Demographic characteristics of a country provide an overview of its population size, composition territorial distribution, changes therein and the components of changes such as nativity, mortality, and social mobility. In this the sources, indicators and the use of demographic data in the field urban, regional, transport planning in explained along with a case study.

2. What is Demographic
Information?
➢ The Word Demo means “The People” and Graphy means
“Measurement”.
➢Demography is the statistical study of human populations.
➢ Demographic characteristics of a country provide an
overview of its population size, composition territorial
distribution, changes therein and the components of
changes such as nativity, mortality, and social mobility.
➢ Populations are never static, they grow or decline through the interplay of three demographic
processes:
➢ Three Demographic Processes
• Fertility: Number of births that occur to an individual or a population
• Mortality: Death of an individual or the number of deaths that occur in a population
• Migration: The movement of people into or out of a specific geographic area

3. ➢Three main sources are:
• Population Census- A census is a count of the age and sex of all people in a specified territory
at a given time. A census may also collect other demographic, social and economic
information.
• Surveys- A survey attempts to describe, as accurately as possible, the demographic aspects of
a population by collecting information on a sample of the total population.
• Vital Statistics System- Vital statistics system refer to the registration of births and deaths in a
population.

4. ➢The demographic characteristics are the indicators for the country, state as well as district will
help in identifying areas that need policy and programmed interventions, setting near and far-term
goals, and deciding priorities, besides understanding them in an integrated structure.
➢This section on demographic indicators has been subdivided into two parts-
Population Statistics Vital Statistics
• Population size
• Sex ratio
• Density
• Dependency ratio
• Birth rate
• Death rate
• Natural growth rate
• Life expectancy at birth
• Mortality
• Fertility rates

5. Data indicator What they tell us?
Population No. of persons
Population density Persons per sq. km.
Sex ratio Number of females per 1000 males
Age-specific sex ratios Number of females per 1000 males
Dependency ratio Population under age 15 (0-14 years) +Population aged 60 years and above)
——————————————————--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * 1000
Population between age 15 and 59 years
Crude birth rate number of live births occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear.
Crude death rate number of deaths occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear
Total fertility rate average number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime
Infant Mortality Rate Number of deaths under 1 year in a year
————————————————-------------------------- * 1000
Number of live births in the same year
Maternal mortality rate the number of maternal deaths per 1,000 women of reproductive age in the population
Net Migration rate Net migration during a specified time period in an area
————————————————————-------------------------------------------------- * 1,000
Area’s population at the mid point of the same time period
Life expectancy at birth number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its
birth were to stay the same throughout its life.

6. How Demographic Data is used in
Planning?
➢Demographic data is used from planning for a small region to
planning for a whole city.
➢By studying the demography of a region or city, planner can get the
idea about the different facilities of the city and at what amount
they are required for the future growth.
➢By knowing the literacy rate, economic status of the
residents we can define the liveability (living standards) of
the city and distribute the residential land use likewise.
➢If we are planning to develop a city we should also have to think of
way to attract various talent and business so that a balance is
maintained and development process gains the required pace.
➢The most important thing in which demographic data helps a
planner is making of sustainable development of city.
➢The next comes is about connectivity of the city both internal external. The demographic data play a role
in transportation planning too. For example the safety of women should always be kept on mind while
planning for transportation networks and means.

7. Why Planner’s use Demographic
Information?
Planners use demographic information and analysis it to assist with a number of
planning decisions as indicated below.
➢Planners use population information to determine the demand of services among different
segments of the population. Demand is determined by the composition of the population and how
it is changing over time .
➢They also study the present and future composition of the population and its spatial distribution
to identify the best locations to provide services and infrastructure to meet local needs.
➢They use this information while formulating the development plan, spatial plan, housing plan,
regional plan and master plan.
➢They use the information to make the city growth pattern as in a form of sustainable
development.
➢They use this information to develop the socio-economic status of the people and giving them a
better life.

8. A Brief Case Study
➢Thanjavur, a historical city located in the centre of the
Caurvey delta region with agricultural land surrounding the
town at a distance of 350km from Chennai.
➢The city spreads over an area of 3633sqkm.
➢For further development the authorities need to identify the
location where it should be carried out.
➢The methodology involves, demographic analysis. The year
2001 population concentration were mapped from the
statistical data and converted in to digital format with the help
of GIS.
➢Next, for 2011, the same were mapped. Finally, the changes
were mapped and measured to find out the growth. Based
upon those the study has done to find out the concentration
of urban population zone wise and also in ward wise in the
study area. Further built ups are delineated.

9. Demographic Analysis
➢The population data spatially prepared and
analyzed, it shows the population is higher in the
south zone and lower one found in north zone and
ward wise population were classified into four
categories.
➢Population density is a measure of population
distribution and one of the most commonly used
tools in the geographical analysis of the
population.

10. Urban Density
➢It refers to the relationship between inhabitants and
built up area per census district.
➢It is a dimensional index of urban growth and sprawl.
➢The ward wise urban density was worked out and
ward wise special spatial distribution has been
prepared.
➢The built up area was delineated and the area were
calculated so as to find the built up density and the
results were categorized.
➢The result showed that higher density was found in
the south western area. The zone wise population are
also calculated.
➢And from the data collected it was observed west
zone urban density is highest.
Results
➢ The study made gave a vivid picture of the demography of the study area and its urban density for zone
wise and ward wise.
➢ In the last two decades, urban density is higher in the West zone and lower in the North zone. So the new
development works could carried out in the north zone.
➢ And the city could grow easily in that zone with good living standards.