CONTEXT

• India is projected to become the most populous country by 2025 with 1.46 billion people.
• Despite the rising population, fertility rates have dropped below the replacement level.
• The insights come from the UNFPA Report 2024, titled “The Real Fertility Crisis”.

CONCEPT

• Fertility Rate: Average number of children born per woman.
• Replacement Rate: 2.1 births per woman — needed to maintain population size.
• India’s current fertility rate: 1.9 births per woman, indicating a future population stabilization.
• Population Momentum: Even with declining fertility, population may grow temporarily due to a large base of young people.
• Population Peak: India’s population will peak at 1.7 billion in the next 40 years before declining.
• Doubling Time: India’s population doubling rate is 79 years, classifying it as a middle-income country.

CURRENT

• Young Demographic Advantage: Over 25% of India’s population is between 10–24 years, offering a potential demographic dividend.
• Only 7% are aged over 64, indicating relatively lower old-age dependency currently.
• Unintended Pregnancies: Nearly 50% of pregnancies in India are unplanned.
• Community Pressure: 1 in 5 Indian women had more children than intended due to societal expectations.
• Health Sector Influence: 14% cited pressure from doctors/health workers for exceeding fertility goals.
• Forced Pregnancies: 30% of women reported being coerced to continue pregnancies against their will.
• Highlights the need for strengthening reproductive rights, access to contraceptives, and gender-sensitive healthcare.
• The report warns against ethno-nationalist rhetoric based on population concerns.
• Suggests policy shifts from population control to choice-based reproductive health.
• The data emphasizes empowering women through education, awareness, and reproductive autonomy.