Correct Answer : 1.29
Experts have raised concerns regarding the projected fall in India’s total fertility rate (TFR) in a recent study by Lancet on global fertility rates. The study suggests that India’s TFR, or the average number of children born to a woman, has been seeing a decline over the last century, with the fertility rate falling from 6.18 children per woman in 1950 to a projected 1.29 children per woman by 2050.
The study stated that India has already fallen below the replacement level of fertility, required for a population to exactly replace one generation with another. In 2021, India’s TFR was at 1.91 children per woman, below the necessary replacement fertility level of 2.1.
Speaking on the reasons behind the fall in the fertility rate, Aruna Kalra, director, obstetrics and gynaecology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram said that with the delay in the age of marriage, the average age of first pregnancy has dropped from the mid-20’s to mid to late 30’s.
Other reasons include an increase in female literacy and women’s workforce participation. “Busy lifestyles in urban areas and high stress jobs are leading people to not consider having children at all,” she added.
Implications for the economy :
* Poonam Muttreja, executive director, Population Foundation of India, said that such a trend will pose challenges such as an ageing population, labour force shortages, and potential social imbalances due to gender preferences in the country.
* “While these challenges are still a few decades away for India, we need to start acting now with a comprehensive approach for the future,” she added.
* The report also states that India’s TFR can further fall to 1.04 children per woman in the year 2100.
* In countries like India, having more children is economically unviable for most families. Giving the example of Scandinavian countries, Muttreja said that countries like Sweden and Denmark are dealing with these challenges by supporting families through affordable childcare, investing in healthcare, and taking on large-scale male-engagement initiatives..
Source :
Business Standard
