Population - Details of Population
Commercial Geography
Details of Population
Since Independence the population of Pakistan has increased four-fold
from 32.5 million in 1947 to 117.32 million on January 1,1992 of which :
47,063,000 live in Punjab
19,029,000 live in Sindh
11,062,000 in NWFP
4332,000 live in Baluchistan
2,198,00 live FATA
340,000 live in Islamabad
(FATA-Fedrally Administered Tribal Area)
Rate of Population Growth
The growth of Population depends upon the net addition of the people
which is related to the behavior of three factors,migration,birth rate
and death rate.
Pakistan being a developing country provides no attraction for the
people from the other parts of the world and so the influence of
migration on its population growth is almost negligible .It is therefore
clear that the rate of population growth in the country is influenced
by the difference between the birth and death rates.
Therefore, the high rate of growth is due to natural increase, that
is,the excess of births over deaths.Pakistan has one of the highest
rates of Population growth in the World.The population is increasing at
the rate of 3.1% per anum as against 3.5% for Mexico,2.3% for India,2%
for China,1.6% for U.S.A ,2% for Asia and Africa ,1% for Europe and
average rate 1.8% for the whole world.At this speed of growth ,the total
population by the year 2000 will touch 150 million.
Population Density
Density of population refers to the number of people living per square
km.Its study is important because through it the pressure on the land
can be measured and also magnitude of the requirements of the people
can be assessed .It also becomes the base for economic planning.
The density of population in Pakistan,according to the 1981 census,is
estimated at 106 persons per sq.km.as against 82 persons in 1972
census.The density,however,varies widely between provinces.The Punjab
has the highest density of 230 persons,compared to 12 persons per
sq.km.for Baluchistan,135 for Sindh,148 for NWFP ,81 for FATA and 376
for Islamabad.
Causes of Difference in Density of Population
1.The more densely populated centres of Pakistan are situated in the
Urban areas,which are the busiest centres of trade and
commerce.Besides,so many industries have also developed around these
areas.The surrounding areas,around Lahore,Faisalabad and Gujranwala,are
very fertile.The irrigation facilities are available ,so the
necessities of life can be had easily.The employment facilities in
different industrial and commercial units are also available.That is
why the population of rural area is migrating towards these Urban
centres and their population is increasing very rapidly.
2.The areas situated in the plains are more densely populated than the
mountain,regions,because the mountains having pugged topography are not
suitable for agricultural activities.Besides,in winter, due to intense
cold,snowfall is common and the mean of transportation become
ineffective the establishment of industries not possible in these areas
due to scarcity of resources.That these areas are thinly
populated.
3.In the plains ,the density if population also differs in various
regions.The areas of Punjab and Sindh there irrigation facilities and
other resources are available,density of population is more than the
dry Barani areas.Lahore,Faisalabad,Gujranwala,Multan districts are more
dense than Attock,Jhelum and Dera Ghazi Khan districts.Similarly in
Sindh,Hyderabad,Larkana,Nawabshah districts are more densely populated
than Tharparkar,Thatta,Dadu and Sanghar Districts.
4.Those areas which are situated far away and where climate is
intense,irrigation facilities are not available ,rain is meager and
there is scarcity of resources,even the water for drinking purpose has
to be brought from long distances,there density of population is very
low.
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Birth and Death Rates
1.Birth Rate
Birth rate in Pakistan also figures highest in the World.In 1988 it
stood at 41 per 100 persons.Factors responsible for the high birth rate
in our country are :
(i) Climatic Conditions
(ii) Poverty
(iii) Ill-Literacy
(iv) Social Convention
(v) Psychology of the people
(vi) Economic Conditions and to marry in the early age and
(vii) Religious minded people.
2.Death Rate
Death rate in Pakistan ,particularly of women and infants is very
high.In 1988 it stood at 11 per 100 persons.It is because of this factor
that the average age in Pakistan is below 30 years.
Distribution of Population in Pakistan
(A)Rural/Urban Distribution
The basis of Urbanity of settlement in Pakistan is its administrative
organization (metropolitan, municipality,town committee,cantonment,
civilizations,satellite town) and size (5,000 persons or over).Pakistan
is pre-dominantly an agricultural country,inspite of the developments
of the last more than three decades in the field of industry and
commerce.Hence,the vast majority of the population lives in rural areas.
The table below gives the percentage of the population of Pakistan by Arban/Rural areas during the last four censuses:
Census Year -----------------------Percentage of Population Rural
...................................'Urban..................................Rural
1951------------------------------17.8%-----------------------------------------82.2%
1961------------------------------22.50%----------------------------------------77.50%
1972------------------------------25.48%----------------------------------------74.52%
1981------------------------------28.28%----------------------------------------71.72%
Percentage figures of urban population to the total since the beggining
of regular censuses in the country,indicate a general acceleration of
growth of urban population.The rate of natural increase of urban
population has been lower than that of rural population.The higher rate
of growth of urban population is,therefore,largely a result of
rural-urban migration.
1.Dense Population
With the passage of time ,the village autonomy and solidarity crumbled
under impact of economic forces conductive to rural urban
migration.The "freedom" of the city or the availability of greater job
opportunities in the town acted as a magnet.
The process of industrialization has involved marked shifts with the
use of material and human resources.It has altered the occupational
large-scale movement of population from rural to the urban areas.
Pakistan is essentially dry with a large area of un-productive and
barren land.For example,in the hills and sandy wastes of Sindh and
Baluchistan,the population is very sparse.By contrast,the fertile Indus
plain supports a fairly dense population.Since,with the help of
irrigation.It is possible to grow good crops there.The highest
density-over 2,000 persons per square kilometer is in Karachi division
and 1,984 persons per sq.km.is found in Lahore division.This is,of
course,due to that city's great urban,commercial and industrial
development.In the same way,other industrial districts like
Faisalabad,Hyderabad,Peshawar,Rawalpindi and Mardan are densely
populated.
In most of the metropoliton centres,improvement of facilities has
called to keep pace with the rapid growth of population and these
cities can be said overgrown.The distances to be covered are long and
the means of transport and the width of the roads in adequate and these
cities are also known as city of problems or city of smoke.
The historical evolution of the cities has been such that they have two
distinct parts,the old and the modern.The modern sections have wide
roads,impressive lay-out and expensive buildings.The old city suffers
from narrow roads and alleys,closest and small buildings and
residential over crowding .Also,problems of "Katchi Abadis" are also
growing rapidly.
2.Sparsely Populated Areas
Before the advent of canal irrigation the population of rural areas
was very sparse.After the construction of canals,water became available
to areas away from the rivers,new settlements grew in the irrigated
areas of Sindh and Punjab and there was a continuous rise of
population.On the other side ,sparsely populated areas in the country
are :
(i) The Northern and Western hill tracts
(ii) The dry plateau of Baluchistan
(iii) The desert areas of Thal,Thar and Cholistan
In these regions,low rainfall and soll that is either sandy or stone
have resulted in barren or waste lands.For these reasons cultivation is
difficult.As a result ,the density of population is less than 50
persons per sq.km.In the more barren regions of Kalat Division,there
are only 10 persons per sq.km. and in Chaghi and Kharan,where less than
three percent of the area is cultivated,the density falls as low as
two.
(B) Distribution of Sex
The last three population censuses estimates and also that of 1992 are as follows:
Census Year-----------------Total-------------- Male---------------------------------Female
1961-------------------------- 42,978-------------23,017 -------------------------------19,961
1972---------------------------65,321-------------34,840--------------------------------30,481
1981---------------------------84,253-------------44,232--------------------------------40,021
1992---------------------------11,7310------------61,000--------------------------------56,310
(estimated)
(C) Distribution By Age
According to 1981 census the distribution of population by age is as under:
(1) Under 15 years-44.04%
(ii) 15 to 54 years-51.84%
(iii) 65 years and above-4.12%
It will be observed that people falling in the age group (15 t 54)
years may be considered working population which is 51.84%,remaining
48.16% is the dependent population .The high degree of dependency is
due to the high proportion of children in the total population.
(D) Literacy-Wise Population
In Pakistan the literate people in towns is higher than in
villages.Similarly it is higher in men than in women.Ratio of educated
men and women is 23% and 7.5% respectively.Among the literate persons in
Pakistan only 3.15% have been educated upto secondary school level or
above.According to the present census report,only 20% of the workers
are educated .Only 0.40% of the total population have done their B.A
Even fewer are highly educated.
