Birth, Death and Population Growth Rates in India

Introduction: India is the second most populated country in the world. In land area, India ranks seventh globally. The population of India contributes nearly 17.70% share of the world’s population. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar are India’s top three most populated states. In contrast, Sikkim is the least populated state in the country. At present, China is the most populous country globally, but the birth rate and growth rate of India’s population indicate that India might surpass China’s population in the coming years. Here are some interesting facts about various aspects of India’s demography.

The Birth Rate in India

• As per United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), 67,385 babies are born per day in India. This is one-sixth of the total childbirth in the world. 
• The annual birth rate in India accounts for one-fifth of the world’s yearly childbirth. Approximately 25 million babies are born per year in India.
• The crude birth rate in India is 17 births per 1000 persons. The natural birth rate is the live births per thousand population in a year, estimated at mid-year. 
• By the United Nations (UN) World population prospect, the sex ratio at birth in India is 110 boys for every 100 girls. 
• In India, Bihar has the highest birth rate, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
•  The lowest birth rate in India is reported in Kerala, followed by Punjab, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

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The Death Rate in India

• The mortality rate or death rate is defined as the number of deaths in a particular population during a specific time.
• According to World Bank’s data, the mortality rate or crude death rate in India is 7.30 per 1000 persons.
• In India, approximately 26789 deaths are reported per day.
• In the 2019 survey, India’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) was 30 deaths per 1000 live births. 
• In 2019, the female mortality rate was 145.05 per 1000 female adults, and the male mortality rate was 201.4 per 1000 male adults in India.

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The Population Growth Rate of India

As per the United Nations (UN) estimates, the population of India in 2022 will be 140 crores, and the present growth rate of the population is 1%. In the past decades, the growth rate of India’s population has significantly declined, but it is still higher than the population growth rate of China. It is estimated that India will surpass China and become the most populated country by 2030. However, after it, the population growth rate will become stagnant and then start to decline. It is expected that the population of India will reach its peak level by 2060 with 1.65 billion people, and then it will begin to decrease. 

India is one of the youngest nations in the world. More than 50% of India’s population is below the age of 25, and only 5% of the people of India are above the age of 65 years. 

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Male and Female Population Statistics of India

As per the fifth National Family and Health Survey (NFHS), the male and female ratio in India is 1020 women for every 1000 men. For the first time in the history of India, it has more women than men. As per the 2015-16 NFHS survey, the ratio was 991 females for every 1000 males. 

However, the sex ratio at birth in 2020-21 is 937 female births for every 1000 male births. It still indicates that the problem of sex selection before the birth of the child and female foeticide is still not completely resolved.

The Fertility Rate in India

As per the fifth National Family and Health Survey (NFHS), the fertility rate in India as of 2021 is 2. The highest fertility rate in the country is recorded in Bihar, with three children per woman, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The Negative Impact of Population Growth on the Country

•  It leads to unemployment as there are more job seekers than the job opportunities evolving in the country.
•  When the population growth rate is higher than the country’s economic growth rate, it reduces the per capita income, resulting in inflation and poverty.
• The rise in population results in a vicious circle of unemployment, poverty and illiteracy.

Conclusion

India occupies only 2.14% of the world’s land area, but in terms of the population, its share is 18% of the world’s population. India is among the youngest nations, with a majority population of fewer than 35 years of age. India can emerge as one of the strongest and most developed nations. It is vital to act on necessary measures to realise the true potential of the young Indians. India is a versatile country with more than two thousand ethnic groups. It is important to lower the growth rate of the population to maintain a balanced approach toward the sustainable development of the country.