Latest news with #UNFPA-YouGov
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
India's fertility rate drops below replacement level even as population hits 1.46 billion: UN report
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel India's population has reached 1.46 billion in 2025, cementing its position as the world's most populous nation, even as its fertility rate continues to decline, according to the United Nations Population Fund 's (UNFPA) State of World Population Report released on report projects that India's population will peak at around 1.7 billion over the next 40 years before beginning to shrink. In comparison, China's population is estimated to be 1.41 billion this year. Last year, India's population stood at 1.44 billion, according to the World Population Prospects 2024 report released by the UN in total fertility rate (TFR) in India has now fallen to 1.9, which is below the replacement level of 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population across generations. The UNFPA report highlights that while the national average reflects progress, it conceals sharp disparities across regions, economic classes and social contrast has created what the report calls a 'high fertility and low fertility duality.' States such as Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh continue to show high fertility rates due to poor access to contraception, limited healthcare services and entrenched gender norms. In contrast, states like Delhi, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have sustained below-replacement fertility levels. In these states, many urban, educated middle-class couples are delaying or opting out of parenthood because of rising costs and work-life has seen a significant decline in fertility over the decades, from nearly five children per woman in 1970 to around two today. The National Family Health Survey of 2019–21 recorded a TFR of 2.0 for the first time, signaling the shift below replacement this progress, the report notes that millions in India still face barriers to making informed reproductive choices. Many women are unable to freely decide if and when to have children. The focus, the UNFPA urges, should shift from concerns over falling fertility to fulfilling reproductive intentions.'This is the real crisis, not underpopulation or overpopulation. The answer lies in greater reproductive agency, a person's ability to make free and informed choices about sex, contraception and starting a family,' the report this, a UNFPA-YouGov survey of 14,000 people across 14 countries, including India, found that one in three Indian adults reported experiencing unintended pregnancies. Another 30 percent said they were unable to have as many or as few children as they wanted. Notably, 23 percent experienced constraints were the most cited barrier, with nearly four in ten respondents naming it as a reason they could not have the families they desired. Other hurdles included job insecurity (21 percent), housing issues (22 percent), and lack of access to reliable childcare (18 percent).The report calls for a fundamental shift in population policy discourse, urging governments to prioritise reproductive rights and support systems over alarmist reactions to demographic change
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
India's fertility rate drops below replacement level even as population hits 1.46 billion: UN report
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel India's population has reached 1.46 billion in 2025, cementing its position as the world's most populous nation, even as its fertility rate continues to decline, according to the United Nations Population Fund 's (UNFPA) State of World Population Report released on report projects that India's population will peak at around 1.7 billion over the next 40 years before beginning to shrink. In comparison, China's population is estimated to be 1.41 billion this year. Last year, India's population stood at 1.44 billion, according to the World Population Prospects 2024 report released by the UN in total fertility rate (TFR) in India has now fallen to 1.9, which is below the replacement level of 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population across generations. The UNFPA report highlights that while the national average reflects progress, it conceals sharp disparities across regions, economic classes and social contrast has created what the report calls a 'high fertility and low fertility duality.' States such as Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh continue to show high fertility rates due to poor access to contraception, limited healthcare services and entrenched gender norms. In contrast, states like Delhi, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have sustained below-replacement fertility levels. In these states, many urban, educated middle-class couples are delaying or opting out of parenthood because of rising costs and work-life has seen a significant decline in fertility over the decades, from nearly five children per woman in 1970 to around two today. The National Family Health Survey of 2019–21 recorded a TFR of 2.0 for the first time, signaling the shift below replacement this progress, the report notes that millions in India still face barriers to making informed reproductive choices. Many women are unable to freely decide if and when to have children. The focus, the UNFPA urges, should shift from concerns over falling fertility to fulfilling reproductive intentions.'This is the real crisis, not underpopulation or overpopulation. The answer lies in greater reproductive agency, a person's ability to make free and informed choices about sex, contraception and starting a family,' the report this, a UNFPA-YouGov survey of 14,000 people across 14 countries, including India, found that one in three Indian adults reported experiencing unintended pregnancies. Another 30 percent said they were unable to have as many or as few children as they wanted. Notably, 23 percent experienced constraints were the most cited barrier, with nearly four in ten respondents naming it as a reason they could not have the families they desired. Other hurdles included job insecurity (21 percent), housing issues (22 percent), and lack of access to reliable childcare (18 percent).The report calls for a fundamental shift in population policy discourse, urging governments to prioritise reproductive rights and support systems over alarmist reactions to demographic change
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
In Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, educated middle-class put off childbirth
NEW DELHI: Even as India's fertility rate is declining, many people in India, especially women, still face significant barriers to making free and informed decisions about their reproductive lives, says the UN Population Fund's State of World Population Report released Tuesday. These barriers create what the report identified as India's "high fertility and low fertility duality". The fertility rate has come down from nearly five children per woman in 1970 to about two, courtesy improved education and access to reproductive healthcare. The TFR fell below the replacement level rate to 2.0 for the first time in the National Family Health Survey (2019-21). States such as Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh continue to experience high fertility rates. Here, unintended and closely spaced births are common due to poor contraceptive and health services, and gender norms, it said. On the other hand, states such as Delhi, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have sustained below-replacement fertility with many couples delaying or skipping childbirth due to costs and work-life conflict, especially among educated middle-class women. The report called for a shift from panic over falling fertility to addressing unmet reproductive goals as it highlighted that millions of individuals are not able to realise their real fertility goals. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3/4 BHK from ₹ 1.68 Crore*, Bengaluru Birla Estates Learn More Undo "This is the real crisis, not underpopulation or overpopulation. The answer lies in greater reproductive agency - a person's ability to make free and informed choices about sex, contraception and starting a family," it said. In line with these trends, a UNFPA-YouGov survey of 14,000 respondents across14 countries, including India, challenged global narratives around "population explosion vs population collapse" as it showed that one in three adult Indians (36%) face unintended pregnancies while 30% experience unfulfilled desire of having either more or fewer children. Notably, 23% faced both. Financial limitation is one of the biggest barriers to reproductive freedom with nearly four in 10 people citing it as a reason stopping them from having the families they want. Job insecurity (21%), housing constraints (22%), and lack of reliable childcare (18%) are making parenthood feel out of reach.
United News of India
4 days ago
- Health
- United News of India
UNFPA report flags hidden fertility crisis in India
New Delhi, June 10 (UNI) Atleast one in three Indian adults — roughly 36% of the population — experiences unintended pregnancies, while 30% report unmet desires regarding the number of kids they wish to have. Alarmingly, 23% of individuals face both challenges, according to the UNFPA's State of World Population 2025 report released here on Tuesday. Dr Natalia Kanem, executive director of UNFPA, told media at a virtual media conference that vast numbers of people are unable to create the families they want. 'The issue is lack of choice, not desire, with major consequences for individuals and societies. That is the real fertility crisis, and the answer lies in responding to what people say they need: paid family leave, affordable fertility care, and supportive partners.' Titled 'The real fertility crisis: The pursuit of reproductive agency in a changing world,' the report urges a shift in focus — from concerns about declining birth rates to addressing the gap between people's reproductive goals and their ability to achieve them. It argues that the true crisis is not about overpopulation or under-population, but about unmet reproductive needs and limited autonomy, said a statement from the UN body. The report is based on a UNFPA-YouGov survey spanning 14 countries including India, and highlights that achieving reproductive decisions — the ability to make free and informed choices about sex, contraception, and childbearing — is key. It questions the dominant global narratives of 'population explosion' versus 'population collapse,' emphasising that India, while having achieved replacement-level fertility (around 2.0 births per woman), still struggles with unequal access to reproductive choices. Women, in particular, face major hurdles in exercising their reproductive rights, with significant disparities between states, as per the statement. Fertility has fallen below the replacement level (2.1) in 31 states/UTs, but remains high in Bihar (3.0), Meghalaya (2.9), and Uttar Pradesh (2.7). In Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Delhi, many couples delay or skip childbirth due to costs and work-life conflict, especially among educated middle-class women, says the report. Clearly, the imbalance is tied to differences in education, healthcare access, economic opportunities, and social norms, as per the report. In fact, financial insecurity is the most common barrier to having the desired family size. Nearly 40% cite financial limitations, followed by job insecurity (21%), inadequate housing (22%), and lack of childcare (18%). Health-related challenges like general poor health (15%), infertility (13%), and limited maternal healthcare (14%) also play a role. In addition, anxieties about the future—such as climate change and political instability—are discouraging people from having children. Nearly one in five respondents also said they felt pressured by family or partners to have fewer children than they wanted, said the statement citing the report. UNFPA India Representative Andrea M. Wojnar praised India's progress, noting that fertility has dropped from nearly five children per woman in 1970 to about two today, due to better education and healthcare. 'This has led to major reductions in maternal mortality, meaning million more mothers are alive today, raising children and building communities. Yet, deep inequalities persist across states, castes, and income groups. 'The real demographic dividend comes when everyone has the freedom and means to make informed reproductive choices. India has a unique opportunity to show how reproductive rights, and economic prosperity can advance together.' The report also notes changing societal dynamics—like growing loneliness, shifting relationship norms, difficulty finding supportive partners, stigma around reproductive choices, and entrenched gender roles—as influential factors in fertility decisions. Expectations of intensive parenting and unequal caregiving burdens further deter many, particularly women, from having children. To address these challenges, the report has recommended a rights-based approach built on five pillars: expanding access to sexual and reproductive healthcare (including contraception, safe abortion, maternal health, and infertility services); removing structural barriers through investments in education, childcare, housing, and flexible work environments; and creating inclusive policies for unmarried individuals, LGBTQIA+ people, and other marginalised groups.
