Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 3 (Population composition) – Fundamentals of Indian Geography Book

Detailed Notes with MCQs of Chapter 3: Population Composition from your 'Fundamentals of Human Geography' textbook. This chapter is crucial not just for your board exams but also forms a fundamental part of the syllabus for many government exams where Geography is a component. Understanding how populations are structured helps us analyze development patterns, social conditions, and future trends.

Chapter 3: Population Composition - Detailed Notes for Exam Preparation

1. Introduction

• Population Composition: Refers to the structure of the population. It describes the characteristics of a group of people in terms of attributes like age, sex, literacy, occupation, residence (rural/urban), etc.
• Significance: Studying population composition helps in:
  • Understanding the demographic structure and social characteristics of a population.
  • Planning for resource allocation, infrastructure development, and social welfare programs.
  • Analyzing developmental levels and future population trends.

2. Sex Composition

• Definition: The ratio between the number of women and men in the population.
• Measurement:
  • Usually expressed as the number of males per 1000 females OR the number of females per 1000 males.
  • Formula used in India: Sex Ratio = (Number of Females / Number of Males) * 1000
  • Some countries (like parts of Europe) use: Sex Ratio = (Number of Males / Number of Females) * 1000
• Factors Influencing Sex Ratio:
  • Differential Birth Rates: Generally, slightly more male babies are born than female babies.
  • Differential Mortality Rates: Females tend to have lower mortality rates than males at most ages, especially in developed countries due to biological advantages and lower risk-taking behaviour.
  • Sex-Selective Practices: Female foeticide, infanticide, and neglect of the girl child lead to skewed sex ratios (low number of females) in many societies (e.g., India, China).
  • Migration: Sex-selective migration (e.g., males migrating for work) significantly impacts the sex ratio in both the source and destination regions. (e.g., High male ratio in UAE due to labour migration; high female ratio in source regions of migration).
• Global Patterns:
  • Highest Sex Ratio: Latvia (approx. 1187 females per 1000 males), followed by other European countries like Lithuania, Ukraine, Estonia. Often attributed to higher male mortality and historical emigration of males.
  • Lowest Sex Ratio: UAE (approx. 468 females per 1000 males), Qatar, Oman. Primarily due to large-scale immigration of male workers.
  • General Trend: Globally, the average sex ratio is around 102 males per 100 females (or approx. 980 females per 1000 males), but this masks significant regional variations. Developed countries often have higher female ratios, while many Asian and Middle Eastern countries have lower female ratios.
• Consequences of Unfavourable Sex Ratio (Low Females): Social imbalances, marriage squeeze (difficulty finding brides), potential increase in crime against women.

3. Age Structure

• Definition: The distribution of population among different age groups.
• Significance: A crucial indicator of population dynamics and socio-economic development. It determines the workforce size and the dependency ratio.
• Broad Age Groups:
  • 0-14 years (Children/Young Population): Generally considered dependents. A high proportion indicates high birth rates and a youthful population. Requires investment in schools, healthcare for children.
  • 15-59 years (Working Age Population): Economically productive and biologically reproductive group. Forms the bulk of the workforce. A large proportion signifies a potential demographic dividend.
  • 60+ years (Aged/Elderly Population): Largely dependent population (post-retirement). A high proportion indicates an ageing population, requiring increased expenditure on healthcare, pensions, and social security.
• Dependency Ratio: The ratio of dependents (0-14 years and 60+ years) to the working-age population (15-59 years). A high dependency ratio puts a greater burden on the working population.
• Ageing Population: A phenomenon where the proportion of the elderly population (60+ or 65+) increases significantly.
  • Causes: Increased life expectancy (due to better healthcare, sanitation, nutrition) and declining birth rates.
  • Implications: Increased pressure on healthcare systems, pension funds, social care services; potential labour shortages. Common in most developed countries (e.g., Japan, Italy, Germany).

4. Age-Sex Pyramid

• Definition: A graphical representation of the age and sex composition of a population.
• Structure:
  • Males are shown on the left, females on the right.
  • Age groups are represented by horizontal bars (usually in 5-year intervals).
  • The base represents the youngest age group, and the apex represents the oldest.
  • The length of each bar indicates the percentage or absolute number of people in that specific age-sex group.
• Types of Pyramids & What They Indicate:
  • Expanding Population (Triangular Pyramid):
    • Broad base, rapidly tapering towards the top.
    • Indicates high birth rates and high death rates (though death rates might be falling).
    • Large young population, low proportion of aged people.
    • Typical of less developed countries (e.g., Nigeria, Bangladesh, Mexico).
  • Constant Population (Bell-shaped Pyramid):
    • Base is narrower than the middle sections, tapers towards the top.
    • Indicates birth rates and death rates are roughly equal (low birth rate, low death rate).
    • Population growth is slow or stable.
    • Typical of countries nearing or achieving development (e.g., Australia, USA).
  • Declining Population (Constricted Base Pyramid):
    • Narrow base and a tapering top.
    • Indicates low birth rates and low death rates.
    • Population growth is negative or zero. Higher proportion of older people.
    • Typical of highly developed countries with ageing populations (e.g., Japan, Germany, Italy).

5. Rural-Urban Composition

• Definition: The division of population based on place of residence (rural or urban).
• Criteria for Classification: Varies significantly from country to country. Common criteria include population size, population density, administrative status, and percentage of workforce engaged in non-agricultural activities.
• General Contrasts (Global Trends):
  • Occupation: Rural areas dominated by primary activities (agriculture, fishing, forestry, mining). Urban areas dominated by secondary (manufacturing) and tertiary (services) activities.
  • Sex Ratio: In Western countries, urban areas often have a higher proportion of females, while rural areas have more males (females migrate to cities for jobs). In Asian/African countries (like India), the pattern is often reversed – males migrate from rural to urban areas for work, leading to higher female ratios in rural areas and lower female ratios in urban areas.
  • Social Conditions: Urban areas generally offer better access to education, healthcare, transportation, and modern amenities, but also face issues like congestion, high cost of living, and pollution. Rural areas often have stronger community bonds but may lack infrastructure and opportunities.
• Urbanization: The process of increasing proportion of the population living in urban areas. A global trend, particularly rapid in developing countries.

6. Literacy

• Definition: Generally refers to the ability to read, write, and understand a simple message in any language. The specific age (e.g., 7+ in India) and criteria can vary.
• Significance: A key indicator of socio-economic development. It reflects:
  • Standard of living
  • Social status of females
  • Availability of educational facilities
  • Government policies
• Factors Influencing Literacy: Level of economic development, urbanization, access to education, social status accorded to women, government initiatives.
• Impact: Higher literacy rates are strongly correlated with better health outcomes, lower population growth rates, and higher levels of economic participation.

7. Occupational Structure

• Definition: The proportional distribution of the working population (typically the 15-59 age group) across different sectors or types of occupations.
• Major Occupational Sectors:
  • Primary Activities: Involve extraction of raw materials from nature (e.g., agriculture, fishing, mining, forestry, quarrying).
  • Secondary Activities: Involve processing raw materials through manufacturing, construction, and industrial production (e.g., factory work, building).
  • Tertiary Activities: Involve the provision of services (e.g., trade, transport, communication, banking, education, healthcare, administration).
  • Quaternary Activities: Specialized tertiary activities related to knowledge and information (e.g., research & development, information technology, consultancy).
• Relationship with Economic Development:
  • Less Developed Economies: High proportion of population engaged in primary activities.
  • Developing Economies: Shift towards secondary sector (industrialization).
  • Developed Economies: Dominance of tertiary and quaternary sectors (service-based economy).
• Significance: Shows the level of economic development and diversification of an economy.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. The Sex Ratio in India is calculated using which formula?
   (a) (Number of Males / Number of Females) * 1000
   (b) (Number of Females / Number of Males) * 1000
   (c) (Number of Females / Total Population) * 1000
   (d) (Number of Males / Total Population) * 1000

2. Countries like Latvia and Estonia have a high sex ratio (more females per 1000 males) primarily due to:
   (a) High female birth rate
   (b) High male out-migration and higher male mortality rates
   (c) Government policies favouring females
   (d) Large-scale immigration of females

3. An age-sex pyramid with a broad base and a rapidly tapering top signifies:
   (a) Constant population
   (b) Declining population
   (c) Expanding population
   (d) Ageing population

4. The working-age population, generally considered economically productive, falls into which age group?
   (a) 0-14 years
   (b) 15-59 years
   (c) 60+ years
   (d) 18-65 years

5. Which type of age-sex pyramid is characteristic of highly developed countries like Japan or Germany?
   (a) Triangular shape (Expanding)
   (b) Bell shape (Constant)
   (c) Constricted base (Declining)
   (d) Rectangular shape

6. In many Asian countries like India, the sex ratio in urban areas is generally lower than in rural areas. What is the primary reason for this?
   (a) Higher female mortality in cities
   (b) Higher female birth rate in rural areas
   (c) Male-selective migration from rural to urban areas for employment
   (d) Female-selective migration from urban to rural areas

7. Which of the following is NOT typically considered a primary activity in occupational structure?
   (a) Fishing
   (b) Mining
   (c) Manufacturing
   (d) Agriculture

8. A high proportion of the population engaged in tertiary and quaternary activities is indicative of:
   (a) A less developed economy
   (b) An agrarian economy
   (c) A developed, service-based economy
   (d) An economy focused on raw material extraction

9. The phenomenon of 'Ageing Population' is primarily caused by:
   (a) High birth rates and high death rates
   (b) High birth rates and low death rates
   (c) Low birth rates and high death rates
   (d) Low birth rates and low death rates (increasing life expectancy)

10. Literacy rate is considered a crucial indicator of:
    (a) Only the number of schools available
    (b) Only the population density
    (c) Socio-economic development and quality of life
    (d) The sex ratio of a country

Answer Key for MCQs:

1. (b)
2. (b)
3. (c)
4. (b)
5. (c)
6. (c)
7. (c)
8. (c)
9. (d)
10. (c)

Make sure you understand the concepts behind each point and MCQ answer. Don't just memorize; try to grasp the interconnections between different aspects of population composition and their implications for a country or region. Good luck with your preparation!