India’s Fertility Rate Drops Below Replacement Level: UNFPA Report
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 2025 State of World Population Report, India’s total fertility rate has fallen to 1.9, dropping below the replacement level of 2.1. This demographic milestone signifies that, on average, Indian women are now having fewer children than required to sustain population levels without migration.
Despite this, India’s population continues to grow and is projected to reach 1.46 billion in 2025, maintaining its position as the world’s most populous country. The report, titled “The Real Fertility Crisis,” emphasizes that the focus should not be on panic over declining fertility, but rather on addressing unmet reproductive goals. Millions still lack the freedom and access to make informed decisions about childbirth, contraception, and family planning.
In 1960, India’s fertility rate was around six children per woman, but improved education, healthcare access, and women’s rights have led to a significant decline over the decades. Today, the average woman in India has about two children, reflecting not just population control but also progress in reproductive autonomy.
India’s population is also aging. Currently, 68% of the population falls in the working-age group (15–64), presenting a potential demographic dividend. Meanwhile, the elderly population (65 years and older) stands at 7% and is expected to rise with increasing life expectancy, 74 years for women and 71 years for men as of 2025.
UNFPA India Representative Andrea M. Wojnar stated, “The real demographic dividend comes when everyone has the freedom and means to make informed reproductive choices. India has a unique opportunity to show how reproductive rights and economic prosperity can advance together.”
This report places India among middle-income nations undergoing rapid demographic transitions and urges action to ensure that reproductive health, rights, and choices remain central to policymaking.
