Population – MCQs with Answers and Explanations
Class 9
Social Science – Geography
Chapter 6: Population
Geography: Contemporary India – I
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with answers and explanations — strictly NCERT-based for CBSE Class 9 exams.
CBSE Board Examination Focus – MCQ Coverage
- Key concepts: population size, distribution & density
- Processes: birth rate, death rate, migration and growth
- Understanding reasons, patterns and simple calculations
- Conceptual clarity using chapter-based application questions
30 Topic-wise MCQs – With Detailed Explanations
Topic 1 – Population Size (Q1–Q6)
Q1. What does the term “population” refer to in geography?
Correct Answer: (B)
Population means the total number of people living in a specific area at a specific time.
In geography, population is always linked with a place and a time.
MCQ options (A), (C) and (D) refer to smaller groups or counts, but only option (B) correctly captures the idea of all people in a defined region such as a country, state or district.
Q2. Which source provides the most reliable information about India’s population?
Correct Answer: (B)
The Census of India is the official and most reliable source of population data.
The census is conducted every 10 years by the government and covers the whole country.
It records age, sex, literacy, occupation and many other details. Other sources like newspapers or polls are limited and not complete.
Q3. Population size of a country is mainly affected by which three basic processes?
Correct Answer: (B)
Births, deaths and migration are the three basic processes of population change.
Births add people, deaths reduce people, and migration shifts people in or out of an area.
Together, they decide whether population is growing, shrinking or remaining stable. Options (A), (C) and (D) may influence these processes indirectly but are not the basic demographic components.
Q4. Why is knowing the population size important for a country?
Correct Answer: (B)
Population size is crucial for planning food, housing, schools, hospitals and jobs.
Governments use population data to decide how many schools, colleges, hospitals and other facilities are needed.
Option (B) captures this planning function clearly. Options (A), (C) and (D) are incorrect or irrelevant.
Q5. If a country’s population is very large but literacy rate is low, which statement is most correct?
Correct Answer: (B)
Population size alone does not show development; quality indicators like literacy also matter.
A big population can be a strength only if people are educated, healthy and skilled.
The chapter stresses that we must study not just total numbers but also population quality. So option (B) is correct; (A), (C) and (D) ignore this idea.
Q6. Which of the following would most likely cause a sudden fall in population size of a region?
Correct Answer: (B)
When many people move out, population size of that region drops.
Out-migration removes people from the origin region.
Options (A) and (D) usually help population growth in the long run, while (C) attracts people and may increase population.
Topic 2 – Population Distribution by Numbers (Q7–Q12)
Q7. What is meant by population distribution?
Correct Answer: (A)
Population distribution describes how people are spread out on the Earth’s surface.
Some places have very dense settlements, while others have very few people.
The chapter clearly defines distribution as the spread of population, not speech speed or number of towns.
Q8. Why is population distribution in India very uneven?
Correct Answer: (B)
Physical (relief, climate, soil) and human (industry, transport) factors both affect where people live.
Fertile plains and coastal regions are more populated, while mountains and deserts are less populated.
These patterns are explained by a mix of natural conditions and economic opportunities, not by just one factor like religion.
Q9. Which region in India generally has high population concentration?
Correct Answer: (C)
The Northern Plains are one of the most densely populated regions in India.
The plains have fertile alluvial soil, good irrigation, and a favourable climate, making farming and settlement easier.
Deserts, high mountains and dense forests are less suitable for dense settlement.
Q10. Which physical factor is least favourable for high population distribution?
Correct Answer: (B)
Extreme climate conditions discourage settlement and limit population.
People usually avoid very hot, very cold or very dry places.
Fertile soil, water and flat land (options A, C, D) actually attract people and support agriculture and settlements.
Q11. Which of the following is an important human factor affecting population distribution?
Correct Answer: (C)
Industrialization creates jobs and attracts people to settle there.
Human factors are related to economic activities and facilities.
Industries provide employment and improve transport, drawing workers and families.
Options (A), (B) and (D) are physical features, not human factors.
Q12. Coastal regions are usually more thickly populated because:
Correct Answer: (C)
Coasts are centres of trade, ports, fishing and related industries, which attract people.
Coastal areas often have good transport links, fishing and trade, making them dynamic economic zones.
This leads to higher population concentration compared to many inland areas.
Topic 3 – Population Distribution by Density (Q13–Q18)
Q13. Population density means:
Correct Answer: (B)
Population density is the number of persons living per unit area, usually per sq km.
The chapter clearly defines density as people per square kilometre.
It is a ratio of population to area, not of villages, houses or rivers.
Q14. If a district has 5,00,000 people and an area of 2,500 sq km, the population density is:
Correct Answer: (B)
Density = Population ÷ Area = 5,00,000 ÷ 2,500 = 200 persons/sq km.
Use the formula: density = total population ÷ total area.
5,00,000 ÷ 2,500 = 200.
This kind of calculation is common in population-based questions.
Q15. High population density usually indicates:
Correct Answer: (B)
High density means a lot of people are crowded into relatively little land.
Density is a ratio. If the ratio is high, there are many people per unit area.
Option (B) states this idea clearly. Options (A), (C) and (D) do not describe density correctly.
Q16. Which factor generally results in low population density?
Correct Answer: (C)
Rugged relief and harsh climate discourage settlement, leading to low density.
High mountains, icy areas or deserts are examples of such regions.
People find it difficult to build houses, farms or roads there, so fewer people live in those areas.
Q17. Which of these is a limitation of using average population density?
Correct Answer: (B)
The average density may hide the fact that some parts are very crowded and others sparse.
A state’s average density may look moderate, but one city may be extremely dense while rural areas are almost empty.
So we need more detailed, small-area data to see the full picture.
Q18. In India, a state like Arunachal Pradesh is known for:
Correct Answer: (B)
Arunachal Pradesh has very low population density.
The area is covered with forests, hilly terrain and has limited transport links.
As a result, very few people live there compared to many other Indian states.
Topic 4 – Population Growth (Q19–Q24)
Q19. Population growth refers to:
Correct Answer: (A)
Population growth is the change in the number of people in a region over a period of time.
It can be positive (increase) or negative (decrease).
The chapter explains that births, deaths and migration together decide this growth.
Q20. Birth rate is defined as:
Correct Answer: (B)
Birth rate is the number of live births per 1,000 persons in a year.
This is called the Crude Birth Rate (CBR).
It helps compare fertility levels across regions and time periods.
Q21. Death rate is defined as:
Correct Answer: (B)
Death rate is the number of deaths per 1,000 persons in a year.
This is the Crude Death Rate (CDR).
Declining CDR usually indicates improvements in medical care, nutrition and sanitation.
Q22. Natural increase of population is the:
Correct Answer: (A)
Natural increase = birth rate − death rate.
It shows population growth due to births and deaths only, without counting migration.
Migration is then added separately to get total population change.
Q23. Which of the following has helped reduce death rates in India?
Correct Answer: (B)
Improved healthcare, sanitation and nutrition reduce deaths and raise life expectancy.
The NCERT text highlights that better public health measures, spread of medical services and better diet have lowered mortality in India, especially after independence.
Q24. Doubling time of population refers to:
Correct Answer: (B)
Doubling time tells us in how many years the population will become twice its size.
It helps us imagine future population pressure if the current growth rate continues.
A shorter doubling time means faster growth and more pressure.
Topic 5 – Processes of Population Change: Migration, Fertility, Mortality (Q25–Q30)
Q25. Migration is best defined as:
Correct Answer: (B)
Migration is the movement of people from one place to another for various reasons.
In population geography, we consider both internal (within a country) and international migration.
It changes population distribution and sometimes total size of an area.
Q26. Which is the main type of migration in India?
Correct Answer: (B)
Rural-to-urban migration is very significant in India.
People move from villages to towns and cities in search of better jobs, education and services.
This is one main reason for rapid urban growth in India.
Q27. Which of the following is a “push” factor for migration from rural areas?
Correct Answer: (C)
Unemployment and low income push people to leave rural areas.
Push factors are negative conditions at the origin that force people to move out.
Pull factors (like jobs, schools, hospitals) attract people to the destination.
Q28. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) refers to:
Correct Answer: (A)
IMR is the number of infant deaths (under one year) per 1,000 live births in a year.
It is a key indicator of the health status of a population.
Lower IMR usually reflects better nutrition, healthcare and maternal care.
Q29. How does better education, especially of women, affect population growth?
Correct Answer: (B)
Women’s education is closely linked to lower fertility and slower population growth.
Educated women tend to marry later, have fewer children, and practice better health and family planning.
This is an important idea in understanding population policies.
Q30. Which combination correctly lists the three main processes of population change?
Correct Answer: (A)
Births, deaths and migration are the key processes that change population.
This is a direct recall from the chapter and is frequently asked in exams.
The other options mention important topics but not the main demographic processes.
These 30 MCQs are strictly based on NCERT Class 9 Geography Chapter 6 – Population,
designed to strengthen concepts for CBSE school and board examinations.