- According to the Sample Registration System report for 2021, released by the Registrar General of India, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in India was 2.0 in 2021, the same as in 2020. While Delhi and West Bengal reported the lowest TFR of 1.4, Bihar reported the highest at 3.0.
Understanding Total Fertility Rate
- Definition of TFR: TFR refers to the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her reproductive years (15–49 years) in a given population.
- Replacement-Level Fertility: A Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 2.1 is considered the replacement level, necessary to maintain a stable population over time.
- Significance of TFR: The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) serves as a critical indicator of population growth, access to healthcare, women’s empowerment, and overall economic development.
- Key Findings from the 2021 SRS Report:
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- National TFR: 2.0 (stable from 2020).
- Lowest TFR: Delhi and West Bengal at 1.4.
- Highest TFR: Bihar at 3.0, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.
- Rural-Urban Divide: Rural TFR remains higher than urban (2.1 vs. 1.6).
Key Drivers Behind Fertility Decline in India
- Improved Female Education: Improved education has lowered fertility women with 12+ years of schooling have a TFR of 1.7 compared to 2.8 for those with no education (NFHS-5).
- Urbanisation and Rising Cost of Living: Urban living discourages larger families, with an urban Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 1.6 versus 2.1 in rural areas, driven by higher costs & changing lifestyles (SRS 2021).
- Wider Access to Contraceptives and Family Planning: A contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) of 66.7% & a modern method usage rate of 56.5% (NFHS-5) have enabled more couples to plan and space births.
- Improved Child Survival Rates: Falling Infant Mortality Rate from 66 per 1,000 in 2000 to 28 in 2023 has reduced the perceived need for larger families.
- Cultural and Aspirational Shifts: The average desired number of children has declined to 1.8 per woman, especially among urban middle-class families, reflecting changing norms (NFHS-5).
Significance of Low Fertility Rates
- Population Stabilisation: India’s TFR of 2.0 (SRS 2021) is below the replacement level, aiding long-term stabilisation and sustainable resource use.
- Maternal and Child Health: States like Kerala and Tamil Nadu with low TFRs show >95% institutional births and MMR below 50 (NFHS-5).
- Demographic Dividend: A lower TFR enables greater female workforce participation and supports India’s demographic dividend projected to peak by 2041 (Economic Survey 2018–19).
- Reduced Public Spending: Declining fertility reduces strain on public services, improving per capita investment in education, health, and welfare (NITI Aayog).
- Environmental Sustainability: Lower fertility helps limit carbon emissions and urban sprawl, supporting climate goals (UNFPA).
- Gender Empowerment: With 88.6% of women involved in healthcare decisions, low TFR reflects increased female autonomy and access to services.
Impact of Poverty on Fertility Rate in India
- Higher Poverty Linked to Higher Fertility: States with greater poverty, such as Bihar (32% poverty), exhibit higher Total Fertility Rates (TFRs) (3.0), whereas wealthier states, like Kerala, show lower TFRs.
- Poorer Women Have More Children: Women in the lowest wealth quintile have a total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.6, compared to 1.6 in the highest quintile, indicating that poverty drives higher fertility. (NFHS-5)
- Poorer Women Face Barriers to Contraceptive Use: Modern contraceptive use is only 48.4% among the poorest women versus 64.7% among the richest, contributing to higher fertility in poor groups.
- Low Female Literacy Limits Reproductive Autonomy: In poorer states like Bihar, female literacy rates are approximately 53% (Census 2011), which restricts women’s decision-making power and contributes to higher fertility rates.
- Son Preference and Labour Needs Sustain High Fertility: Poor agrarian households often prefer more children for labour & sons. E.g., In Bihar, 88.2% of families desiring three children prefer to have at least two sons.
Key Challenges in Reducing Fertility Rates in India
- Cultural Norms Favour Larger Families: Strong son preference in northern states like Bihar keeps fertility high, with 50% of women desiring three or more children (NFHS-5).
- Low Female Literacy Increases Fertility: Bihar’s female literacy at 53% (2011 Census) links to higher fertility; uneducated women have a TFR of 3.2 versus 1.7 for educated women (NFHS-5).
- Limited Access to Contraception in Poor Areas: Contraceptive use is just 48.4% among the poorest women compared to 64.7% among the richest, especially low in rural regions (NFHS-5).
- Economic Insecurity Encourages Larger Families: In states like Bihar, with 32% poverty (MPI 2021), children are viewed as economic assets, sustaining higher fertility rates.
- Social Constraints Limit Women’s Autonomy: Patriarchal norms restrict women’s reproductive choices and control access to family planning services.
Government Initiatives to Reduce Fertility Rate in India
- Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY): Encourages institutional deliveries to improve maternal and child health, indirectly supporting family planning.
- Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): Offers financial support to pregnant and lactating women to promote better health and spacing between births.
- Mission Parivar Vikas: Targets high-fertility districts with enhanced access to contraceptive services and increased awareness.
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): Promotes girls’ education and empowerment to delay marriage and reduce fertility rates.
- National Family Planning Program: Focuses on providing family planning services and contraceptives to promote smaller family norms.
- Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK): Focuses on adolescent health, including reproductive health education to encourage informed fertility choices.
- Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN): Ensures quality maternal health services to reduce infant mortality and promote family planning.
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Key Measures to Reduce Fertility Rate in India
- Promoting Female Education: Improving access to quality education for girls leads to delayed marriage and lower fertility rates. E.g., Women with 12+ years of education have a TFR of 1.7 (NFHS-5).
- Delaying Age of Marriage: Strict implementation of the legal marriage age (18 for women, 21 for men) helps reduce early pregnancies and encourages smaller families.
- Enhancing Women’s Empowerment: Empowerment of women through opportunities, freedom and independent decision-making.
- Expanding Access to Contraceptives: Ensuring availability and affordability of modern contraceptive methods, especially in rural and underserved areas, reduces unintended pregnancies.
- Mass Media and Behaviour Change Campaigns: Promote family planning through culturally sensitive messaging, encouraging acceptance of small family norms such as Mission Parivar Vikas.
India has reached the replacement-level TFR nationally, but regional disparities highlight the need for continued targeted interventions. As Dr Karan Singh rightly said, socio-economic development, especially in education, healthcare, and women’s empowerment, naturally leads to fertility decline.
Reference: The Hindu | PMFIAS: Declining Fertility Rate
PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 201
Q. Discuss the impact of poverty on fertility rates in India, highlighting the socio-economic factors responsible for higher fertility among poor populations. (250 Words) (15 Marks)
Approach
- Introduction: Briefly discuss the relationship between poverty and TFR, and also reference NFHS-5 data.
- Body: Discuss the impact of poverty on fertility rates in India and identify the socio-economic factors responsible for higher fertility rates among poor populations.
- Conclusion: Highlights the impact of poverty, such as restricting access to education, healthcare, and empowering choices and also emphasises stabilising population growth.
