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Urbanisation, Sex Ratio, Age Structure | ISC Class 12

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GeographyISC Class 12 · Demographic Attributes

Rural-Urban Composition, Sex Ratio and Age Composition (ISC Class 12 Geography)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

In Census 2011 India was 31.1 per cent urban, with Goa (about 62 per cent) most urbanised and Himachal Pradesh (about 10 per cent) least. The sex ratio was 943 females per 1,000 males (940 provisional), highest in Kerala (1,084) and lowest in Haryana (879), with a child sex ratio of 918. About 31 per cent were aged 0-14, 60 per cent 15-59 and 8.6 per cent 60 and above.

Compare the bars: about two-thirds of Indians are rural, females fall short of males by 57 per 1,000, and 60 per cent are of working age.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Rural-Urban Composition, Sex Ratio and Age Composition of India

1. Rural-urban composition. Census 2011 counted 377 million urban people (31.1 per cent; 31.2 in the provisional totals) and 834 million rural (68.9 per cent). The urban share was about 11 per cent in 1901, 17 per cent in 1951, 23 per cent in 1981, 28 per cent in 2001 and 31 per cent in 2011. In 2001-2011, for the first time since Independence, the absolute increase in the urban population exceeded that in the rural. The highest level of urbanisation among states was in Goa (about 62 per cent), followed by Mizoram, Tamil Nadu and Kerala (each about 47 to 52 per cent); the lowest was in Himachal Pradesh (about 10 per cent), then Bihar (about 11) and Assam (about 14). Delhi, a Union Territory, was about 97.5 per cent urban. Causes: rural-urban migration for jobs, natural increase in towns, reclassification of villages as census towns, and industrialisation and services. Implications: cities drive growth but face slums, congestion and pressure on services, while rural areas still hold most people, so rural development stays essential.

2. Sex ratio. In India it is the number of females per 1,000 males. The national figure was 972 in 1901, 946 in 1951, 927 in 1991, 933 in 2001 and 943 in 2011 (940 provisional). The child sex ratio (0-6 years) fell from 927 in 2001 to 918 in 2011 (final; 914 provisional). Among states Kerala was highest (1,084) and Haryana lowest (879); among Union Territories Puducherry was highest (1,037) and Daman and Diu lowest (618). Causes of a low ratio: preference for sons rooted in inheritance, old-age security and dowry; sex-determination tests and sex-selective abortion despite the legal ban; female infanticide and neglect of girls in nutrition and health care; maternal deaths; and male-dominated in-migration in urban and industrial areas such as Delhi and Daman and Diu. Kerala is high because of high female literacy and status, better health care and male out-migration. A low ratio reflects gender discrimination, so the remedies are girls' education, enforcement of laws against sex selection and schemes such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (2015).

3. Age composition. The groups are 0-14 (children, dependent), 15-59 (working age) and 60 and above (elderly, dependent). In Census 2011 they were about 31, 60 and 8.6 per cent. The share of children is falling as birth rates decline (it was over 40 per cent in 1971), while the shares of working-age adults and the elderly rise as life expectancy improves. The age pyramid, broad-based but narrowing at the bottom and widening in the middle, is typical of a country in the later stage of demographic transition. Implications: a demographic dividend if the large working-age group is skilled and employed; still significant child dependency and rising old-age dependency; and needs for schools, jobs and skills, and health care and social security for the elderly.

Rural-Urban Composition, Sex Ratio and Age Composition of India: key facts

Sex ratio (India)
  • Females
  • divided by males
  • multiplied by 1,000
  • 2011: 943 (940 provisional)
Level of urbanisation
  • Urban population
  • divided by total population
  • multiplied by 100
  • 2011: 31.1%
Sex ratio extremes
  • Kerala 1,084 highest
  • Haryana 879 lowest
  • Child sex ratio 918
Urbanisation extremes
  • Goa about 62% highest
  • Himachal Pradesh about 10% lowest
  • Delhi about 97.5%
Age groups 2011
  • 0-14 about 31%
  • 15-59 about 60%
  • 60 and above about 8.6%

How to answer Rural-Urban Composition, Sex Ratio and Age Composition of India questions

For attribute questions, state the definition, the figure with the year, the extremes, the causes and the implication.

  1. 1Define the indicator and its unit (females per 1,000 males, per cent urban).
  2. 2Quote the national figure with the census year and say whether provisional or final.
  3. 3Give the highest and lowest states.
  4. 4Give two or three causes with a link to the pattern.
  5. 5End with an implication for development.

Rural-Urban Composition, Sex Ratio and Age Composition of India in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

A classroom ratio check

Suppose a village has 1,200 boys and 1,080 girls aged 0 to 6 recorded by its own survey.

Find the child sex ratio of the village and compare it with India's 918.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Child sex ratio = 1080 / 1200 x 1000 = 900.
  2. 900 is below 918, so the village is lower than the national child sex ratio.

Answer: 900 girls per 1,000 boys; below India's 918.

Memory hook: Girls divided by boys, times 1,000.

Planning for the elderly

Suppose a district officer reads that the share of people aged 60 and above is rising in the state, while the share of children is falling.

Name the trend that explains this and one service the officer should expand.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Lower birth rates reduce the share of children, and longer life expectancy raises the elderly share.
  2. Expand health care and social security (pensions) for the elderly.

Answer: Falling births and rising life expectancy; expand health care and pensions.

Memory hook: Narrow base, fatter top.

Tricks to remember Rural-Urban Composition, Sex Ratio and Age Composition of India

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • Goa high, Himachal low

    Urbanisation extremes: Goa (about 62%) and Himachal Pradesh (about 10%).

    Use it when: Urbanisation extremes.

  • Kerala 1,084, Haryana 879

    Sex ratio extremes among states: Kerala top, Haryana bottom.

    Use it when: Sex ratio extremes.

  • 31-60-8.6

    Age shares in 2011: children 31, working 60, elderly 8.6 per cent.

    Use it when: Age composition.

Rural-Urban Composition, Sex Ratio and Age Composition of India: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Extremes · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

Name the states with the highest and lowest sex ratio and level of urbanisation in Census 2011.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Sex ratio: highest Kerala (1,084); lowest Haryana (879).
  2. Urbanisation: highest Goa (about 62 per cent); lowest Himachal Pradesh (about 10 per cent).

Answer: Sex ratio: Kerala, Haryana. Urbanisation: Goa, Himachal Pradesh.

Example 2: Sex ratio calculation · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

Invented figures: a district has 25,00,000 males and 2,35,000 fewer females than males. Find its sex ratio.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Females = 2,500,000 - 235,000 = 2,265,000.
  2. Sex ratio = 2,265,000 / 2,500,000 x 1000 = 906.

Answer: 906 females per 1,000 males.

Example 3: Causes of low sex ratio · 5 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Explain four causes of the low sex ratio in some states, and name the state with the lowest ratio in Census 2011.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Preference for sons linked with inheritance, old-age security and dowry.
  2. Sex-determination tests and sex-selective abortion despite the ban; female infanticide.
  3. Neglect of girls in nutrition and health care, raising female child mortality.
  4. Maternal deaths in pregnancy and childbirth.
  5. The state with the lowest ratio is Haryana (879).

Answer: Son preference, sex-selective abortion and infanticide, neglect of girls, maternal deaths; lowest ratio in Haryana (879).

Example 4: Urbanisation trend · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Describe the trend of India's urbanisation from 1901 to 2011 and give three causes.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The urban share rose from about 11 per cent in 1901 to 17 per cent in 1951, 23 per cent in 1981, 28 per cent in 2001 and 31 per cent in 2011.
  2. In 2001-2011 the absolute increase in the urban population exceeded that of the rural for the first time since Independence.
  3. Causes: rural-urban migration for jobs, natural increase in towns, reclassification of villages as census towns, industrialisation and services.

Answer: A steady rise from about 11 to 31 per cent; urban increase exceeded rural in 2001-2011; causes include migration, natural increase, census towns and industry.

Example 5: Interpreting age data · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

Case (invented): State A has 38 per cent aged 0-14, 56 per cent aged 15-59 and 6 per cent aged 60 and above. State B has 24, 63 and 13 per cent. (a) Which state is further along in the demographic transition? (b) Which has the greater child dependency? (c) Which needs a bigger old-age health budget?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (a) State B: a smaller share of children and a larger share of elderly shows lower birth rates and higher life expectancy.
  2. (b) State A, with 38 per cent children.
  3. (c) State B, with 13 per cent aged 60 and above.

Answer: (a) State B (b) State A (c) State B.

Where students lose marks in Rural-Urban Composition, Sex Ratio and Age Composition of India

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Quoting sex ratio as males per 1,000 females

    In India the ratio is females per 1,000 males.

    Wrong working

    Sex ratio = males / females x 1,000

    Right working

    Sex ratio = females / males x 1,000

    Do this: Put females in the numerator.

    Usually costs: 1 to 2 marks.

  • Mistake: Mixing provisional and final figures

    940 and 943 both appear in sources.

    Do this: State which one you use, and keep to it.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Confusing the child sex ratio with the overall sex ratio

    Child sex ratio covers ages 0-6 only.

    Do this: Write age 0-6 and 918.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Naming a Union Territory as the highest or lowest state

    Delhi, Puducherry and Daman and Diu are UTs.

    Do this: Say 'state' or 'Union Territory' explicitly.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Learn the extremes as a table: Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Haryana.
  • Quote the census year and whether the figure is provisional.
  • Link each cause to the pattern, for example son preference to low ratio.
  • Literacy and workers are on their own page.

Practice questions on Rural-Urban Composition, Sex Ratio and Age Composition of India

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    The national sex ratio in Census 2011 (final) was:
    (a) 927
    (b) 933
    (c) 943
    (d) 972

    Hint

    Provisional 940; final is slightly higher.

    Answer

    (c) 943.

  2. Q2 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    Explain why Kerala has a sex ratio above 1,000 while Haryana has a very low one.

    Hint

    Female literacy and status; son preference.

    Answer

    Kerala has high female literacy and status, better health care and male out-migration to the Gulf and elsewhere, giving 1,084. Haryana has strong son preference, sex selection and neglect of girls, giving 879.

  3. Q3 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    Discuss the implications for development of the rising share of the working-age group (15-59).

    Hint

    Dividend and conditions.

    Answer

    A large working-age group can raise savings and growth (the demographic dividend), but only if it is educated, skilled and employed; otherwise it adds to unemployment. Child dependency is still significant and old-age dependency will rise, requiring schools, jobs and skills, and pensions and health care.

  4. Q4 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    Why is a falling child sex ratio (927 in 2001 to 918 in 2011) a more serious signal than the overall sex ratio of 943? Name two measures to address it.

    Hint

    Ages 0-6 and discrimination.

    Answer

    The child sex ratio is falling although the overall ratio rose, which shows that discrimination against girls is increasing at birth and in childhood. Measures: girls' education, enforcement of laws against sex-selective tests, and schemes such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (2015).

  5. Q5 · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

    Case: A student says, 'Goa is the most urban state, so it must have the largest number of urban people.' (a) Evaluate the claim using the idea of level versus number. (b) Name the state group with the lowest level. (c) State one cause of urbanisation.

    Hint

    Percentage versus absolute number.

    Answer

    (a) Wrong: Goa has the highest percentage of urban people, but a small state can have far fewer urban people than a large one; level (per cent) is not number. (b) Himachal Pradesh, then Bihar and Assam. (c) Rural-urban migration for jobs.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Urban share of India in 2011?Show answer

    31.1 per cent.

  2. 2.Highest sex ratio among states?Show answer

    Kerala, 1,084.

  3. 3.Child sex ratio in 2011?Show answer

    918 (final).

  4. 4.Share of the 0-14 group in 2011?Show answer

    About 31 per cent.

  5. 5.Least urbanised state?Show answer

    Himachal Pradesh, about 10 per cent.

Rural-Urban Composition, Sex Ratio and Age Composition of India: frequently asked questions

What is a census town?

A village reclassified as urban when it acquires urban characteristics.

How is the sex ratio defined in India?

Females per 1,000 males.

What is the demographic dividend?

Economic benefit of a large working-age population that is skilled and employed.

Which UT is almost wholly urban?

Delhi, about 97.5 per cent.