Understanding India's Demographic Trends through SRS

India’s demographic challenges and trends

1. What is the Sample Registration System (SRS) and why is it important?

The Sample Registration System (SRS) is a large-scale demographic survey conducted by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. Covering nearly 8.8 million people, it tracks key indicators such as birth rates, death rates, and fertility patterns. For over five decades, SRS has provided reliable national and state-level data essential for policy formulation and development planning.

2. What are India’s overall demographic trends according to SRS 2023?

India’s demographic indicators show consistent improvement. The Crude Birth Rate (CBR) and Total Fertility Rate (TFR) have declined, while life expectancy and literacy levels continue to rise. The country is gradually moving closer to developed-nation benchmarks, though significant regional disparities persist between advanced and lagging states.

3. What do CBR, GFR, and TFR mean in demographic studies?

Crude Birth Rate (CBR): Number of live births per 1,000 people in a year.

General Fertility Rate (GFR): Number of live births per 1,000 women aged 15–49 years.

Total Fertility Rate (TFR): Average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime, based on current birth rates.

These indicators are key to understanding population growth patterns and predicting future demographic shifts.

4. What were India’s fertility and birth statistics in 2023?

In 2023, India recorded:

CBR = 18.4 per 1,000 population
GFR = 64.3 per 1,000 women (15–49 years)
TFR = 1.9 children per woman

A TFR of 2.1 is considered the replacement level — where population remains stable. India’s TFR of 1.9 indicates that population growth is nearing stabilization, similar to developed nations like the UK (1.6) and France (1.7).

5. How do fertility rates vary between rural and urban areas?

India’s rural TFR (2.1) is at replacement level, while the urban TFR (1.5) is significantly lower. Rural fertility still contributes more to population growth, though the urban decline reflects a demographic transition toward smaller family norms.

6. Which states have high and low fertility rates?

High TFR states (above replacement level): Jharkhand (2.1), Chhattisgarh (2.2), Rajasthan (2.3), Madhya Pradesh (2.4), Uttar Pradesh (2.6), Bihar (2.8).

Low TFR states (below replacement level): Maharashtra (1.4), Tamil Nadu (1.3), West Bengal (1.3), and Delhi (1.2) — comparable to Japan’s fertility levels.

7. How does India’s age structure affect its demographic advantage?

The 0–14 age group forms 24.2% of India’s population — similar to other middle-income countries. This young population can be a demographic dividend if supported by quality education, employment, and healthcare. However, states like Uttar Pradesh (27.5%) and Bihar (32%) have much higher shares, putting pressure on resources, while states like Himachal Pradesh (13.2%) and Tamil Nadu (14%) are ageing faster.

8. What is the significance of the ageing population in India?

The proportion of Indians aged 60+ years rose to 9.7% in 2023. States such as Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu have larger elderly populations, demanding robust healthcare, pension, and social security systems to ensure dignified ageing.

9. What progress has India made in reducing Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)?

India’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has fallen dramatically from 241 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1961 to 29 in 2023 — a major success attributed to better healthcare, immunization, and nutrition. However, states like Chhattisgarh (41), Madhya Pradesh (44), and Uttar Pradesh (42) still lag behind Kerala (8) and Tamil Nadu (12).

10. Why do demographic disparities across states matter?

Wide regional differences dilute national progress. States such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh continue to record high fertility, elevated IMR, and low female literacy — offsetting the advances made by southern and western states. Bridging these gaps is essential for achieving balanced national development.

11. How does India’s demographic situation compare internationally?

India’s demographic performance now aligns with that of middle-income nations like Brazil and Thailand. However, to match OECD standards, India must continue improving health outcomes, education, and gender equality — especially in its less-developed regions.

12. What challenges remain for India’s demographic transition?

Major challenges include:

• High regional inequalities in fertility and mortality rates.
• Low female participation in the workforce.
• Limited healthcare access in rural and lagging states.
• Rising elderly dependency in southern states.

India must transform its youthful population into productive human capital while ensuring social support for its ageing citizens.

13. What are the implications for policy and planning?

To sustain growth and demographic balance, the government must:

• Strengthen public health and education systems.
• Create employment opportunities for youth.
• Expand maternal and child health programmes in lagging states.
• Promote balanced regional development and elderly care infrastructure.

A strategic demographic policy — balancing fertility, employment, and ageing — will determine how effectively India turns its population into its greatest strength.