Why is there variation in India's fertility rates?

Image to illustrate | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStock

The story so far: The Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2021 released recently by the Office of the Registrar General of India showed that India maintained its Total Fertility Rate (TFR) at 2.0 – the same as in 2020. While the national average for TFR remained the same, there are large independent regional differences in the TFR data for States and Union Territories.

The highest TFR was recorded in Bihar at 3.0 and the lowest was reported for West Bengal and Delhi at 1.4. The data further revealed that in the decade between 2009-11 and 2019-21, TFR declined overall, across states and nationally, albeit at different rates.

Published – 18 May 2025 02:30 IST