India's Population and Fertility Trends
India remains the most populous country, with projections estimating a population of 1.46 billion by 2025. Despite this, significant changes in fertility rates have been observed, impacting demographic trends.
Key Findings
- Total Fertility Rate (TFR) Decline:
- The Total Fertility Rate has dropped to 1.9, as reported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
- According to the 2021 Sample Registration System (SRS), the country's TFR is currently 2.0 children per woman.
- This marks a decrease from 2.3 in 2014.
- Replacement Level:
- The TFR is below the replacement level of 2.1, meaning women are having fewer children than necessary to maintain the population size from one generation to the next without migration.
- Demographic Change and Doubling Time:
- India is categorized as a middle-income country experiencing rapid demographic changes.
- The population doubling time is estimated at 79 years.