India's people inherited a civilization that began more than 4,500 years ago,one that has proven capable of absorbing and transforming the people and cultures that over the centuries have come to the subcontinent. India has long supported a large population of great diversity. The people in India’s intricate network of communities speak literally thousands of languages, practice all of the world's great religions, and participate in a complex social structure that incorporates the caste system, a rigid system of social hierarchy.

India is one of the world's most populous countries, with a population (1998 estimate) of 984,003,683, and an average population density of 311 persons per sq km (805 per sq mi) in 1998. An estimated 73 percent of  India's inhabitants live in rural areas. The population grew by nearly 24 percent between 1981 and 1991, down slightly from 25 percent growth between 1971 and 1981. It is estimated that the rate of growth will slow
even further in the coming decades, but India’s population nevertheless is expected to continue to increase. The annual growth rate in 1997 was 1.6 percent.