India's Demographic Transition

India is experiencing significant demographic changes, as evidenced by recent data from the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2023. This report highlights a decline in both the Crude Birth Rate (CBR) and Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in the country.

Key Statistics

• Crude Birth Rate (CBR): 
  • The CBR decreased to 18.4 per 1,000 people in 2023 from 19.1 in 2022.
• Total Fertility Rate (TFR): 
  • The TFR fell to 1.9 in 2023, down from 2.0 in the previous years (2021 and 2022).
  • A TFR of 2.1 births per woman is considered the replacement level for a stable population.
  • A TFR below 2.1 suggests a trend towards population decline and aging.

Regional Variations

• Highest and Lowest CBR: 
  • Bihar recorded the highest CBR at 25.8.
  • Tamil Nadu had the lowest CBR at 12.
• Highest and Lowest TFR: 
  • Bihar had the highest TFR at 2.8.
  • Delhi had the lowest TFR at 1.2.
• Replacement Level TFR: 
  • Eighteen States and Union Territories reported a TFR below the replacement level.
  • All states with higher TFR than the replacement level are in northern India, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh.

Aging Population

• The proportion of people above 60 years increased by 0.7 percentage points to 9.7% of the population.
• Kerala has the highest proportion of elderly at 15%.
• Assam, Delhi, and Jharkhand have the lowest proportions of people over 60 years.

Future Implications

This demographic shift suggests that India must prepare for an aging population. The country needs to adapt its resources and infrastructure to address the needs of an older demographic, while still benefiting from a young workforce. This includes considerations for financial security, healthcare facilities, and social support services to accommodate reduced mobility and mental health care.