What were the main reasons for the slow growth of population during British rule?

Question

Accepted Answer

The following are the main reasons for the slow growth of population during British rule:

1. The death rate was quite high at nearly 40 per thousand.

2. The infant mortality rate was also very high at about 218 per thousand.

3. The spread of epidemics and famines was quite frequent.

India was in the first stage of demographic transition before 1921, with very high birth and high death rates counterbalancing each other, thereby keeping the growth of population low. Health facilities were extremely poor, making death rates high and population growth slow.