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)

World Population Prospects – The 2012 Revision, UN 2013

Country Population(in million)

Adolescent (10-19 yrs) Population

(in million)

Proportion of

Adolescents(%)

China 1358.8 191.2 14.1India 1205.6 236.5 19.6USA 312.2 43.0 13.8Indonesia 240.6 43.4 16.8Brazil 195.2 33.8 17.3Pakistan 173.1 30.9 23.1

Population of Youth (15-24 Years)

World Population Prospects – The 2012 Revision, UN 2013

Country Population(in million)

Youth(15-24 yrs) Population

(in million)

Proportionof Youths

(%)

China 1358.8 242.2 17.8India 1205.6 229.0 19.0USA 312.2 43.9 14.1Indonesia 240.6 40.5 16.8Brazil 195.2 33.6 17.2Pakistan 173.1 37.2 21.5

• Adolescents …… 10 -19 years

• Youth …………… 15 - 24 years

• Together, adolescents and youth are referred to as ‘Young people’, encompassing the ages 10-24 years.

Definition of Adolescents, Youth

HIGHLIGHTS FROM CENSUS OF INDIA

2011

0-910-1920-2930-3940-4950-5960-6970-79

80+

25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0 0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0

Age-Sex Distribution, India, 2011

Females Males

0-9

10-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70-79

80+

30.0 20.0 10.0 0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0

Age-Sex Distribution, India, 2001

Females Males

Population Pyramid (By 10 Years Grouping)India : 2001 & 2011 Censuses

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)

• 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 Proportion of Population – India

1961 to 2011 Census

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 – IndiaADOLESCENTS (10-19)

YOUTH (15-24)

Adolescent and Youth Literacy Rates show consistent increase.

Appreciable increase in Female Literacy Rate - narrowing gender gap

Trends in Work Participation Rate – India

ADOLESCENTS (10-19)

YOUTH (15-24)

Decline in WPR by sex in Total and Rural areas from 2001 to 2011. No change in Urban areas.

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.

Thank you

For more information visit:censusindia.gov.inOr write to: rgi.rgi@censusindia.gov.in