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Demographic Profile — GK Questions with Answers

10 Indian Economy Questions20 Indian Economy Questions50 Indian Economy Questions100 Indian Economy Questions Current Affairs 2026 Today's GK Quiz Static GK हिन्दी
25 questions
  1. What does India's current stage of demographic transition point to?
    1. High growth potential with slow actual growth
    2. High potential and high actual growth, both
    3. A half-industrialised economy
    4. Steadily rising urbanisation
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Steadily rising urbanisation

    India is in the third stage, where the birth rate is falling, the death rate is already low, and urbanisation keeps rising steadily.

  2. Arrange these in decreasing order of literacy rate — 1. Goa 2. Mizoram 3. Kerala 4. Lakshadweep.
    1. 3, 1, 2, 4
    2. 3, 2, 1, 4
    3. 4, 3, 1, 2
    4. 3, 4, 2, 1
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) 3, 4, 2, 1

    The decreasing order is Kerala (93.91%), Lakshadweep, Mizoram, and Goa last — that is, 3, 4, 2, 1.

  3. Consider these statements about the Census of India — 1. The Census is meant to be held across the whole of India at the same time (synchronous). 2. Census 2011 showed a fall in India's population for the first time in history. Which of these is/are correct?
    1. Only 1
    2. Only 2
    3. Both
    4. Neither
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Only 1

    Statement 2 is wrong — population did not fall in 2011, only the growth rate slowed; this difference is often forgotten.

  4. These are held to be obstacles in cashing in on the demographic dividend in India — 1. A labour policy that does not match the needs of the workforce 2. Low participation of women in the workforce 3. Migration 4. A lack of inclusiveness and few new jobs. Which of these is/are correct?
    1. 1 and 2
    2. 2 and 3
    3. 1, 2 and 4
    4. All four
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) All four

    All four obstacles are actually linked to one another — a weak policy fails to create jobs, which drives migration and keeps women out of the workforce.

  5. Which factors bring about a change in population?
    1. Births, migration and deaths
    2. Only births and deaths
    3. Births, deaths and marriage
    4. Births, deaths and life expectancy
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Births, migration and deaths

    A population in any place changes only through these three things — how many were born, how many died, and how many moved in or out.

  6. What is the correct sequence of demographic transition linked to economic development — 1. High birth rate and high death rate 2. Low birth rate and low death rate 3. High birth rate and low death rate? (UPSC, 2013)
    1. 1, 2, 3
    2. 1, 3, 2
    3. 3, 1, 2
    4. 2, 1, 3
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) 1, 3, 2

    Both start high, then death rate falls while birth rate stays high, and finally both become low — that is, 1, 3, 2.

  7. Consider these statements — 1. By Census 2011, India's population has more than tripled since independence. 2. Census 2011 showed the population had grown by 18.1 crore over the previous decade. Which of these is/are correct?
    1. Only 1
    2. Only 2
    3. Both
    4. Neither
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Both

    India's population at independence was roughly 35-36 crore, and 121 crore by 2011 — more than three times over; and the 2001-2011 growth was exactly 18.14 crore.

  8. What is the main benefit claimed for the National Population Register (NPR)?
    1. Strengthening national security, improving planning, and preventing identity theft
    2. Giving everyone's biometric information
    3. Estimating community-wise population
    4. Providing for population education in schools
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Strengthening national security, improving planning, and preventing identity theft

    The NPR's main purpose is to build a reliable record of residents, which makes planning easier and helps prevent identity theft.

  9. As estimated for 2011, what share of the world's population did India hold? (UPPCS, 2012)
    1. 15%
    2. 17.5%
    3. 20%
    4. 22.5%
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) 17.5%

    India held roughly 17.5% of the world's population on just 2.4% of its land area.

  10. In which decade did India record a negative population growth rate? (UPPCS, 2012)
    1. 1921-1931
    2. 1911-1921
    3. 1941-1951
    4. 1941
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) 1911-1921

    Between 1911 and 1921, disasters such as plague, malaria and the 1918 epidemic caused so many deaths that the growth rate turned negative.

  1. Consider these statements — 1. The 0-14 years share of population in 2011 was lower than in 1961. 2. Census 2011 recorded a sex ratio of 940 for India. 3. The child sex ratio (0-6 years) lost 13 points over the 2001-2011 decade. Which of these is/are correct?
    1. Only 2
    2. 1 and 2
    3. 1, 2 and 3
    4. 2 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) 1, 2 and 3

    All three are correct — the 0-14 share fell from 41% in 1961 to 30.2% in 2011, the sex ratio was 940, and the child sex ratio fell from 927 to 914.

  2. Which year did the Census Commissioner call the "Year of the Great Divide"?
    1. 1901
    2. 1911
    3. 1921
    4. 1931
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) 1921

    India's population growth never slowed down again after 1921, which is why it is treated as the dividing line.

  3. Roughly how many lives did the 1918 epidemic take in India?
    1. 1.4 lakh
    2. 1.4 crore
    3. 21 lakh
    4. 2.4 crore
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) 1.4 crore

    This single epidemic was the biggest reason behind the slow growth of the stable population era (1891-1921).

  4. Who gave the theory of demographic transition, and in which year?
    1. Thomas Malthus, 1798
    2. Frank W. Notestein, 1945
    3. Paul Ehrlich, 1968
    4. Adam Smith, 1776
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Frank W. Notestein, 1945

    Notestein put forward this theory based on data from Western countries.

  5. By Malthus's theory, in what progression does food production grow, and in what progression does population grow?
    1. Both in arithmetic progression
    2. Both in geometric progression
    3. Food in arithmetic, population in geometric
    4. Food in geometric, population in arithmetic
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Food in arithmetic, population in geometric

    This exact gap was the root of Malthus's worry — food grows slowly, population grows fast.

  6. By the optimum population theory, what is meant by the "optimum population"?
    1. The largest possible population
    2. The size at which income per head is at its highest
    3. The size at which birth rate is zero
    4. The smallest possible population
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) The size at which income per head is at its highest

    The problem of over-population begins only once population crosses this level.

  7. Which National Census was Census 2011?
    1. The 13th
    2. The 14th
    3. The 15th
    4. The 16th
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) The 15th

    India holds a census every ten years; starting from 1872, 2011 was the 15th.

  8. How is "real" or physiological population density worked out?
    1. Total population divided by total area
    2. Total population divided by arable land
    3. Urban population divided by total area
    4. Total population divided by forest area
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Total population divided by arable land

    This measure shows how capable a country is of feeding its own citizens, so it uses only land fit for farming.

  9. According to Census 2011, what was India's population density?
    1. 325 per sq km
    2. 382 per sq km
    3. 411 per sq km
    4. 299 per sq km
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) 382 per sq km

    Dividing 121 crore by 32.80 lakh sq km of area gives exactly this figure.

  10. Which state has the highest share of rural population in the country?
    1. Bihar
    2. Himachal Pradesh
    3. Kerala
    4. Uttar Pradesh
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Himachal Pradesh

    Close to 90% of Himachal Pradesh's population is rural, the highest share in the country.

  1. According to Census 2011, what was India's sex ratio?
    1. 920
    2. 933
    3. 940
    4. 960
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) 940

    This was 7 points higher than the 933 recorded in 2001.

  2. What happened to the child sex ratio (0-6 years) between 2001 and 2011?
    1. Rose by 13 points
    2. Fell by 13 points
    3. Stayed unchanged
    4. Doubled
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Fell by 13 points

    It fell from 927 to 914 — a drop treated as a matter of concern despite the overall sex ratio improving.

  3. In 2011, what share of India's population was aged 15-64?
    1. 55.5%
    2. 58.4%
    3. 61.4%
    4. 64.8%
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) 64.8%

    This share kept rising every decade — from 56% in 1961 to 64.8% in 2011.

  4. By UNFPA, from when to when does India's demographic dividend window run?
    1. 1991-92 to 2021-22
    2. 2005-06 to 2055-56
    3. 1951 to 2001
    4. 2011 to 2061
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) 2005-06 to 2055-56

    This five-decade window is held to be longer than that of any other country.

  5. By NFHS-5 (2019-21), what has India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) fallen to?
    1. 2.1 — at replacement level
    2. 2.0 — below replacement level
    3. 2.5 — still high
    4. 1.5 — very low
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) 2.0 — below replacement level

    This has already fallen below even the Twelfth Plan's target of 2.1 — meaning the average woman now has fewer children than the replacement level.

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