checked by famines and diseases. The death rate was high. So the population growth was not too rapid even though the birth rate was high. However, after its independence, India experienced significant improvement in medical services and the hygienic environment, with the major diseases came under control. Its death rate decreased and reached a low level by the 70s. On the other hand, the birth rate remained high, mainly due to cultural factor. Most of the Indians have a strong desire to have a son in the family. Married couples will continue to have children until they give birth to a son. In addition, many Indian girls got marry at an early age. In 2011, 43% of adolescent girls in India were married before the age of 18. This was because many families wanted to save the money in raising daughters. Moreover, although birth control had been introduced in India as early as in the 1950s, many people, especially those living in the rural areas, didn’t get access to the methods. Therefore, population was growing at a high rate. The following table shows the crude birth and death rate and the natural increase rate of India from 1960 to 2013. Table 9 Crude birth rate, crude death rate and natural increase rate of India between 1960 and 2013 *per 1000 population Source: UN data & United States Census Bureau, the World Bank Year Crude birth rate* Crude death rate* Natural increase rate* 1960 41 24 17 1965 40 21 19 1970 37 18 19 1975 36 15 21 1980 35 12 23 1985 34 11 23 1990 31 11 20 1995 28 10 18 2000 26 9 17 2005 23 8 15 2010 21 8 13 2013 20 7 13 Video on “Population Problems in India” – duration: 9:01” http://cncworld.tv/news/v_show/16483_Population_problem_in_India.shtml 2 It is a system for the bride’s family to bring money or property to her husband at marriage. In India, if the bride can only afford a small amount of dowry, the whole family will feel ashamed. References:
checked by famines and diseases. The death rate was high. So the population growth was not too rapid even though the birth rate was high. However, after its independence, India experienced significant improvement in medical services and the hygienic environment, with the major diseases came under control. Its death rate decreased and reached a low level by the 70s. On the other hand, the birth rate remained high, mainly due to cultural factor. Most of the Indians have a strong desire to have a son in the family. Married couples will continue to have children until they give birth to a son. In addition, many Indian girls got marry at an early age. In 2011, 43% of adolescent girls in India were married before the age of 18. This was because many families wanted to save the money in raising daughters. Moreover, although birth control had been introduced in India as early as in the 1950s, many people, especially those living in the rural areas, didn’t get access to the methods. Therefore, population was growing at a high rate. The following table shows the crude birth and death rate and the natural increase rate of India from 1960 to 2013. Table 9 Crude birth rate, crude death rate and natural increase rate of India between 1960 and 2013 *per 1000 population Source: UN data & United States Census Bureau, the World Bank Year Crude birth rate* Crude death rate* Natural increase rate* 1960 41 24 17 1965 40 21 19 1970 37 18 19 1975 36 15 21 1980 35 12 23 1985 34 11 23 1990 31 11 20 1995 28 10 18 2000 26 9 17 2005 23 8 15 2010 21 8 13 2013 20 7 13 Video on “Population Problems in India” – duration: 9:01” http://cncworld.tv/news/v_show/16483_Population_problem_in_India.shtml 2 It is a system for the bride’s family to bring money or property to her husband at marriage. In India, if the bride can only afford a small amount of dowry, the whole family will feel ashamed. References:
Population-eng.docx