Fertility rate declining in India: United Nations

Why in the news?

• According to the United Nations report, the fertility rate among Indian women is declining.

Fertility rate:

• This is the average number of children born to women during their reproductive years.
  • For the population to remain stable in a given area, the total fertility rate should be 2.1.

Falling fertility rate in India:

• Currently, the fertility rate per woman in India has come down to 2.
  • In the year 1950, this figure was equal to 6.2 children per woman.
• If this remains the case, then the fertility rate may come down to 1.3 by 2050.
• In India, 2 crore children were born in the year 2021.
• By the year 2050, this number may fall to 1.3 crore.
• The number of children between 0-14 years in India has started declining now.
  • In the year 2021, the number of such children was 36.4 crores.
  • In the year 2024, this figure decreased by 2.6 crores to 34 crores.
• In the year 1991, the population of elderly (above 60 years) in the country was 6.1 crores.
  • In the year 2024, it has become about 15 crores.

Falling fertility rate in the world:

• Many countries of the world including Japan are struggling with falling fertility rate.
• In the year 2021, the world's fertility rate was 2.3 children per woman.
• According to estimates, the global fertility rate will decrease to 1.8 by 2050.
  • At the same time, this figure can reach 1.6 in 2100.
• According to estimates, the fertility rate is expected to remain high in low-income countries.

Why is the fertility rate falling?

• There are many economic and social factors behind the falling fertility rate in India.
• Women in urban areas are inclined to have fewer children.
• Late marriage, career, education and family planning have also led to a decline in fertility rate.

Effects of falling fertility rate in India:

• Positive effects:
  • Some people believe that the falling fertility rate will affect the standard of living of the people.
  • The standard of living will be of good quality and resources will be managed properly.
• Negative effects:
  • The biggest disadvantage of falling fertility rate is that it will be difficult to maintain economic growth.
  • India currently has the youngest population in the world.
  • The effect of the decline in fertility rate will be that the elderly population in the country may increase.
  • The increasing population of the elderly will affect many sectors including health.
  • It will affect the labor market.

Global Population: UN

• This year (2024) there are 8.2 billion people on Earth.
• The estimate for the year 2050 is 9.7 billion.
• The maximum number of 10.3 billion inhabitants is expected in the mid-2080s.
• The world population is expected to reach 10.2 billion in 2100.
• Currently India is the most populous country in the world. 1.451 billion people live here.
• It is followed by China with 1.419 billion and the US with 345 million people in second place.