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Research Paper | Architecture and Planning | Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026 | Pages: 1291 - 1301 | India
Demographic Shift and Settlement Pattern of East Sikkim District, India: A Spatial and Hierarchical Assessment for Regional Planning
Abstract: The spatial distribution of population and the hierarchy of settlements are fundamental determinants of balanced regional development, particularly in mountainous regions where physical constraints strongly influence demographic concentration and accessibility to infrastructure. East Sikkim, despite occupying only about 954 km? of the state's geographical area, accommodates the largest share of Sikkim's population and functions as its principal administrative, commercial and institutional centre. This study examines the demographic characteristics and settlement pattern of East Sikkim District through a comprehensive assessment of Census 2011 data supported by decadal census records, district census publications and spatial datasets. The methodology integrates comparative demographic analysis at state, district and sub-district levels with spatial mapping of settlements and an institutional scalogram technique to establish settlement hierarchy based on infrastructural availability. Demographic indicators including population size, density, literacy, sex ratio, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe population, fertility rate, urban-rural composition and decadal growth have been analysed to understand regional variations and demographic transition. Settlement distribution has been examined with respect to physiography, transportation corridors and administrative divisions, while weighted infrastructural indices have been employed to classify settlements into Regional Service Centres, Sub-Regional Service Centres, Central Villages and Service Villages. The analysis indicates that East Sikkim exhibits the highest population density, literacy rate and degree of urbanisation within the state, primarily owing to the concentration of Gangtok and other urban centres. Settlement distribution demonstrates a pronounced linear concentration along major transportation corridors, whereas higher elevation regions remain sparsely populated. The hierarchy established through institutional scalogram analysis identifies significant disparities in infrastructural distribution and highlights the need for strengthening lower-order settlements to achieve balanced regional development. The study provides an empirical framework for regional planning by integrating demographic assessment with spatial settlement analysis for infrastructure planning in mountainous regions.
Keywords: Demography, Settlement Pattern, Institutional Scalogram, Settlement Hierarchy, Spatial Analysis
How to Cite?: Soham Mukhopadhyay, "Demographic Shift and Settlement Pattern of East Sikkim District, India: A Spatial and Hierarchical Assessment for Regional Planning", Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1291-1301, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26715233250, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26715233250