close

Not-so-young future as India's fertility rate dips, shows data

Infant mortality and under-five mortality has reduced from 40.7 to 35.2 and 49.7 to 41.9

Ruchika ChitravanshiIshaan Gera New Delhi
Preference for sons persists in India as Total fertility rate declines
Premium

With India’s fertility rate -- children per woman -- declining from 2.2 to two between 2015-16 and 2019-21, we could be seeing a demographic shift towards an ageing population.
India’s fertility rate has fallen below the replacement level fertility of 2.1, as defined by the UN Population Division. A fall below the replacement level indicates a shift of demography towards an ageing population.
Population experts say changing lifestyles and life choices as well as government health schemes are reasons for this shift. Due to the National Health Mission, the institutional delivery mechanism has improved, which has led to a decline in infant mortality. “Fertility rate has come down because many are adopting the two-child norm to avail of benefits of government schemes,” says Suresh Sharma, head of population research centre at Institute of Economic Growth. 
Or

Also Read

Infant mortality rate falling slowest in states with worst track record

NCLT allows Reliance Retail's shareholders to hold meetings for Future deal

Population control fiasco

30 years after 1991: What we achieved as an economy, and what was possible

Does the economy need more people?

Care to sleep in a pod? Head to the Mumbai Central railway station

Abrogation of Article 370 great cause of people, says VP Venkaiah Naidu

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala ties the knot with senior officer of PCB

Bollywood is back with a bang: Sooryavanshi strikes gold at box-office

Delay in communication of bail orders affects personal liberty: SC judge

First Published: Nov 25 2021 | 11:03 PM IST

Explore News

To read the full story, subscribe to BS Premium now, at just Rs 249/ month.

Key stories on business-standard.com are available only to BS Premium subscribers. Already a BS Premium subscriber?LOGIN NOW

Register to read more on Business-Standard.com