The reasoning: composition indicators
| Indicator | Formula | India (dated) |
|---|---|---|
| Sex ratio (Indian convention) | Females per 1,000 males | 943 (Census 2011); 1,020 (NFHS‑5, household population) |
| Child sex ratio (0–6) | Girls per 1,000 boys aged 0–6 | 918 (Census 2011), the lowest since Independence |
| Sex ratio at birth | Girl births per 1,000 boy births | 917 (SRS 2021–23); natural SRB ≈ 943–952 (105–106 boys per 100 girls) |
| Dependency ratio | (0–14 + 65+)/(15–64) × 100 | Young and old‑age components; falling total |
| Old‑age dependency | 65+/(15–64) × 100 | Rising |
| Ageing index | 60+ (or 65+)/0–14 × 100 | Rising |
| Median age | Age dividing the population into halves | ≈ 28–29 years |
| Life expectancy at birth | Life‑table derived | About 70 years (SRS abridged life tables, recent rounds); females higher than males |
| Density | Persons per km² | 382 (Census 2011) |
| Literacy | Literate persons aged 7+/population 7+ | 74.04% (Census 2011) |