ADOLESCENTS AND

YOUTH IN INDIA
HIGHLIGHTS FROM CENSUS 2011

Dr C CHANDRAMOULI
REGISTRAR GENERAL & CENSUS COMMISSIONER, INDIA
Today, every fifth person in India is an adolescent
(10-19 years) and every third – a young person (10-
24 years)

Investing in this segment of population is the best

way to leverage the nation’s competitive advantage
– its demographic dividend.
 Population of Adolescents (10-19 Years)

Adolescent (10-
Proportion of
Country Population 19 yrs)
(in million) Adolescents
Population (%)
(in million)

China 1358.8 191.2 14.1

India 1205.6 236.5 19.6
USA 312.2 43.0 13.8
Indonesia 240.6 43.4 16.8
Brazil 195.2 33.8 17.3
Pakistan 173.1 30.9 23.1

World Population Prospects –

The 2012 Revision, UN 2013
 Population of Youth (15-24 Years)

Youth
Proportion
Country Population (15-24 yrs)
(in million) of Youths
Population (%)
(in million)

China 1358.8 242.2 17.8

India 1205.6 229.0 19.0
USA 312.2 43.9 14.1
Indonesia 240.6 40.5 16.8
Brazil 195.2 33.6 17.2
Pakistan 173.1 37.2 21.5

World Population Prospects –

The 2012 Revision, UN 2013
Definition of Adolescents, Youth

• Adolescents …… 10 -19 years

• Youth …………… 15 - 24 years

• Together, adolescents and youth are referred to

as ‘Young people’, encompassing the ages 10-24
years.
 HIGHLIGHTS FROM
CENSUS OF INDIA 2011
 Population Pyramid (By 10 Years Grouping)
India : 2001 & 2011 Censuses

Age-Sex Distribution, India, 2011

Age-Sex Distribution, India, 2001
80+
80+
70-79
70-79
60-69
60-69
50-59
50-59
40-49
40-49
30-39
30-39
20-29
20-29
10-19
10-19
0-9
0-9
25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0 0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0
30.0 20.0 10.0 0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0
Females Males
Females Males

The broad base is gradually shrinking and the bulge is

moving upwards indicating an increase in the median age
 Adolescents (10-19) : India

• Population (2011) 253 mn (225 mn)

• Decadal growth (2001-11) + 12.5%

• Sex Ratio (2011) 898 (882)

 Youth (15-24) : India

• Population (2011) 231 mn (189 mn)

• Decadal growth (2001-11) + 22.1%

• Sex Ratio (2011) 908 (882)

 Trends in Proportion of Population – India
1961 to 2011 Census

• Since 1971 the proportion of adolescent population has

remained around 21 per cent
• Proportion of youth population increased steadily from
16.5 per cent in 1971 to 19.2 per cent in 2011
Trends in Sex Ratio (1961 to 2011 Census) – India

• Adolescent Sex Ratio has been very low, showing increase

and decline in alternate censuses. Highest in 2011 at 898
• Youth Sex Ratio has shown consistent decline till 2001, then
rising in 2011.
Sex Ratio Among Adolescents (10-19)
Census 2011
Sex Ratio Among Youth (15-24)
Census 2011
Trends in Literacy Rate by Sex and Gender
Gap – India
ADOLESCENTS (10-
19)

Adolescent and Youth

Literacy Rates show
consistent increase.

Appreciable increase in
YOUTH (15-24)
Female Literacy Rate -
narrowing gender gap
Trends in Work Participation Rate – India

ADOLESCENTS (10-
19)
Decline in WPR by sex in
Total and Rural areas from
2001 to 2011. No change in
Urban areas.

YOUTH (15-24)

Similar situation exists

in case of Youth as well..
In Conclusion

• Population of Adolescents (253.2 million) and Youth

(231.9 million) are quite large in the country

• There is considerable progress in achieving literacy

among both the groups

• What remains as crucial element is the development

of skills among Youth population to take up decent
vocation.
For more information visit:
censusindia.gov.in
Or write to:
rgi.rgi@censusindia.gov.in

Thank you