India ' atext += 'India has a youthful population structure. In the United States in 2000, 21% of the population is below 15 years and 13% above 65. In India, 36% of its population is below the age of 15 years, and only 4% above 65.' atext += ' ' atext += 'Since 1987, the per capita income has risen by 23%, from US $300 to US $370. From 1951 to 1981 gross domestic product rose at a fairly constant annual rate of 3.5%, rising to 4.6% between 1980-87. In 1997, the GDP real growth rate was estimated at 5%. In 1996, agriculture still accounted for 30% of GDP, with industry and services accounting for 28% and 42% respectively. In 1995, of the 390 million members of the labor force, 67% worked in agriculture, 18% in services, and 15% in industry.' atext += 'Income inequality is high. Thirty-five percent of the population was below the poverty line in 1994. Seventy-five percent of the 350-400 million inhabitants who fall below the poverty line reside in rural areas. At the same time, India has the world’s largest middle class (300 million), that was virtually non-existent in 1947.' atext += ' ' atext += 'Low female literacy rates are cited as an important cause for low contraceptive usage. In 1981, only 18% of females in rural India were literate. Almost 15 years later, the literacy rate for females more than doubled to 37.7% in 1995. The figures are higher for both sexes in urban areas. For example, the state of Kerala, India’s most urbanized and economically developed state, had literacy rates of 93% for males and 86% for females in 1991.' atext += 'Male literacy is significantly higher in both urban and rural areas. In 2000, the male literacy rate of 65.5% is almost double that of the female rate. The government has set a long-term target for universal elementary education for all children up to the age of 14 years.' atext += ' |
* Statistics from PRC at http://www.prcdc.org/summaries' atext += ' see: Demographic Profile of India |