Indian space jam: 57 more fighting for each sq km

There are 57 more Indians for every square kilometre in addition to those already jostling for space in the country. HT reports.

There are 57 more Indians for every square kilometre in addition to those already jostling for space in the country.

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Census 2011 shows that from 325 per square km in 2001, the average density of population has increased to 382 in 2011 — up by 17.5%.

While the cow-belt and West Bengal continues their dominance, the density spread is more in the urban areas pointing to the pressure on the natural resources, infrastructure and government aid.

India accounts for a meager 2.4% of the world surface area of 135 milion sq km and supports 17.5% of the world’s population. In contrast, the US accounts for 7.2% of the surface area with only 4.5% of the population.

At 11,297 people for every

sq km, Delhi tops the list of states and union territories in terms of density. Chandigarh comes next, with 9,252 people.

Among states, however, the top slot goes to Bihar with 1,102 people/ sq km. West Bengal is the only other state to have a density in excess of 1,000. Uttar Pradesh, otherwise the most populous state, has a density of only 828.

Andaman and Nicobar and Arunachal Pradesh is the least densely populated territories, with 46 and 17 people respectively in every sq km.

But still there are places where one can find solitude in the country of 121 crore —Dibang valley of Arunachal has only one person in a sq km, while Samba in J&K has two.

In these statistics of growing population, Nagaland is the only state that has statistically demonstrated a negative growth rate and a marginal decline in density.

People in the state had inflated their numbers in the last census, pushing their density from 73 in the 1991 census to 120 people per sq km in 2001. Preliminary figures indicate a density of 119 per sq km in 2011.