a A: Population Size and Growth Y ten most populous world. It ranked 10th in the year 1991, below to Japan, Bangladesh and Nigeria. Among the Asian countries it is at fourth position. Pakistan has second highest annual growth rate of akistan with an estimated population of 135.28 million in 1997 stands seventh amongst the countries of the 2.8 percent among these ten countries. With this annual growth rate, the population of the country would be doubled in the next 25 years This situation is very alarming. on the average about 3.8 million people are being added annually to the country's population. In the absence of affective civil registration system in the country and delay in population census which was due in 1991, actual growth rate of population coulda not be assessed. However, the recently conducted Demographic survey indicate's decline in fertility. The country is passing through the third stage of demographic transition, where both the birth rates and death rates are declining. At the beginning of the century, both the birth and death rates were very high and rate of natural increase was very low i.e. 0.86% during the intercensal period 1811-1921. since 1941, the crude death rate started declining and reached to 31.2 per thousand population as compared to 48.6 per thousand population in 1921. It has further declined sharply to 11.8 per thousand population by 1981 167 POPULATION due to improved health facilities and better nutrition, whereas, the crude birth rate (CBR) registered slow decline during this period. It declined from 49 per thousand population to 43.3 per thousand population and resulted in high population growth rate in the country. The population of the area now constitutes Pakistan, was 16.576 million in 1901 and has increased to 133.5 million in 1996. Most populous countries are given in table 11.1 where as cities of Pakistan, having Population more than hundred thousand are given in table 11.4. Population Density The population density in the country had increased three times i.e. from, 54 persons per square kilometer in 1961 to 163 persons per Sq. Kilometer in 1995. Province wise analysis indicates that Punjab is the most dénsely populated province (355 persons per Sq.km) and Balochistan has least density(19 persons per sq. Km.) in 1995. As a result of rapid population growth in the country during 1981-1995, the density per sq. im. also increased in all the provinces. However, it varied among the provinces. Punjab registered 2.85 times increase (from 122.4 persons to 355 persons per Sq. Km), Sindh 3.5 times (from 59 persons to 210 persons Sq. Km) and NWFP about 3 times (from 77 persons to 228 parsons per Sq. Km.). Details may be seen in table 11.2.Urban-Rural Population Distribution The urban population which was 17.8 percent of the total population in 1951 has increased to 32.2 percent in 1995, thus registering’ a high annual growth rate of 4.52 percent, As compared to this, the rural population has increased by 2.6 percent per year during the same period. The urban population which was 5,985 million in 1951 was estimated as 41.842 million in 1995 i.e. baout 7 times increase in 44 years, whereas, rural population has increased slightly over 3 times which indicates high pressure on urban areas. In 1931, there were only seven cities which had over hundred thousand population. In 1981, there were 29 such cities. The number of cities with more than hundred thousand population must be more now, which at this stage can not be assessed in the absence of population census, Rural urban distribution is given in table 11.3 where as their literacy rates are given in table 11.10 Sex and Age composition The sex composition of population is an important demographic variable which directly relates to births, deaths, marriages and employment. The sex ratio is the basic indicator of sex composition There is a declining trend in sex ratio during 1951 to 1995, which indicates better female coverage in the censuses and decline in female mortality rates. The male population was 54.1 percent in 1901, which had declined to 52.5 percent according to 1981 census. It was estimated as 51.6 percent in 1995 Distribution of population by age is an important feature needed for all socio-economic sectors such as education, health and employment. The age structure of the population mortality and of the depends on fertility, migration. A comparison yeported age distribution according to 1981 population census and Pakistan integrated household survey, 1995-95 indicates slight decline in the proportion of 0-4 years age group. It was 15.3 percent of the total population in 1981 which declined to 14.7 percent in 1995-96. It veveals decline in fertility rate during recent years. The share of school age population i.e. 5-14 years, which was 29.2 percent in 1981 had increased to 30.2 percent in 1995-96, whereas, the proportion of population 0-24 years which was 44.5 percent in 1981, indicates slight increase, i.e. became 44.9 percent of the population in 1995-96. «The dependency ratio i.e. the ratio of population under 15 years and -65 years and above with population of working age groupos 15-64 years was 89.2 percent in 1951, which increased to 95.1 percent in 1981 and 82 percent in 1995, showing declining trend as compared to 1981. The child dependency ratio was 96.9 percent in 1981. Detail may be seen in table 11.5 while dependency ratio is shown in table 11.6. Singulate Mean Age at Marriage The mean age at marriage indicates an increasing trend in the country for both males and females. The Singulate mean age at marriage for males was 22.3 years in 1951, which had increased to 25.5 years in 1991, showing an increase of 3.2 years. Similarly for females, it was 35.9 years in 1951 which had increased to 20.7 years, thus registered an increase of 3.8 years, slightly higher as compared to males Table 11.7 highlights details. Fertility Pakistan Demographic Survey (eps), conducted by Federal Bureau of