India’s fertility rate falls below replacement level: Why it matters. Dropped to 1.9 children per woman, with consequences for its workforce, elders and economy.

Al Jazeera ^ | 9th June 2026 | Priya Shankar

[Cronos]

India’s fertility rate has for the first time fallen below the level needed to stop the population from shrinking, raising concerns about future labour shortages and an ageing society.

For decades, India has seen rapid population growth. According to government statistics, including the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report — the country’s largest demographic survey — India has had a falling fertility rate for some years, but the reproduction rate remained high enough to keep the population growing.

The latest SRS report, released last month by India’s Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, said that India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) had dropped to 1.9 children per woman – lower than the benchmark level of 2.1 needed to keep the population stable in the long run. TFR is the average number of children that a woman is expected to have in her lifetime. In the 2000s, India’s TFR was around 3.3 births per woman.

According to the May demographic survey report, India’s poorest states, such as Bihar in northern India with the lowest levels of education and high infant mortality rates, also recorded the highest fertility rate in the country at 2.9, followed by 2.6 in Uttar Pradesh.

By contrast, India’s capital New Delhi — with among the highest levels of education and lowest infant mortality rates — registered the lowest fertility rate, with an average of 1.2 births per woman. Southern states such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala, with among the best health and education systems in India, recorded a rate of 1.3.

Government data shows that the Muslim fertility rate has been falling faster than in any other religious group, India, including Hindus. The fertility rate among Muslims fell from 4.41 to 2.36 between 1992 and 2021, while it dropped from 3.3 to 1.94 for Hindus

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs
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[Cronos]

Birth rate decline is global, not just in the West.

Even in countries with a birth rate above fertility, like Sub Saharan Africa countries, the rate is declining

[Fresh Wind]

Who needs people when you can have robots?

[100%FEDUP]

All of their doctors are in either the UK or North Carolina.

[Jonty30]

They can go home to prop up their population.

[Cronos]

Their population is still rising as people live longer and healthier.

However, their birth rate below 2.0 means that by 2040 or earlier their total population will decline, like in China

[Equine1952]

There goes my computer trouble help.

[servo1969]

As far as India goes, I don’t know man.
I think India could do with a few less people.

[jacknhoo]

“Who needs people when you can have robots?”

_______

Speaking of robots. Man, have you seen how those robots in that warehouse fire in Tracy, CA have been burning for days because of their lithium batteries?

[yldstrk]

I am in NC and you are making a very astute observation.

[yldstrk]

I think India could do with a few less people.
*****
Yes.

[central_va]

At 1.4 BILLION I do not see a problem. I see a good thing.

[central_va]

At any given moment in time 2 to 3 million Indian couples are having sex.

[Bobbyvotes]

100% correct. Main reason I don’t even visit there anymore. Population density is 14 times USA. Way overcrowded country.

[DeplorablePaul]

Good. There are more than enough Indians in the world.

[enumerated]

I’m ok with that

[escapefromboston]

Some good news I suppose.

[Omnivore-Dan]

It wasn’t too long ago the “experts” were telling us there were too many people on earth and we would eventually face mass starvation on a global scale. Now they’re telling us there aren’t enough? I don’t think very many census results are very accurate either. I am also seeing more and more mid easterners and other foreigners in the U.S., so maybe they should move back to where they came from. By the way, they are the worst drivers ever. Imho.

[Vaquero]

How can a drop in birth rate in an overcrowded country ( and world for that matter) be a problem. 1 major famine and we’re all up sh*ts creek.

[Candor7]

Looks like we will have to send a few thousand Freepers over to help out !

[bk1000]

I don’t think we’ll be running low on Indians any time soon