared to other countries.
 The birth rate is still higher than the death rate. We have been victorious in dilapidated the
death rates but the same cannot be said for birth rates.
The above mentioned causes are interrelated to the various social matters in our country which are
leading to over population are:
 Untimely Marriage and common Marriage System: even though legally the marriageable age of girl
is 18 years, the concept of early marriage tranquil prevails and getting married at an early age lengthens
the child bearing age. Also, in India, marriage is a holy compulsion and a universal practice, where
almost each woman is married at the productive age.
 Poverty and Illiteracy: Another factor that leads to the rapid growth of population is poverty.
Indigent families have this faith that more the figure of members in the family, more will be the
numbers to get income. Some feel that extra children are needed to look after them in their old age.
Also starvation can be cause of death of their children and hence the need for more children.
 Use of contraceptives: Strange but true, Indian still lags behind the use of contraceptives and birth
control methods. Many of them are not prepared to discuss or are totally uninformed about them.
Illiteracy is consequently another reason of over population.
 Old age cultural norm: Sons are the bread earners of the families in India. This age old thought puts
extensive pressure on the parents to produce children till a male child is born.
 Increase in life expectancy: Due to improved living conditions, better cleanliness and hygiene habits,
better nourishment, health education, etc. the average life anticipation of human population has
enhanced considerably. Steady supply of good quality food makes sure that the population is well
nourished. Populations grow when they are efficiently nourished.
 Increased immigration: An increase in immigration often add towards population explosion,
particularly in developed countries. It occur when a great number arrive at a previously populated place
with the intention to dwell permanently.
 Religion: also plays a significant part. There are religions or dishonest explanation of religions which I
won’t name, but they speak against the use of Birth Control and Vaccination. It not only increases the
population but the population of diseased Children.
 Various measures of controlling population growth in India
There are various measures of controlling population growth in India broadly they can be classified
into 3 heads.
A. Social Measures B. Economic Measures C. Other Measures
A. Social Measures
Population bang is a social trouble and it is intensely rooted in the society. So efforts must be done to
get rid of the social evils in the country.
1. Spread of Education: The swell of education changes the perspective of people. The educated men
prefer to holdup marriage and adopt small family norms. Educated women are health cognizant and
stay away from frequent pregnancies and thus assist in lowering birth rate.
2. Raising the Status of Women: There is still favoritism to the women. They are restricted to four walls
of house. They are still restricted to rearing and bearing of children. Thus women should be given
chance to develop socially and economically. Free education should be given to them.
3. Change in Social Outlook: Social outlook of the people should experience a change. Marriage should
not be measured a social requisite. Issueless women should not be looked down upon.
4. Adoption: There are some parents who do not have any child, in spite of expensive medical treatment.
It is enviable that they should adopt orphan children. It will be beneficial to orphan children and
children couples.
5. Increased Minimum age of Marriage: since fertility depends on the age of marriage. So the bare
minimum age of marriage should be increased. In India minimum age for marriage is 21 years for men
and 18 years for women have been fixed by law. This law should be definitely implemented and people
should also be made aware of this through publicity.
6. Social Security: More and more people should be enclosed under-social security schemes. So that they
do not depend upon others in the affair of old age, illness, joblessness etc. with these amenities they
will have no wish for more children.
B. Economic Measures
The following are the economic measures:
1. Development of Agriculture and Industry: If agriculture and industry are appropriately developed, large
number of people will get employment. When their income is augmented they would get superior their
standard of living and implement small family norms.
2. Urbanization: It is on record that people in urban areas have low birth rate than those living in rural
areas. Urbanization should therefore be encouraged.
3. Standard of Living: Improved standard of living acts as a restriction to large family norm. In order to
preserve their higher standard of living people wish to have a small family. According to A.K. Das
Gupta those who get less than Rs. 100 per month have on the average a reproduction rate of 3.4
children and those who earn more than Rs. 300 per month have a reproduction rate of 2.8 children.
4. Supplementary employment opportunities: The first and leading measure is to lift up, the employment
opportunity in rural as well as in urban areas. Usually in rural areas there is concealed unemployment.
So hard work should be made to move around unemployed persons from rural area to urban area. This
footstep can check the population growth.
C. Other Measures
The following are the other measures:
1. Delayed Marriage: As far as possible, marriage should be celebrated at the age of 30 years. The period
of reproduction will be diminishing among the females bringing down the birth rate. The govt. has set
the minimum marriage age at 21 yrs. for males and 18 yrs. for females.
2. Family Planning: This method involves family by choice and not by chance. By applying preventive
measures, people can control birth rate. This method is being used widely; success of this method
depends on the availability of cheap contraceptive devices for birth control. According to Chander
Shekher, “Hurry for the first child, Delay the second child and avoid the third.”
3. Recreational Facilities: Birth rate will likely to go down if there are diverse spare time facilities like;
theatre, cinema, sports and dance etc. are accessible to the people.
4. Self Control: According to some experts, self control is one of the dominant methods to control the
population. It is an ideal and healthy approach and people should be provided to follow. It helps in
falling birth rate.
5. Advertising: The communication media like T.V., broadcasting and tabloid are the first-class means to
swell the reimbursement of the planned family to the uneducated and illiterate persons especially in the
rural and backward areas of country.
6. Woman employment: Women employment is another method to check the population. Women ought
to be given support to give services in diverse fields. Women are enchanting active part in competitive
examinations. As an end result their number in medical teaching and banking etc. is escalating quickly.
In concise by taking, all these procedures we can manage the growth of population.
7. Incentives: The govt. can give a variety of incentives to the people to adopt birth control measures.
Monetary inducement and other facilities like leave and endorsement can be unmitigated to the
working class which approves small family norms.
III. CONCLUSION
The above study demonstrates that high growth rate of population has slowed down the rate of
economic development in India. It is established fact that the fast increasing population makes the job of
fascinating the labor force in productive activities all the more complicated. So large increase in population is
more burden than an asset in the developing countries. It has also been examined that increasing demand for
agricultural land, firewood, dwelling units’ etc. results in deforestation which adversely affects soil fertility,
causes floods and affects the climate. It can be accomplish that the large size of population and its fast rate of
growth increases the consumption needs. This increases consumption expenditure. So saving rate and capital
formation does not increase much. A part of resources mobilized by such economies are eaten away by fast
growing population. In the fact of this conclusion, I want to convey that the correlation between population
growth and economic development could be favorable only when increasing population is in proportion to
resources available in country and resources are to be utilized in its full capacity, in useful and well-organized
manner by the skillful, talented human resources in the countries like India.
IV. REFERENCES
[1] Agarwal, Shubh. (2014). “Impact of India’s Population Growth on Economic Development”, paripex- Indian journal of
research, Volume: 3, Issue: 5 May 2014 ISSN - 2250-1991.
[2] Agarwal, S.N. - India’s Population Problems, 1974.
[3] Jhingan, M.L. – Demography, Vrinda Publications (P) Ltd.
[4] Mamoria, C.B. - Growth of Population in India.
[5] Journal Pratiyogita Darpan- Indian Economy.
[6] Published by Indian government- Indian Census 2001 and 2011.
Webliography
[7] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309158950_Effect_of_Population_Growth_on_Economic_Development_in_India
[8] http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/Pnadx933.pdfndia. RAPIDPopulationand Development.
[9] https://www.importantindia.com /6937/essay-on-population-problem-in-India/
[10] http://evirtualguru.com /essay-on-population-problem-
[11] http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com /population/brief-essay-on-population-control-
[12] https://www.whichcountry.co /top-10-populated-countries-in-the-world/
[13] https://www.mapsofindia.com /my-india/india/overpopulation-in-india-causes-effects-and-how-to-control-it
[14] https://www.quora.com/ What-is-reason-for-rapid-population-growth-in-India
[15] http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/population-growth.html
[16] http://www.economicsdiscussion.net/essays/measures-to-control-population-of-india/2249

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Shakeel Ahmad Mir, International Journal of Research in Engineering, IT and Social Sciences,

Rapid Population Growth and Its Effect on

1. China 1,354,040,000 19.16%

2. India 1,210,193,422 17.13%

3. United States 315,492,000 4.47%

4. Indonesia 237,641,326 3.36%

5. Brazil 193,946,866 2.74%

6. Pakistan 182,219,000 2.58%

7. Nigeria 166,629,000 2.36%

8. Bangladesh 152,518,015 2.16%

9. Russia 143,369,806 2.03%

10. Japan 127,460,000 1.8%

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Figure 1.1 Top 10 Highest Population Countries in the World

3 United states 4.47

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II. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

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b) Scarcity of food-grains induces the under-developed countries to import food grains

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