Research article · 2023 · Full text
International Journal of Geography Geology and EnvironmentSpatial pattern of distribution of population in Kerala population 2011: A district wise dissection
Volume 5(1) · Pages 200–204 · DOI: 10.22271/27067483.2023.v5.i1b.163 ↗
Research areasSocial and Economic Development in IndiaAgricultural Economics and PracticesSouth Asian Studies and Conflicts
Abstract
Author-writtenThe distribution of individuals worldwide is known as the population.The unequal distribution of the population based on a number of different causes.The term "population distribution" also refers to the spatial pattern created by factors such as population dispersion, agglomeration formation, linear spread, etc.Both densely populated and sparsely populated areas exist.Climate, landforms, topography, soil, energy and mineral resources, accessibility-such as proximity to coastlines, natural harbours, navigable rivers and canals, cultural factors, political boundaries, restrictions on immigration and trade, government policies, types of economic activities, technology, including types of farming and transportation facilities, social organisation, and last but not least, demographic factors like age distribution-are the main factors affecting population distribution.The major causes of the decline in population in some locations have been unfavourable physical circumstances and a lack of viable livelihood options.Perhaps the most significant geographic factor affecting population dispersal is the climate.Population distribution is influenced by a number of social, demographic, economic, political, and historical factors in addition to physical ones.
Summary
Source-checkedPlain-language reading of the full paper, prepared with AI and checked against the text. Each point links to the authors' own words.
Why it matters
- Population distribution patterns are critical demographic characteristics used for regional planning, as well as socio-economic and administrative development of a territory. View evidence ↗
- The way a population is spatially distributed determines how basic amenities, facilities, and health services are allocated across an area. View evidence ↗
- Population distribution is influenced by a wide array of factors, including physical geography (climate, topography, soil), accessibility to coastlines, government policies, economic activities, and demographic factors. View evidence ↗
The question
- The study aims to dissect and analyze the spatial pattern of population distribution across the districts of Kerala based on 2011 data. View evidence ↗
What they did
- The researchers used population data from the 2011 Census of India, specifically the Primary Census Abstract for Kerala. View evidence ↗
- The study area, Kerala, is geographically categorized into three regions: western lowlands (coastal plains), central midlands (rolling hills), and eastern highlands (rocky mountainous terrain). View evidence ↗
- The analysis involved tabulating the district-wise share of the total population, the rural population, and the urban population. View evidence ↗
What they found
- Districts with a 'very high' population share (over 9.50%) include Malappuram, Thiruvananthapuram, and Ernakulam, all of which are above the state average. View evidence ↗
- The highest shares of the rural population (over 10%) were found in Malappuram (13.14%) and Palakkad (12.21%). View evidence ↗
- The urban population was most concentrated in Ernakulam, which held 14.01% of the state's urban population, while Wayanad had the lowest urban share at 0.20%. View evidence ↗
- Kozhikode, Thrissur, and Ernakulam are categorized as having a 'very high' share of the urban population, each exceeding 12%. View evidence ↗
- Five districts, Kasaragod, Wayanad, Idukki, Kottayam, and Pathanamthitta, were found to have a 'low' share of the urban population, each below 4%. View evidence ↗
What it means
- The authors conclude that Kerala's physiographic and topographical attributes, along with the characteristics of port hinterlands, significantly impact the size and spatial distribution of both rural and urban populations across districts. View evidence ↗
- The study identifies a distinct relationship between a district's urban population size and its rural population, influenced by varying densities and other demographic attributes. View evidence ↗
Visual summary
2 visualsIllustrations explain the paper; charts are replotted from the paper's own table values.
Percent to Total Population of State: Malappuram vs Thiruvananthapuram vs Ernakulam vs Thrissur vs Kozhikode
Replotted from Table 1 (page 2) of the original paper. Every bar is the paper's own table value.
View source evidence ↗
Percent to Total Population of State: Malappuram vs Palakkad vs Thiruvananthapuram vs Kollam vs Kottayam
Replotted from Table 2 (page 3) of the original paper. Every bar is the paper's own table value.
View source evidence ↗Figures & tables
From the original paper
Table 1
Table 2
Table 3Introduction
The distributional pattern of the population is one of the significant parameters for as demographic characteristics of the population geography. This demographic attribute has a vital significant in regional planning and development, in terms of socio-economic and administrative planning of a territory. The spatial distribution of the population, determine the distribution of spatial distribution of basic amenities and the facilities and the health services in accordance with the spatial distribution of the population in an area. Further the spatial distribution of the population, health services, infrastructural facilities, transport and communication development of an area.
Study Area
The Kerala state is wedged between the Western Ghats and the Lakshadweep Sea. Located between the latitudes 8°18' and 12°48' in the north and 74°52' and 77°22' in the east. Kerala has a climate of humid tropical rainforest with occasional cyclones. The state's width ranges from 11 to 121 kilometres, and it includes a 590-kilometer coast. Geographically, Kerala can be split into three climatically diverse regions: the western lowlands, which are coastal plains, the central midlands, which are rolling hills, and the eastern highlands, which are rocky and cool mountainous terrain. The district wise share of population of Kerala state is tabulated as follows: 2011) [1] , Primary Census Abstract, Kerala, Series-7, Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala. Keeping in view the tabulated figures of the district wise population numbers which shows a descending order of the population numbers (Census, 2011) [1] in the abovementioned map-1 indicates a significant regional disparity in the district wise share of population numbers to the state. It is quite obvious from the tabulated figures and the map-1 which shows that the maximum share of the district wise share belonged to first category (over 9.50) percent (Very high % of population) are the districts which include Malapuram, Threevandhapuram, and Ernakulum which have above the state average. In the second category, which include the percentage between 5.50 to 7.50% (High %) have five districts which include the districts such as Kannur, Khozikhod, Palakkad, Thrisuur, and Kottayan which are mostly below of state average, i.e. 7.14 percent. Lastly, there are four districts, which include the Kasaragod, Wayanand, Idukki, and Pathanamthitta which have less than 5.50 (Low level of share of percent population) to the state. Further, the district wise distributional share of the rural population in accordance with 2011 census, tabulated as follows: 2011) [1] , Primary Census Abstract, Kerala, Series-7, Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala. The district wise distributional pattern of the urban population in the Kerala state shows that maximum share of the urban population which ranges from more that 12 percent (Very high) have three districts, namely Kozhikode, Thrissur and Ernakulum which have maximum share of urban population. With regarding to second category of share of the urban population, it is obvious from the tabulated figures which shows the percentage of urban population from 8 to 12 percent (High level) which include Kannur, Mallapuram and Thiruvananthapuram districts of Kerala. With regarding to third category of share of the rural population, it is obvious from the tabulated figures which shows the percentage of rural population from 4 to 8 percent (Medium level of the share) which include the, Palakkad, Alappuzha and Kollam districts of Kerala where all the districts are below the average figure of the share of the urban population of Kerala state. Lastly, there are 5 districts which have low level of the urban population which is below 4 percent (Low level of share of urban population) include the districts which include Kasaragod, Wayaad, Idduki, Kottayam and Pathannamthitta.
Conclusion
In the present study, the spatial distribution of the physiographic and topographical attributes of the Kerala state and the regional character of the hinterland of the different ports, located in the Kerala state have a considerable impacts on the size and space of the population of the district and its spatial share and distribution of the rural and the urban population of a district in the state. However, the study shows a peculiar relationship between the size of the urban population of a specific district in relation to its rural population with its varied density and distributional aspects of the other demographic attributes.
Figures and tables from the paper
| District/State | Population | Percent to Total Population of State |
|---|---|---|
| Kerala | 33406060 | 100.00 |
| Malappuram | 4112920 | 12.32 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 3301427 | 9.88 |
| Ernakulam | 3282388 | 9.83 |
| Thrissur | 3121200 | 9.34 |
| Kozhikode | 3086293 | 9.24 |
| Palakkad | 2809934 | 8.41 |
| Kollam | 2635375 | 7.89 |
| Kannur | 2523003 | 7.55 |
| Alappuzha | 2127789 | 6.37 |
| Kottayam | 1974551 | 5.91 |
| Kasaragod | 1307375 | 3.91 |
| Pathanamthitta | 1197412 | 3.58 |
| Idukki | 1108974 | 3.32 |
| Wayanad | 817420 | 2.45 |
Table text extracted from the original PDF; superscript letters are shown inline. The original table image is below.
View original table image
| District/State | Population | Percent to Total Population of State |
|---|---|---|
| Kerala | 17471135 | 100.00 |
| Malappuram | 2295709 | 13.14 |
| Palakkad | 2133124 | 12.21 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 1529831 | 8.76 |
| Kollam | 1448217 | 8.29 |
| Kottayam | 1409158 | 8.06 |
| Pathanamthitta | 1065799 | 6.10 |
| Idukki | 1056929 | 6.05 |
| Ernakulam | 1048025 | 6.00 |
| Thrissur | 1024794 | 5.87 |
| Kozhikode | 1013721 | 5.80 |
| Alappuzha | 979643 | 5.61 |
| Kannur | 882017 | 5.05 |
| Kasaragod | 798328 | 4.57 |
| Wayanad | 785840 | 4.49 |
Table text extracted from the original PDF; superscript letters are shown inline. The original table image is below.
View original table image
| District/State | Population | Percent to Total Population of State |
|---|---|---|
| Kerala | 15934926 | 100.00 |
| Ernakulam | 2234363 | 14.01 |
| Thrissur | 2096406 | 13.16 |
| Kozhikode | 2072572 | 13.01 |
| Malappuram | 1817211 | 11.4 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 1771596 | 11.12 |
| Kannur | 1640986 | 10.30 |
| Kollam | 1187158 | 7.45 |
| Alappuzha | 1148146 | 7.21 |
| Palakkad | 676810 | 4.24 |
| Kottayam | 565393 | 3.55 |
| Kasaragod | 509047 | 3.19 |
| Pathanamthitta | 131613 | 0.83 |
| Idukki | 52045 | 0.33 |
| Wayanad | 31580 | 0.20 |
Table text extracted from the original PDF; superscript letters are shown inline. The original table image is below.
View original table image
References
1 in the original paper- Kumar BP, Emayavaramban V. Analyzing the urban sprawl-form and characteristics: a case study of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing. 2023 Dec;51(12):2521-2535.