Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 1:
Population dynamics and growth pattern in West Bengal, 1901-2011.
Population dynamics in West Bengal
Year
Total population in
India (million)
Total
population
(million)
% share of
national
Average annual
exponential growth rate
(percent)
Progressive
growth rate
over 1901
1901
238.4
16.9
7.1
-
-
1911
252.1
18.0
7.1
0.6
6.5
1921
251.3
17.5
6.9
-0.3
3.6
1931
279.0
18.9
6.8
0.8
11.8
1941
318.7
23.2
7.3
2.0
37.3
1951
361.1
26.3
7.3
1.3
55.6
1961
439.2
34.9
7.9
2.8
106.5
1971
548.2
44.3
8.1
2.4
162.1
1981
683.3
54.6
8.0
2.1
223.1
1991
846.4
68.0
8.0
2.2
302.4
2001
1028.7
80.2
7.8
1.7
374.6
2011*
1210.2
91.3
7.5
1.3
440.2
Source: Census of India, * provisional 2011
There was a fl uctuating trend in the population growth in West Bengal.
Till 1931, the annual exponential growth rates were negligible. It shows
a negative growth rate during 1911 to 1921. During this time population
declined marginally due to great infl uenza epidemic and two successive
bad harvests.
The late eighteen and nineteen centuries saw the worst famines and
these were bad enough to have a remarkable impact on the long term
population growth of the country, especially in the half century between
1871-1921. As a part of the nation, West Bengal was also infl uenced by
these famines. The Bengal famine of 1770 is estimated to have taken the
live of nearly onethird of the population of the region. After 1921, there
was continues growth trend in the population. West Bengal's population
increased to 26.3 million in 1951 from 17.5 million in 1921. During this
period the growth rates were low (average annual exponential growth rate
