ADOLESCENTS AND

YOUTH IN INDIA
HIGHLIGHTS FROM CENSUS
2011

Dr C CHANDRAMOULI
REGISTRAR GENERAL & CENSUS COMMISSIONER, INDIA

Today, every fifth person in India is an

adolescent (10-19 years) and every
third a young person (10-24 years)
Investing
in
this
segment
of
population is the best way to leverage
the nations competitive advantage
its demographic dividend.

Population of Adolescents (10-19

Years)

Country

Population
(in million)

Adolescent
Proportion of
(10-19 yrs)
Adolescents
Population
(%)
(in million)

China

1358.8

191.2

14.1

India

1205.6

236.5

19.6

USA

312.2

43.0

13.8

Indonesia

240.6

43.4

16.8

Brazil

195.2

33.8

17.3

Pakistan

173.1

30.9

23.1

World Population Prospects

The 2012 Revision, UN 2013

Population of Youth (15-24 Years)

Country

Population
(in million)

Youth
(15-24 yrs)
Population
(in million)

Proportion
of Youths
(%)

China

1358.8

242.2

17.8

India

1205.6

229.0

19.0

USA

312.2

43.9

14.1

Indonesia

240.6

40.5

16.8

Brazil

195.2

33.6

17.2

Pakistan

173.1

37.2

21.5

World Population Prospects

The 2012 Revision, UN 2013

Definition of Adolescents, Youth

Adolescents 10 -19 years

Youth 15 - 24 years
Together, adolescents and youth
are referred to as Young people,
encompassing the ages 10-24
years.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM
CENSUS OF INDIA
2011

Population Pyramid (By 10 Years Grouping)

India : 2001 & 2011 Censuses

Age-Sex Distribution, India, 2011

Age-Sex Distribution, India, 2001

80+
70-79

80+

60-69

70-79

50-59

60-69

40-49

50-59

30-39

40-49

20-29

30-39

10-19

20-29

0-9

10-19

25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0 0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0

Females

Males

0-9

30.0

20.0

10.0

0.0

10.0

Females

The broad base is gradually shrinking and the bulge is

moving upwards indicating an increase in the median age

20.0

30.0

Males

Adolescents (10-19) : India

Population (2011)

253 mn (225 mn)

Decadal growth (2001-11)

Sex Ratio (2011)

+ 12.5%

898 (882)

Youth (15-24) : India

Population (2011)

231 mn (189 mn)

Decadal growth (2001-11)

Sex Ratio (2011)

+ 22.1%

908 (882)

Trends in Proportion of Population

India
1961 to 2011 Census

Since 1971 the proportion of adolescent

population has remained around 21 per
cent
Proportion of youth population increased
steadily from 16.5 per cent in 1971 to 19.2

Trends in Sex Ratio (1961 to 2011

Census) India

Adolescent Sex Ratio has been very low,

showing increase and decline in alternate
censuses. Highest in 2011 at 898
Youth Sex Ratio has shown consistent decline
till 2001, then rising in 2011.

Sex Ratio Among Adolescents (10-19)

Census 2011

Sex Ratio Among Youth (15-24)

Census 2011

Trends in Literacy Rate by Sex and

Gender Gap India
ADOLESCENTS
(10-19)

YOUTH (15-24)

Adolescent and
Youth Literacy
Rates show
consistent
increase.
Appreciable
increase in
Female Literacy
Rate - narrowing
gender gap

Trends in Work Participation Rate

India
ADOLESCENTS
(10-19)
Decline in WPR by
sex in Total and Rural
areas from 2001 to
2011. No change in
Urban areas.

YOUTH (15-24)
Similar situation
exists in case of
Youth as well..

In Conclusion
Population of Adolescents (253.2
million) and Youth (231.9 million) are
quite large in the country
There is considerable progress in
achieving literacy among both the
groups
What remains as crucial element is the
development of skills among Youth
population to take up decent vocation.

For more information visit:

censusindia.gov.in
Or write to:

rgi.rgi@censusindia.gov.in

Thank you