India’s fertility rate falls below replacement level: Why it matters
Key takeaways
- India’s fertility rate has dropped to 1.9 children per woman, with consequences for its workforce, elders and economy.
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- For decades, India has seen rapid population growth.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
India’s fertility rate has dropped to 1.9 children per woman, with consequences for its workforce, elders and economy.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo. A nurse cares for a newborn baby at a hospital in Kishanganj district in Bihar state [File: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters]By Priyanka Shankar Published On 9 Jun 20269 Jun 2026India’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.