New Delhi, 10 June (IANS). According to the latest report of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Tuesday, India will remain the most populous country with an estimated 1.46 billion people by 2025. However, the country’s total fertility rate has come down from 2.1 to 1.9.
The 2025 World Population Data (SOWP) report states that the real crisis is not in the shape of the population, but the widespread challenges in the right to decide the people with the independent and responsibility of the people whether they want children or not, when they want, and how many children want.
The United Nations report estimates that “India’s current population is 1,463.9 million.”
The report said, “India is now the most populous country in the world, which has a population of about 1.5 billion. This number is expected to increase by about 1.7 billion before falling.”
The total fertility rate (TFR) in India is currently 2.0 children per woman. This means that on an average, a woman in India is expected to have 2 children during her breeding years (usually 15–49 years of age). According to the 2021 report of the Sample Registration System (SRS), the rate remains stable since 2020.
However, the new report shows that the fertility rate has come down to 1.9 children per woman. This means that on average, Indian women are producing so few children that it is not enough to maintain the size of the population in the next generation without migration.
Despite the slow birth rate, India’s youth population remains important, with 24 percent in the age group of 0–14, 17 percent in 10–19 and 26 percent in 10-24. Whereas, 68 percent of the population is 15-64, the elderly population (65 and above) is seven percent.
Life expectancy at birth at birth is estimated to be 71 years for men and 74 years for women.
In the United Nations report, India is placed in a group of moderate -income countries, which is going through a rapid demographic change. The estimate of doubling the population here is now 79 years.
UNFPA India representative Andrea M. Woznar said, “India has made significant progress in reducing the fertility rate, which in 1970 has increased from about five children to about two children today. It is due to access to better education and reproductive health services.”
Woznar said, “This has led to a big decrease in maternal mortality.”
-IANS
SCH/ABM
