India’s latest Sample Registration Survey (SRS) 2023 has raised important questions about the country’s demographic future. For the first time in two years, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has dropped to 1.9, below the replacement level of 2.1. This means, on average, Indian families are having fewer children than required to maintain population balance.
While Bihar recorded the highest TFR at 2.8, Delhi had the lowest at 1.2. Interestingly, 18 States and Union Territories now fall below the replacement level. Crude Birth Rate has also declined from 19.1 in 2022 to 18.4 in 2023.
At the same time, India’s elderly population is growing, reaching nearly 10% of the total, with Kerala leading at 15%. Infant mortality has improved slightly, but the sex ratio at birth remains worrying at 917 girls per 1,000 boys. States like Delhi, Maharashtra, and Haryana continue to record lower ratios.
Experts believe declining fertility could reshape India’s workforce, economy, and social fabric in the coming decades. The trend points toward an ageing society, raising urgent questions about healthcare, employment, and family structures. Is India prepared for this demographic shift?
