India's population is unevenly distributed. Plains have more population than the mountains, deserts and forest lands. Population is relatively more in states and districts located in river basin and coastal plains and also in those which have experienced urbanization.
The following are the main factors causing uneven distribution of population in India:
1. Relief Features: The northern plains, coastal plains and river valleys are thickly populated. Uttar Pradesh has a 166.05 million population. The states with very high and high density are located in Satluj-Ganga plains. Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the two coastal states are also thickly populated. The density in West Bengal is 904 persons, Bihar 880 persons, Kerala 819 persons and Tamil Nadu 478 persons per sq. km.
The hilly states like Jammu and Kashmir (99), Sikkim (76), Mizoram (42 persons), and Arunachal Pradesh (13 persons per sq. km.) are thinly populated. The states of Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh and Meghalaya is also thinly populated. In these states density ranges between 100 and 200 persons per sq. km. Rajasthan because of deserts and M.P. because of hills and forests are also thinly populated.
2. Climate: The hot deserts of Thar, hot parts of Deccan Plateau and cold regions of Himalayas are thinly populated. In the rest of India the temperatures are tolerable. Rainless parts of Rajasthan and heavy rain areas of the North-East area are also thinly populated.
3. Soils: Rich soils help in the growth and development of agriculture. Fertile soils of northern plains and coastal areas and black lime soil of Gujarat and Maharashtra produce a variety of crops and support a dense population.
4. Natural Resources: The parts of the country with rich soil and minerals are thickly populated. Satluj-Ganga plains and coastal plains have rich soils and the Damodar river valley rich in minerals are thickly populated.
5. Industrial cities: Metropolitan cities of Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi are expanding fast due to better conditions of life, employment opportunities in developing industrial clusters around these cities.
