India’s fertility rate decreased from 6.2 in 1950 to under 2 in 2021, according to a report

According to a worldwide research published in The Lancet journal, India’s fertility rate, which was almost 6.2 in 1950, has fallen to less than 2 in 2021.

According to the study, there is a possibility that the fertility rate may decrease even further, reaching 1.29 in 2050 and 1.04 in 2100.

The most recent fertility statistics are consistent with global patterns, which indicate that the average total fertility rate (TFR) was more than 4.5 per woman in 1950 and decreased to 2.2 in 2021. According to projections, the number will drop to 1.8 in 2050 and 1.6 in 2100.

IMPACT UPON INDIA
Poonam Muttreja, the head of the Population Foundation of India, claims that the most recent statistics have “profound implications” and repercussions for India, compounding issues including an aging population, a lack of labor force, and possible societal inequalities brought on by gender preferences.

Nonetheless, concerns over the continuation of high birth rates in many low-income countries during the present century are raised by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 birth and Forecasting Collaborators research.

Many of ‘these low-income nations’ are projected to face regular natural disasters, including floods, droughts, and hot weather, due to the deteriorating climate change scenario, the research said. This is predicted to lead to a shortage of food, water, and resources.

Poonam Muttreja said that economic “policies stimulating growth and job creation,” in addition to social security and pension changes, would be crucial in adjusting to and lessening the effects of dropping birth rates in order to counter these possible dangers to public health.

LIVEBIRTHS

According to a study published in the Lancet, the number of live births worldwide in 2021 was 12.9 crore, down from a peak of 14.2 crore in 2016 but still higher than 9.3 crore in 1950.

In the meantime, livebirth rates in India were estimated to be 1.6 crore in 1950, 2.2 crore in 2021, and just 1.3 crore in 2050.