Demographic Changes and Population Growth in Gorakhpur District: Recent Trends and Status

 

Harsh Raj Yadav1, Shivakant Singh2

1Research Scholar, Dept. of Geography, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur UP.

2Professor, Dept. of Geography, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur UP.

*Corresponding Author E-mail:

 

ABSTRACT:

The World is going through a period of unprecedentedly rapid demographic change in this sense the most obvious example of this change is the huge expansion of human beings in number i.e. four billion have been added since 1950.To understand the population dynamics we should focus on demographic changes with reference to total population, population density, sex ratio, literacy rate, scheduled caste population and workers in total population and it’s characteristics with age composition of that society. The presented research paper focused on these aforementioned areas of population dynamics of Gorakhpur district.

 

KEYWORDS: Demographics, Population Density, Sex Ratio, Population Dynamics, Demographic change.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Demographic change and population growth is in a two-way relationship. (Sandeep Kumar Baliyan, 2016) Demographic change affects factors of population growth, such as average age, dependency ratios, life expectancy, family structures, birth rates etc., and these intermediate factors in turn influence demographic change. The four fundamental factors driving changing population size and age structure is birth rate, death rate, fertility, and migration across and within countries - are closely tied to population growth. Concomitantly, changes in the age structure of the population also affect the ratio of potential workers per potential consumers, with direct implications for per capita growth, savings, and poverty.

 

India is the second most populous country in the world having 1.21 billion population. Uttar Pradesh is situated in the Northern Plains of the India having 23.15 crore population that is 16.50 per cent of India’s population and area wise Uttar Pradesh is the fourth largest state in India covering 6.8 per cent of the country's geographical area. (Census, 2011) It encompasses 2,43,286 km2 of area and comprising of 18 divisions, 75 district with 822development blocks and 97941 populated villages.

 

Gorakhpur is North Eastern district of Uttar Pradesh having population of 44.41 lakh that is 2.22 percent of the state’s population. And area wise it is 40th of India’s districts encompassing 3448 km2. District is made up with 7 tehsil and 19 blocks consisting of 3448 revenue villages. Population density in aforementioned district is 1337 persons per km2, as against the average density of Uttar Pradesh that is 828 persons per sq. km. And 328 persons per km2 of India. The population of Gorakhpur district was 16.73 lakh in 1961 which later increased to 19.80 lakh in 1971 and later in 1991 is increased to 30.66 lakh and in census of 2011 population was reported to 44.41 lakh. The decadal growth of the population of Gorakhpur district was 22.94 per cent recorded in 2001 census but in 2011 the rate was declined to 17.81 per cent. The population growth of Gorakhpur district is lower than the state’s population growth rate in the decade of 2001-11.

 

Gorakhpur lags behind from some districts of Uttar Pradesh in the terms of social well-being and social development indicators such as literacy rate, per capita income, infant mortality rate, electrification of villages, teacher-pupil ratio in government primary and secondary schools, birth rate, death rate, medical facilities per capita energy consumption etc. The caste system is very dominating in the district due to this the social infrastructure cannot compete with other developed districts. The sex ratio of state is skewed towards male, it was reported 950 females per thousand males. Recent and competitive research analysis have shown that economic, cultural and social makeup of the state are the factors which are responsible for its backwardness.

 

Level of urbanization is comparatively good than the other districts of Uttar Pradesh and in last two decades the urbanisation rate got much more pace and the urban sprawl have grown in larger size in peripheral part of the district. Average literacy rate of Gorakhpur is 70.83 per cent as compared to 58.49 per cent of 2001. In which male literacy rate is 81.80 percent and female literacy rate is only 59.36 per cent.

 

OBJECTIVES:

●    To find out the role of socio-economic variables in the demographic change.

●    Overview the trend of population growth in Gorakhpur district.

 

DATA AND METHODOLOGY:

Various secondary data are used along with the census report of 2011 pertaining to Gorakhpur district is a primary source of data collection in this article. In some cases economic survey of Government of India and Statistical Diary of Planning Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh is also used. For this study selected demographic and economic variables for analysis is used and it has been done at district level and selected variables are given below :

a)     Population decadal growth rate

b)    Population density

c)     Sex ratio

d)    Literacy rate

e)     Scheduled caste population decadal growth rate

f)     Workers in total population

 

Fig 1: Map of India depicting location of Gorakhpur District (Source: Census of India 2011)

 

Demographic Structure of Gorakhpur District:

Availability of land & natural resource play pivotal role in the development of any region. (K.S. James, 2011) But utilization and best use of these economic resources is possible only by people because Resources are not but made.(Zimmerman, 1933) That means natural resources are not a resource until it fulfils any demand or need of people. People keep on searching and utilize these natural resources at their best according to their needs. Due to this human resource is very important in economic development. So, it becomes necessary to understand the total population and its structure. Demographic characteristics of any region provides an overview of its population size, composition, territorial distribution, and the components of changes such as birth rate, mortality, and social mobility such as immigration and out migration.

 

This article on demographic change and population growth has been subdivided into two parts- Population Statistics and Vital Statistics. Population statistics include indicators which measure the population size, sex ratio and density. These indicators for the State as well as for the district will help in identifying areas that need government interventions, setting short and long term policy making, and deciding priorities by understanding them in an integrated structure.

 

Population Growth Rate:

Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in the country Table 1 shows the population growth rate of Gorakhpur district and Uttar Pradesh since 1991 to 2011. As per details from census 2011 Gorakhpur district has a population of 44.4 lakh and increase from the figure of 37.69 lakh in 2001 census. The total population growth in this decade was 17.81% while in previous decade it was 22.94%. The population of Gorakhpur district forms 2.22% of Uttar Pradesh in 2011 and in 2001 the figure was 2.26%. Further Table 1 shows that there was a many step of population growth since 1991, during 1991to 2011 population of Gorakhpur district is increased from 30.66 lakh to 44.40 lakh. In the last twenty years, the district population has increased46.51% where the state’s population has been increased by 51.06%. If we divide this time period into two parts that is 1991 to 2001 and 2001 to 2011 then we found that,  from 1991 to 2001 the district population has been increased by only 22.99% and in the second half that is 2001 to 2011 the population has been increased by 17.80%which is less than last decade's census. This result shows that population growth rate is lesser after 2001.

 

When we analyse the decadal growth rate, result shows that during 1991 to 2001 the growth rate is 24.60% from 2001 to 2011 population growth rate show the decline and is 17.81 but still it is in higher side. Higher rates of population growth are a serious problem and will be more dangerous for future concerns.

 

When we compare Gorakhpur district population growth rate with state level we found that from census year 1991 to 2011, the growth rate of population of Gorakhpur district have been lower as compared to state’s population growth rate.

 

 

Table 1: Population Growth Rate of Gorakhpur District and Uttar Pradesh 1991-2011

Year

Gorakhpur

(In lakhs)

Uttar Pradesh

(In lakhs)

Share of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh (%)

Decadal growth rate of Gorakhpur (%)

Decadal growth rate of Uttar Pradesh (%)

1991

30.66

1320

2.32

24.60

25.55

2001

37.69

1662

2.26

22.94

25.80

2011

44.40

1996

2.22

17.81

20.09

Source: Census of India www.censusindia.gov.in

 

Table 2: Population Density in Uttar Pradesh and Gorakhpur District 1991-2011

Year

Density of Uttar Pradesh

(Population per sq. km.)

Variation

Population Density of Gorakhpur District (Population per sq. km.)

Variation

1991

548

-

923

-

2001

690

+25.91%

1135

+22.96%

2011

828

+20%

1337

+17.79%

Source: Census of India www.censusindia.gov.in

 

Fig: Population Density in Uttar Pradesh and Gorakhpur District 1991-2011

Fig: Sex Ratio of Uttar Pradesh and Gorakhpur District 1991- 2011

Population Density:

Population density is known as numbers of persons per square kilometre, a pivot index of population which shows concentration of persons in an area.( R C Chandna, 2014) As we can see in the given table the population density of Uttar Pradesh increased from 548 person per square kilometre in 1991 to 828 person per square kilometre in 2011 census in other words on an average280 more people inhabited in ever square kilometre. In every decade we see increasing density of population as the absolute population is increasing every year. In the initial decade from 1991 to 2001 the increase in the density was 25.91% and in 2001-2011the increase was of 20% in Uttar Pradesh. And the other side in Gorakhpur district the population density increased by 22.96% in 2001 and 17.79% in 2011 census.

 

Sex Ratio:

Sex Ratio is an important social indicator to measure the population equality and inequality between males and females. Sex ratio is known as the number of females on per thousand males.(Chandna, 2014) In census 2011 we can see the sex ratio was 912 of Uttar Pradesh as compared to 898 in 2001 census and in 1991 census it was recorded 876 on the other side sex ratio of Gorakhpur district was 950 in 2011 as compared to 960 in2001 census and was recorded 924 in 1991 census. It is clearly visible that Gorakhpur district has a higher sex ratio in comparison with sex ratio of Uttar Pradesh in every decade. An increase of 2.51% was recorded in Uttar Pradesh sex ratio in 2001 and an increase of 1.56% in 2011 census. And in Gorakhpur district an increase of 3.89% of sex ratio is measured in 2001 but decrease of 1.04% was recorded in 2011 in this case some possible factors can be preferring male child and increasing female foeticides.

 

Table 3: Sex Ratio of Uttar Pradesh and Gorakhpur District 1991- 2011

Year

Sex Ratio of Uttar Pradesh

Variation

Sex Ratio of Gorakhpur District

Variation

1991

876

-

924

-

2001

898

+2.51%

960

+3.89%

2011

912

+1.56%

950

-1.04%

Source: Census of India www.censusindia.gov.in

 

Literacy Rate:

Literacy rate is defined as total number of literate persons in a given age group (according to Census of India persons above 7 years age), expressed as a percentage of the total population in that age group, here the adult literacy rate measures literacy among persons aged 15 years and older, and the youth literacy rate measures literacy among persons aged 15 to 24 years. Literacy is a major indicator of social and cultural development of a given region, it helps the group to attain social status. Literacy is a major factor which provides path to the development of a state also. According to census 2011 the literacy rate of Gorakhpur district was 70.83% as compared to 58.49% in 2001 but in 1991 census it was only 43.30% of total population. In 2001 it increased 35.08% as compared to 1991 census and in 2011 it was increased by 21.10% which shows a decreasing literacy rate among population as compared to previous decade. In 1991 census the literacy rate among male population was recorded 60.60% and an increase of   21.40% was found and in 2001 it was recorded 73.57% and 81.80 in 2011with 11.20% increase, which shows high increasing rate of literacy in male population. On the other hand female literacy rate in 1991 was recorded 24.50% and an increase of 75.02% was found in 2001 and literacy rate was 42.88% and in 2011 with an increasing rate of 38.43% literacy rate among female population was 59.36%. Highest literacy rate in 2011 is due to Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, more access to educational institutions, educational awareness, technological advancement such as internet and mobile phones.

 

Table 4: Literacy Rate of Gorakhpur District (in %) 1991-2011

Year

Total Person (in %)

Variation

Male (in %)

Variation

Female (in %)

Variation

1991

43.30

-

60.60

-

24.50

-

2001

58.49

+35.08%

73.57

21.40%

42.88

75.02%

2011

70.83

+21.10%

81.80

+11.20%

59.36

+38.43%

Source: Census of India www.censusindia.gov.in

 

Fig: Literacy Rate of Gorakhpur District (in %) 1991-2011

 

Scheduled Caste Population Decadal Growth Rate:

According to constitution parts of or groups within castes, races or tribes which shall for the purposes of this Constitution are deemed to be Scheduled Castes in relation to that State or Union Territory, as the case may be. Uttar Pradesh have significant number of Scheduled Caste population mainly concentrated to Eastern part. According to census2011 the scheduled caste population in Gorakhpur district was 9,36,061 as compared to 8,31,070 in 2001and was 6,75,662 persons in 1991 census. In Table 5 we can see that an increase of 23% was recorded in 2001 and 12.63% increase in 2011 census. There was absolute increase in population but the rate was less in the 2001-2011 decade as compared to 1991-2001. Male population in scheduled caste was recorded 3,47,517 in 1991 whereas 4,21,449 persons were recorded in 2001with an increase of 21.27% and maximum in 2011 census that is 4,81,123 with an increase of14.15% only . Whereas female population was found 3,28,145 in 1991 and 24.82% increase was seen and the female population raised to 4,09,621  in 2001 and maximum 4,54,938 in 2011 census with 11.06% increment. This shows a consistent and absolute increase in the total population of scheduled caste in Gorakhpur district, but the rate of increase in the male and female population was slow and steady in 2001 and 2011 census.

 

Table 5: Population and Decadal Growth of Scheduled Caste Population in Gorakhpur District 1991-2011

Year

Total Person

Variation

Males

Variation

Females

Variation

1991

6,75,662

-

3,47,517

-

3,28,145

-

2001

8,31,070

+23.00%

4,21,449

+21.27%

4,09,621

+24.82%

2011

9,36,061

+12.63%

4,81,123

+14.15%

4,54,938

+11.06%

Source: Census of India www.censusindia.gov.in

 

Fig: Population and Decadal Growth of Scheduled Caste Population in Gorakhpur District 1991-2011

 

Workers in Total Population:

Working population refers to the population employed in a specified occupation or to the total population of a country who are employed and looking for employment.(Census, 1981) The term on a country level usually covers all people between 15 and 65 years population. Work involves not only actual work but also includes effective management and direction of work and all persons engaged in ‘work’ as defined are workers. The main point should be noted that the activity should be economically productive. According to census 1991 total population was 30.66 lakh in which 8,80,620 persons were engaged in any type of working activity in Gorakhpur district, in which 8,29,738 were main workers, 50,882 were marginal workers and 21,85,382 were non workers. In census 2001 total population was 37.69 lakh among these total working population was 11,36,295 in which main workers were 6,92,824, marginal workers were 4,43,471 and non workers were 26,33,161. Likewise in census 2011 the total population was 44.40 lakh in which 13,51,629 persons were engaged in working activity, in which 7,46,381 population were the main workers, 6,05,248 were marginal workers and 30,89,266 were non workers which were not engaged in any work.

 

Table 6: Workers in total Population of Gorakhpur District 1991-2011

Year

Total Population (in lakhs)

Total Workers

Main Workers

Marginal Workers

Non Workers

1991

30.66

8,80,620

8,29,738

50,882

21,85,382

2001

37.69

11,36,295

6,92,824

4,43,471

26,33,161

2011

44.40

13,51,629

7,46,381

6,05,248

30,89,266

Source: Census of India www.censusindia.gov.in

 

Fig: Workers in total Population of Gorakhpur District 1991-2011

 

CONCLUSION:

The world and most countries are going through a period of unprecedentedly rapid demographic change in this sense the most obvious example of this change is the huge expansion of human beings in number i.e. four billion have been added since 1950.To understand the population dynamics we should focus on demographic changes with reference to total population, population density, sex ratio, literacy rate, scheduled caste population and workers in total population and it’s characteristics with age composition of that society. The presented research paper focused on these aforementioned areas of population dynamics of Gorakhpur district. Here the analysed data is used of 1991, 2001 and 2011 census. In case of total population growth we found that there has been increase in total population number but the rate of this increase was low. The population density of persons increased rapidly in 2011 as compared to 1991 census and it was always higher than of population density of Uttar Pradesh. The sex ratio increased in 2001 as compared to 1991 census but decreased by 10 unit in 2011,here the affecting factors are preferring male child, increasing female foeticide . The literacy rate also increased rapidly in 2011 as compared to previous census, male population literacy was way ahead of female literacy rate due to Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, more access to educational institutions, educational awareness, technological advancement such as internet and mobile phones. The scheduled caste population growth was not sustainable as it increased in 2011 census as compared to previous census but the rate was at low pace. Workers in the total population have increased by the time with the increasing population but the rate was very low, in 2001total workers were increased by approximately 29% as compared to 1991 census and in 2011 by 18.95% only as compared to 2001 census.

 

REFERENCES:

1.      Census of India, The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India, New Delhi, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, www.censusindia.gov.in.

2.       Baliyan, Dr Sandeep Kumar (2016)Demographic Changes and Growth of Population in Uttar Pradesh: Trends and Status,Socio-Economic voices.

3.      Statistical Abstract 2013-14, Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Planning Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, http://updes.up.nic.in/

4.      Statistical Diary 2013-14, Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Planning Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow.

5.      Bongaarts, John (2009) Human population growth and the demographic transition, Philosophical Transactions of Royal Society (2009) 364, 2985–2990.

6.      James, K S (2011) India's Demographic Change: Opportunities and Challenges, Science pp. 576-580,www.sciencemag.org.

7.      Zimmerman, Erich Walter (1933) Functional theory of Mineral Resources, World Resources and Industries.

8.      Chandna, R C (2014) Geography of Population, Kalyani Publishers, p. 42

9.      https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/constitution-india

10.   http://vanneman.umd.edu/districts/codebook/deflf.html

 

 

 

Received on 11.07.2022         Modified on 24.10.2022

Accepted on 30.01.2023      ©AandV Publications All right reserved

Res.  J. Humanities and Social Sciences. 2023;14(1)1-6.

DOI: 10.52711/2321-5828.2023.00001