Kerala 2005 - of Planning Commission

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Table 5.1: Growth of Working Age Population, 1961-2021
Population (in ‘000) 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011 2021
All Age Groups 16,904 21,347 25,454 29,099 33,082 36,742 39,523
Working Ages (20-59) 7,277 9,158 11,770 14,830 18,347 20,873 22,478
15-24 2,867 4,275 5,320 6,147 5,810 5,557 5,716
25-44 4,129 5,106 6,460 8,327 10,746 11,686 11,246
45-59 1,714 2,122 2,793 3,383 4,619 6,474 8,279
Growth Rates (%)
Total 2.33 1.76 1.34 1.28 1.05 0.73
Working Ages (20- 59) 2.3 2.51 2.31 2.13 1.29 0.74
15-24 3.99 2.19 1.45 -0.56 -0.45 0.28
25-44 2.12 2.35 2.54 2.55 0.84 -0.38
45-59 2.14 2.74 1.92 3.12 3.38 2.46
Source: Tharakan and Navaneetham (1999).
It is significant to note that the net addition to the population
in the age group 15-24 has been declining since 1991.
The same trend is translated to the next age group of 25-34
after 10 years, that is, from the year 2001, when the former
age group matures. Since the overall unemployment rate
is mainly from this age group of 15-34, these demographic
changes in the age group are likely to ease the unemployment
problem in the State. Also, the reduction in the net supply
of labour force in the younger age groups may increase
wages for them, thereby increasing real income levels of
their families.
2.1.4 Demographic Transition
and Human Development
Though several studies have identified an inverse static
relationship between female education and fertility levels,
recent researches show that there is a dynamic relationship
too. Studies have shown that higher female literacy was a
dominant factor for fertility decline, which started around
the 1960s in Kerala. This decline in fertility was not only
among educated parents, but also among the illiterate
and low economic status groups. This enabled parents in