JALANDHAR – Punjab is experiencing a noteworthy decline in its population growth rate over the past decade. While the official 2021 Census data is yet to be released, statistics from the Civil Registration System (CRS) highlight a substantial decrease in the annual population increment in Punjab, dropping by 50% from 2011 to 2020.
In 2011, Punjab witnessed a population growth of over 3.23 lakh. However, by 2020, this number dwindled to 1.51 lakh. As per the latest available CRS report from 2020, Punjab’s population growth rate stands at 1.65%, notably lower than the national rate of 2.98%. In terms of its contribution to India’s population, Punjab represented 2.37% in 2001, but this share reduced to 2.29% in 2011.
The statistics reveal that in Punjab, there were 5,11,058 births in 2011 compared to 3,81,200 in 2020, while deaths increased from 1,87,675 in 2011 to 2,29,846 in 2020. In contrast, the neighboring state of Haryana, which is smaller in size, recorded 5,91,914 births and 2,12,238 deaths in 2020.
Punjab contributed 1.57% (3.8 lakh) to total births in India (2.42 crore) in 2020 and 2.8% (2.3 lakh) to total deaths in India (81.16 lakh) during the same year.
One of the significant factors contributing to this declining trend in population growth is the increased emigration of young Punjabis who settle abroad and have families there. These individuals, largely of marriageable age, are opting to establish their lives outside of Punjab.
Furthermore, the influx of migrants from other Indian states into Punjab, many of whom are in the younger demographic, has had a countervailing effect by increasing the birth rate. The net effect on Punjab’s population growth remains a subject of ongoing analysis.
The decreasing population growth rate in Punjab is expected to have a significant impact on the Sikh community, which has already witnessed a decline in its national representation. From 2001 to 2011, Sikhs saw their share drop from 1.87% to 1.72% in the country and from 59.91% to 57.69% in Punjab itself.
Another noteworthy trend is the migration of Muslims from Uttar Pradesh to Punjab. Community leaders assert that this movement is primarily driven by a perception of communal stability in Punjab, which makes it a safe destination. Historically, migration to Punjab from other states included individuals from various communities and castes, but there is now a discernible increase in Muslims migrating to the state.
The growing presence of Muslims from diverse economic backgrounds in Punjab is leading to the revival of mosques that had been abandoned post-Partition. Punjab Wakf Board chairman M.F. Farooqui confirmed that the migrant Muslim population in Punjab is actively restoring these religious structures.
This demographic transition in Punjab has far-reaching implications and raises questions about the future composition of its population and the evolving social dynamics in the state.
