Birth Rate

How a Maharashtra village of 1,500 logged 27,398 births in just 3 months

Authorities in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district are probing a massive birth registration scam after a village of just 1,500 people recorded over 27,000 delayed births in three months, raising fears of

Denmark apologises to Greenland for forced birth control: What's behind it?

A report released this month revealed that 4,070 Greenlandic women and girls had contraceptive devices inserted by the end of 1970 without informed consent

Longer lives, smaller families: What SRS data shows about India's future

India's population growth is slowing as now birth and death rates are half of 1971 levels, and infant mortality is at its lowest ever, govt data reveals

India's infant mortality rate hits historic low of 25; big states struggle

Kerala has one of the lowest infant deaths in India at 5 per 1,000 births, while the national average has dropped to 25 - the best ever. But states like UP, MP and Chhattisgarh still lag behind

China rolls out $500 child subsidies to boost birth rate: But is it enough

While China's new payout is its boldest pro-birth move yet, it may not counter the deep economic and social pressures driving China's demographic decline

India recorded 8.6 mn deaths in 2022, down 15% from Covid peak: CRS data

India registered 8.6 million deaths in 2022, a 15% drop from 2021's Covid peak, while births rose by 5% to 25.4 million, according to Civil Registration System data released by the Registrar General

India's life expectancy falls for 1st time in 50 yrs; blame it on Covid-19

Even in 2020, the first pandemic year, deaths had already risen by over six per cent compared to 2019

US sees 1% rise in births in 2024, but not enough to halt 'population dip'

US births rose 1 per cent in 2024 after a previous dip, driven by Hispanic and Asian women; Trump admin eyes incentives like a $5,000 bonus to tackle falling fertility rates

Trump bets on baby boom to Make America Great Again with cash, IVF and more

Trump's second-term blueprint revives traditional family values with baby bonuses, fertility programmes, and marriage incentives to combat America's falling birth rate

Millennials, GenZs say 'maybe later, baby': US birth rates hit 40-year low

The general fertility rate in the US decreased by 3 per cent in 2023, dropping to 54.5 births per 1,000 females aged 15 to 44, according to US National Center for Health Statistics

China to adopt policies for ageing population, aim to boost birth rates

China's population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024, as marriages plummeted by one-fifth

China's marriage rate hits 40-year low in 2024, deepening population woes

Given that most births in China occur within marriage, this downward trend in marriage rates is expected to push birth figures even lower in 2025

With 242,334 babies in 2024, S Korea records rise in birthrate after 9 yrs

Earlier on December 24, South Korea officially entered the category of a super-aged society, with individuals aged 65 and older making up one-fifth of its population

To avert demographic crisis, Chinese govt brings new policy for couples

China has announced a slew of policies, including a childbirth subsidy system and tax cuts for parents, aimed at motivating couples to have more children to halt the falling birth-rates in order to deal with the looming demographic crisis. A directive issued by the State Council or the central cabinet on Monday outlined 13 targeted measures designed to enhance childbirth support services; expand childcare systems; strengthen support in education, housing and employment, and cultivate a birth-friendly social atmosphere. The falling birth rates resulted in China losing the most populous nation in the world to India last year. The latest initiative also includes improvements to the childbirth subsidy system and personal income tax relief related to childbirth, official media reported. Key provisions include extending the maternity insurance scheme to individuals in flexible employment and rural migrant workers who have already participated in the basic medical insurance scheme. This

Delimitation in focus as 2 South CMs talk reversing population policies

The statements have come after southern states have reported a total fertility rate (TFR) below the replacement level

Russia sees lowest birth rate in decades; June births fall below 100,000

Statistics from Rosstat indicate that Russia saw 599,600 births during the first half of 2024, a decrease of 16,000 from the same period in 2023, representing the lowest number since 1999

Delhi sees decline in birth rate post-Covid, from 18.35 to 14.85 per 1,000

Delhi saw a decline in birth rate after the COVID-19 pandemic as it reduced from 18.35 per 1000 population to 14.85 in 2020, according to the latest report of the government. The 'Annual Report on Registration of Births and Deaths in Delhi-2023' also said that out of 13,919 non-institutional births, 7,216 (51.84 per cent) were females. Out of 3,01,168 institutional births, 1,94,428 (64.56 per cent) births occurred in government hospitals. Out of the total institutional births, 1,43,891 (47.78 per cent) were females, according to the report. The report said one of the important indicators that emerge out of Civil Registration System is birth rate which, during the period between 2005 to 2019, is hovering between 18-22 per 1000 population. However, after Covid-19, the birth rate ranges between 13-15 per 1000 population from 2020-2023. The report, however, did not cite the reason for the decline in figures. In 2019, the birth rate stood at 18.35 per 1000 population while it declined

Japanese govt launches dating apps as birth rates hit record lows

A stable population demands a fertility rate of 2.1. Yet, Japan has struggled to meet this benchmark for over five decades, a trend exacerbated by the 1973 oil crisis

Japan's births hit record low: Can a dating app change the trend?

Japan's fertility rate, the total number of births per woman in her lifetime, dropped from 1.26 to 1.20, far below the 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population

Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill gets President's assent

The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which was passed in both Houses of Parliament during the Monsoon Session, has received the President's assent. The law will allow the use of a birth certificate as a single document for admission to an education institute, issuance of a driving licence, preparation of a voter list, Aadhaar number, registration of marriage or appointment to a government job. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice, President Droupadi Murmu has given assent to the legislation. The law will help create a national and state-level database of registered births and deaths which eventually would ensure efficient and transparent delivery of public services and social benefits, and digital registration. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said in Lok Sabha that the original Act had not been amended since its inception and to keep pace with the societal change and technological advancements during the perio