Previous Year Question
Which of the following State has the lowest density of population as per the Census of 2011?
Himachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
West Bengal
Mizoram
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
Population Density means the number of persons living per square kilometre of area.
According to Census 2011, India's average population density was 382 persons per square kilometre. Among the given options, the densities were—
Arunachal Pradesh — 17 persons per sq km
Mizoram — 52 persons per sq km
Himachal Pradesh — 123 persons per sq km
West Bengal — about 1,028 persons per sq km
Thus, Arunachal Pradesh had not only the lowest population density among the given options but also the lowest among the States of India in Census 2011.
Arunachal Pradesh has an area of about 83,743 sq km, while its population in 2011 was approximately 1.384 million. Its extensive mountainous terrain, difficult topography, large forested areas and widely dispersed settlements are among the major geographical factors associated with its low population density.
It is important to distinguish between the lowest population and the lowest population density. Population Density depends not merely on total population but on the relationship between population and area.