In this article:
What Do Recent Reports Say About India’s Fertility Trends?
The SRS 2023 report shows clear patterns:
- National TFR: 1.9
- Rural TFR: 2.1
- Urban TFR: 1.5
- Highest TFR: Bihar (2.8)
- Lowest TFR: Delhi (1.2)
Gross Reproduction Rate (GRR): The Gross Reproduction Rate (GRR), which looks at the number of daughters born to a woman, is 0.9 nationally. Rural GRR is slightly higher at 1.0, while urban GRR is 0.7.
Fertility and Age: Age patterns are also changing. Younger women (15–29 years) are having fewer children. Women between 30–49 years are having slightly more, showing a trend of delayed motherhood.
CBR: Birth rates are falling, too. The Crude Birth Rate for India is now 18.4. Bihar has the highest (25.8), while Tamil Nadu has the lowest (12.0).
Steady Downward Trend: Another major study, the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) report, confirms this trend. India’s TFR fell from 6.18 in the 1950s to 1.9 in 2021. By 2100, it may fall to just 1.04.
The above-mentioned reports significantly highlight the effect of socio-economic and political factors on the declining fertility rates in India.
What Is Causing the Decline in Fertility in India?
Several factors are causing a decline in fertility in India. These include:
- Better Family Planning Services: Government programmes and awareness have helped more couples plan their families. New contraceptive options like Antara and Chhaya also give more choices for planning a smaller family.
- Women Prioritising Growth and Independence: With more women pursuing education, careers, and financial independence, many are choosing to marry later or only when ready. This shift reflects empowerment and thoughtful family planning, which naturally leads to fewer but more intentional births.
- Thoughtful, Quality-Focused Parenting: Modern parents want to give each child more time, attention, and meaningful experiences. This intentional, quality-focused approach often leads families to choose smaller families so they can invest deeply in each child’s growth and well-being.
- Better Health, Confident Families: With improved healthcare and a consistently lower Infant Mortality Rate, parents today feel more secure about their child’s well-being. This confidence encourages informed family planning and helps families choose the size that feels right for them.
- Rising Infertility and Abortions: Infertility in both men and women has increased. Access to abortion services has also grown, affecting fertility numbers.
- Migration for Work and Education: Many young Indians move abroad and settle there. This is reducing the number of children born in India.
- Social and Cultural Shifts: Late marriages, modern lifestyles, and the cost of urban living also play a major role.
What Are the Positive Effects of a Low Fertility Rate?
Declining fertility rates have some positive effects, too. These include:
- More Working-Age People: A lower fertility rate increases the proportion of people in the productive age group (15–59 years). This strengthens the workforce, boosts productivity, and supports economic activities across sectors.
- Better Economic Growth: Smaller families tend to spend less on basic needs, allowing them to save and invest more. This extra savings fuels economic growth, improves financial security, and encourages long-term planning.
- Environmental Benefits: A lower population reduces pressure on forests, water, and energy systems. This supports sustainable use of natural resources, lowers pollution levels, and contributes to a healthier environment overall.
What Are the Negative Impacts of Falling Fertility Rates in India?
There are several repercussions of falling fertility rates in India. Some of these include:
- More Elderly People and Fewer Young People: As families have fewer children and people live longer, India will see a larger elderly population. Right now, India has about 149 million people aged 60 and above, and this may increase to 347 million by 2050.
- Higher Pressure on Families and the Government: With the elderly population increasing, the demand for better healthcare, support, pension, and daily assistance also rises. This can be expensive for many Indian families.
- Reduced workforce: A low fertility rate means fewer young people will enter the workforce. This can reduce productivity and slow down economic growth. With fewer workers, there will be fewer people to build businesses or run industries, which can significantly impact the economy.
- Uneven Growth Between States: Some states, like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, have very low fertility rates. These states also have more elderly and less young workers. On the other hand, states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh still have higher fertility rates. This difference in fertility rates among the different Indian states can create inequality in development, jobs, and political representation.
Hard to Increase Fertility Once It Falls Too Low
Once a country’s fertility rate drops, it almost never rises again. Many countries have tried to increase birth rates but failed. For example, South Korea offered incentives and support to families, but its fertility rate still dropped from 0.78 in 2022 to 0.72 in 2023. This shows that reversing the decline is extremely difficult.
What Can India Do Going Forward?
To see improvements, India needs to make certain changes, such as:
- Use Different Strategies for Different States: Every state has its own needs. States with low fertility may benefit from policies that support parents and make raising a child easier. States with high fertility can focus more on improving women’s education, health services, and access to family planning. This balanced approach can help all regions move forward together.
- Prepare for an Ageing Society: As the number of older adults grows, India can focus on building stronger pension systems, better healthcare, and reliable support services. Planning early will help ensure that senior citizens live with dignity and comfort.
- Keep Family Planning Rights-Based: India can continue strengthening its rights-based family planning approach. This means giving people more contraceptive choices, not just relying on female sterilisation, so couples can decide what works best for them.
- Make Childcare Affordable and Accessible: Providing safe, good-quality childcare in cities and towns can make a big difference. Schemes like Palna can help mothers continue working without feeling overwhelmed, supporting families and the economy.
- Improve Access to Fertility Treatment: Many couples want to have children but face challenges. Making IVF more affordable and supporting regulated, ethical surrogacy can give these couples better access to care and treatment.
- Support Maternal and Child Health: Strengthening nutrition and health programmes such as Poshan 2.0 can improve the well-being of mothers and children. Expanding helpful initiatives like pregnancy kits used in Telangana can support healthier pregnancies across the country.
- Introduce Gender-Neutral Parental Leave: Encouraging both parents to share childcare through equal parental leave can reduce pressure on mothers. This helps women balance work and family more easily and promotes shared responsibility at home.
- Reduce the Cost of Raising a Child: Raising a child has become expensive for many families. More affordable education and improved public schools can reduce this burden and allow parents to feel more confident about expanding their families.
India’s falling fertility rate shows big social, economic, and lifestyle changes. Families are having fewer children and focusing on well-supported homes. This shift brings benefits like a stronger workforce and better use of resources. At the same time, it brings challenges, including an ageing population and differences in growth across regions.
India needs balanced policies to move forward. Parents should get better support. Family planning services must stay strong and accessible. Childcare must be affordable for everyone. Maternal and child health also need continuous improvement. The overall cost of raising a child should come down. With careful planning and inclusive steps, India can handle these changes smoothly and build a healthier, safer future for all.
Whether you’re trying to conceive or navigating IVF, you’re not alone. Join our supportive communities to connect, share, and find strength with others on the same journey.
FAQs on Why Is India’s Falling Fertility Rate in the News?
- What is the Replacement Level Fertility?
Replacement level fertility is the TFR required for a population to replace itself from one generation to the next. - What is Crude Birth Rate (CBR)?
Crude Birth Rate, in simple words, is the number of live births per 1000 people per year. CBR helps measure how fast a population is growing.
