‘India’s birth rate down, first dip in TFR in 2 years’ , Pg12

Key Highlights:

• India's Crude Birth Rate (CBR) decreased from 19.1 in 2022 to 18.4 in 2023.
• The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in India fell to 1.9 in 2023, after remaining at 2.0 in 2021 and 2022.
• Bihar recorded the highest CBR at 25.8 and TFR at 2.8, while Tamil Nadu had the lowest CBR at 12.
• 18 States and UTs reported a TFR below the replacement level of 2.1.
• The proportion of elderly (above 60) in India rose to 9.7%, with Kerala having the highest proportion at 15%.

Detailed Insights:

• The Sample Registration System (SRS) report for 2023, released by the Office of the Registrar General of India, provides these key demographic insights.
• A TFR of 2.1 is considered the replacement level, indicating the number of children needed to replace the population.
• States with TFR higher than the replacement level are primarily in northern India, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh.
• States and UTs with the lowest TFR include Delhi, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.
• The rise in the elderly population indicates a demographic shift, with Kerala leading in the proportion of people above 60.
• Delayed release of Civil Registration System (CRS) and Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCD) reports for previous years has been observed.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Crude Birth Rate (CBR): The number of live births per 1,000 people in a given year.
• Total Fertility Rate (TFR): The average number of children a woman is expected to bear during her reproductive years.
• Replacement Level TFR: The TFR needed to maintain a stable population size, generally around 2.1.