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India.com
2 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
India's Population Reaches 1.46 Billion In 2025, But Fertility Rate Falls Below Replacement Level: UN Report
New Delhi: While India continues to be the most populous country, with an estimated 1.46 billion people in 2025, the country's total fertility rate has fallen to 1.9, below the replacement level of 2.1, according to the latest report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) released on Tuesday. The 2025 State of World Population (SOWP) report underscores that the real crisis lies not in population size, but in the widespread challenges to support individuals' right to decide freely and responsibly if, when, and how many children to have. The UN report estimates 'India's population at present at 1,463.9 million'. 'India is now the world's most populous nation, with nearly 1.5 billion people -- a number expected to grow to about 1.7 billion before it begins falling,' the report said. The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in India is currently 2.0 children per woman. This means that on average, a woman in India would be expected to have 2 children during her childbearing years (typically ages 15-49). This rate has remained constant since 2020, according to the Sample Registration System (SRS) report for 2021. However, the new report showed it has declined to 1.9 births per woman, which means that, on average, Indian women are having fewer children than needed to maintain the population size from one generation to the next, without migration. Despite the slowing birth rate, India's youth population remains significant, with 24 per cent in the age bracket of 0-14, 17 per cent in 10-19, and 26 per cent in 10-24. While 68 per cent of the population accounts for the 15-64 age bracket, the elderly population (65 and older) stands at seven per cent. As of 2025, life expectancy at birth is projected to be 71 years for men and 74 years for women. The UN report also placed India in a group of middle-income countries undergoing rapid demographic change, with the population doubling time now estimated at 79 years. 'India has made significant progress in lowering fertility rates -- from nearly five children per woman in 1970 to about two today -- thanks to improved education and access to reproductive healthcare,' said Andrea M. Wojnar, UNFPA India Representative. 'This has led to major reductions in maternal mortality, meaning million more mothers are alive today, raising children and building communities," Wojnar added.
The Wire
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Wire
UN Report Highlights Deep Contrasts Behind India's Population Numbers
Representative image of a woman with her children. Photo: PTI New Delhi: A United Nations report argues that beyond India's population numbers lies a crisis of individuals unable to achieve their desired family size. The UN Population Fund's (UNFPA) 2025 State of the World Population report found one in three adult Indians (36%) have faced an unintended pregnancy. Nearly a third (30%) have struggled with an unfulfilled desire for children. The report states 23% of Indians surveyed have experienced both. The report, 'The Real Fertility Crisis,' calls for a shift from focusing on population figures. It states the 'real crisis… is not underpopulation or overpopulation,' but the failure of systems to support 'a person's ability to make free and informed choices about sex, contraception and starting a family.' It also says that India's population is estimated to have reached 146.39 crore by April. While India has a national replacement-level fertility rate of 2.0, the UNFPA highlights a 'high fertility and low fertility duality.' This reflects disparities, with states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh having higher fertility rates than states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The report links this to unequal access to economic opportunity, healthcare, education, and regional gender norms. Findings from a YouGov survey across 14 countries show financial concerns are the primary obstacle for Indians, with nearly four in ten citing it. Job insecurity, housing constraints, and a lack of reliable child care also contribute. The survey found 19% of Indian respondents – the highest of any country – said their partner wanting fewer children was a key factor. Andrea M Wojnar, the UNFPA India Representative, said : 'India has made significant progress in lowering fertility rates… thanks to improved education and access to reproductive healthcare. This has led to major reductions in maternal mortality… Yet, deep inequalities persist across states, castes, and income groups.' Wojnar added: '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 illustrates this with a story of three women from one family in Bihar. The grandmother, married at 16, had five sons due to social pressure and lack of contraceptive knowledge. Her daughter-in-law had six children despite wanting fewer. The granddaughter, a university graduate, has chosen with her husband to have only two children, citing the need for a secure future. The UNFPA advocates for 'demographic resilience'—adapting to population change while upholding human rights. For India, it recommends a holistic, rights-based approach. The report calls for expanded access to sexual and reproductive health services, including infertility care; investment in childcare and housing; inclusive policies for unmarried individuals and marginalised groups; better data on bodily autonomy; and social change to challenge stigma. The UNFPA argues that focusing on population numbers misses the point, suggesting a nation's success is measured by whether its people can build the lives and families they desire. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
