India's growing population

Seventy-five years ago, India had far fewer people. Now it has the most in the world!

Picture a crowded Indian street today, then a much quieter one from 1950.

In 1951, India had about 36 crore people. By 2011, the census counted about 121 crore. That is more than three times bigger in sixty years. Let us see why. Before 1950, many people died young from disease and hunger. Birth rates were high, and so were death rates.

• 36 crore to 121 crore

Then life got better. Hospitals, vaccines and clean water helped people live longer.

Better farming also gave more food. Fewer babies and adults died, but families still had many children.

So births stayed high while deaths fell. That gap makes a population grow fast.

In 1947, India became independent, and the first census after that was in 1951.

The census counts every person, once every ten years. That is how we know these numbers.

Today, growth is slowing, because families are choosing to have fewer children.

Education and jobs for girls, and better health, help families plan how many children to have.

Now India is the most populous country, with well over 140 crore people. Quick check: what mainly made India's population grow so fast after 1950? In short, better health and food cut deaths, and India grew from 36 crore to over 140 crore.