Characteristics or Qualities of The Population

Characteristics or Qualities of The Population: 

Age Composition

The age composition of a population refers to the number of people in different age groups in a country. The population of a nation is grouped into 3 broad categories:

1) Children (generally below 15 years): They are economically unproductive and need to be provided with food, clothing, education and medical care.

2) Working Age (15–59 years): They are economically productive and biologically reproductive. They comprise the working population.

3) Aged (Above 59 years): They may be working voluntarily, but they are not available for employment through recruitment.

Sex Ratio

It is defined as the number of females per 1000 males in the population. Sex Ratio is an important social indicator to measure the extent of equality between males and females in a society at a given time.

Literacy Rates

According to the Census 2011, a person aged 7 years and above, who can read and write with understanding in any language, is treated as literate. India’s literacy rate is 73%, as per the census of 2011.

Occupational Structure

The distribution of the population according to different types of occupation is referred to as the occupational structure. Occupations are classified as:

1. Primary: Primary activities include agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, fishing, mining and quarrying, etc
2. Secondary: Secondary activities include the manufacturing industry, building and construction work, etc.
3. Tertiary: Tertiary activities include transport, communications, commerce, administration and other services.

Health

Health is an important component of population composition, which affects the process of development. The substantial improvement in Public Health in our country is the result of many factors, such as:

• Prevention of infectious diseases
• Application of modern medical practices in the diagnosis and treatment of ailments

Adolescent Population

Adolescents are grouped in the age group of 10 to 19 years. They are the most important resource for the future. It constitutes one-fifth of the total population of India. The nutrition requirements of adolescents are higher than those of a normal child or adult.

National Population Policy

The National Population Policy (NPP) 2000 provides a policy framework for imparting free and compulsory school education up to 14 years of age. It also helps in

• reducing infant mortality rate to below 30 per 1000 live births
• Achieving universal immunisation of children against all vaccine-preventable diseases
• Promoting delayed marriage for girls and making family welfare a people-centred programme

NPP 2000 also put emphasis on other important needs of adolescents, including protection from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It aims to encourage:

• Delayed marriage and child-bearing
• Education of adolescents about the risks of unprotected sex
• Making contraceptive services accessible and affordable
• Providing food supplements
• Nutritional services
• Strengthening legal measures to prevent child marriage