Fertility rate in India 2024

The Total Fertility Rate (TFR)*  for India as per the census 2011 was 2.4 per woman. As per recent studies and surveys, the majority of Indian state’s fertility rate has fallen well below the replacement level of 2.1 and the country is fast approaching the replacement level itself. 

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), The total fertility rate of India stands at 2 as of 2024. In rural areas of India, the Fertility rate is 2.1, and in Urban areas of India, it’s 1.6. 

*The cumulative value of the age-specific fertility rates at the end of the childbearing ages gives a measure of fertility known as the Total Fertility Rate (TFR). TFR indicates the average number of children expected to be born per woman during her entire span of reproductive period.

Indian States by Fertility Rate

In most Indian States Fertility rate has declined in the last decade and it’s now below the National Average of 2. There are now only five states that have a TFR above the replacement level of fertility of 2.1 children per woman: Bihar (2.98), Meghalaya (2.91), Uttar Pradesh (2.35), Jharkhand (2.26), and Manipur (2.17).

Among the bigger States/UTs, it varies from 1.6 in Delhi to 3 in Bihar. For rural areas, it varies from 1.7 in West Bengal to 3.1 in Bihar. For urban areas, such variation is from 1.4 in West Bengal to 2.4 in Bihar. 

Let’s have a look at Totl, Urban, and Rural TFR  in States & UTs

#States /UTsTotal Fertility RateUrban Fertility RateRural Fertility Rate
1Andhra1.71.51.8
2Andman & Nicobar1.31.41.2
3Arunachal Pradesh1.81.41.9
4Assam1.91.51.9
5Bihar32.43.1
6Chandigarh1.41.41.4
7Chhattisgarh1.81.41.9
8D&D1.81.71.9
9Delhi (NCT)1.61.62.5
10Goa1.31.31.4
11Gujarat1.91.72
12Haryana1.91.72
13HP1.71.41.7
14J&K1.41.21.5
15Jharkhand2.31.62.5
16Karnataka1.71.51.8
17Kerala1.81.81.8
18Ladakh1.31.41.3
19Lakshadweep1.41.41.6
20Madhya Pradesh21.62.1
21Maharashtra1.71.51.9
22Manipur2.21.82.4
23Meghalaya2.91.63.3
24Mizoram1.91.62.2
25Nagaland1.71.22
26Odisha1.81.51.9
27Puducherry1.51.61.2
28Punjab1.61.61.7
29Rajasthan21.72.1
30Sikkim1.10.71.3
31Tamil Nadu1.81.61.9
32Telangana1.81.81.7
33Tripura1.71.41.8
34Uttar Pradesh2.41.92.5
35Uttarakhand1.91.81.9
36West Bengal1.61.41.7
 India21.62.1


Source: National Family Health Survey 5

States with High Fertility Rate

The top 5 Big Indian States by Fertility rate as per National Family Health Survey are Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

#States Fertility Rate
1Bihar3
2Uttar Pradesh2.4
3Jharkhand2.3
4Madhya Pradesh2
5Rajasthan2
6Assam1.9
7Gujarat1.9
8Haryana1.9

 Source: National Family Health Survey 5

States with Low Fertility Rate

The 5 Big India State by Lowest Fertility rate as per  are Punjab, West Bengal, Andhra, Himachal Pradresh, Karnataka & Maharashtra.

#StatesTotal
1Punjab1.6
2West Bengal1.6
3Andhra1.7
4HP1.7
5Karnataka1.7
6Maharashtra1.7

Source: National Family Health Survey 5

Indian States by Birth Rate

The Crude birth rate (CBR)** for India as per census 2011 was 21.8. In 2016 Census studies CBR at all India levels had declined from 29.5 in 1991 to 20.4 in 2016. CBR has continued to be higher in rural areas compared to urban areas in the last three decades. 

The birth rate (CBR) at the national level is 20.4 varying from 22.1 in rural to 17.0 in urban areas. Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal are the States having birth rate below 20 both in rural and urban areas.

On the other hand, Bihar has the highest birth rate in rural areas (27.7) and Uttar Pradesh has the highest birth rate in urban areas (22.8) areas, followed by Uttar Pradesh (27.3) and Rajasthan (21.6) in rural and urban areas respectively. The lowest Birth rate (CBR) was recorded in rural areas of Kerala (14.3) and in urban areas of Himachal Pradesh (10.5).

Given below provides the Crude Birth Rate (CBR) for India and bigger States/UTs

#StateTotal Birth RateRural Birth rateUrban Birth Rate
1Andhra Pradesh 16.416.715.8
2Assam 21.722.815
3Bihar 26.827.721.1
4Chhattisgarh 22.824.318.1
5Delhi 15.51715.5
6Gujarat 20.12217.7
7Haryana 20.72218.3
8Himachal Pradesh 1616.510.5
9Jammu & Kashmir 15.717.411.9
10Jharkhand 22.924.518.4
11Karnataka 17.618.516.2
12Kerala 14.314.314.4
13Madhya Pradesh 25.127.119.5
14Maharashtra 15.916.315.5
15Odisha 18.619.613.7
16Punjab 14.915.614.1
17Rajasthan 24.325.221.6
18Tamil Nadu 1515.115
19Telangana 17.517.817
20Uttar Pradesh 26.227.322.8
21Uttarakhand 16.616.816
22West Bengal 15.416.911.8
23India 20.422.117

Source: Based on Indian Census 2017 Studies

**The crude birth rate is the number of live births occurring among the population of a given geographical area during a given year, per 1,000 mid-year total population of the given geographical area during the same year.

 

States with High Birth Rate

The top 5 India States by Crude Birth rate as per 2017 Census studies are Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradeesh, Rajasthan & Jharkhand. Chhatishgarh,  Assam & Haryana also have crude birth rate above National Level of 20.4. Bihar has the highest birth rate in rural areas (27.7) and Uttar Pradesh has the highest birth rate in urban areas (22.8) areas, followed by Uttar Pradesh (27.3) and Rajasthan (21.6) in rural and urban areas respectively.

#StateTotalRuralUrban
1Bihar 26.827.721.1
2Uttar Pradesh 26.227.322.8
3Madhya Pradesh 25.127.119.5
4Rajasthan 24.325.221.6
5Jharkhand 22.924.518.4
6Chhattisgarh 22.824.318.1
7Assam 21.722.815
8Haryana 20.72218.3
9Gujarat 20.12217.7
10Odisha 18.619.613.7

Source: Based on Indian Census 2017 Studies

States with Lowest Birth rate

The lowest Birth rate (CBR) was recorded in rural areas of Kerala (14.3) and in urban areas of Himachal Pradesh (10.5). Given below provides the Indian State/Uts by Lowest Fertility rate as per 2017 Census studies. 

#StateTotalRuralUrban
1Kerala 14.314.314.4
2Punjab 14.915.614.1
3Tamil Nadu 1515.115
4West Bengal 15.416.911.8
5Delhi 15.51715.5
6Jammu & Kashmir 15.717.411.9
7Maharashtra 15.916.315.5
8Himachal Pradesh 1616.510.5
9Andhra Pradesh 16.416.715.8
10Uttarakhand 16.616.816

Source: Based on Indian Census 2017 Studies 

Fertility Rate By Religion

The National Family Health Survey data shows that the Fertility rate has declined in each religious group. Muslim TFR has fallen by 9.9%, for Hindus by 8.9%, for Christians by 5.5%, and for Sikhs, it rose by 1.9%. The total fertility rate is the highest among Muslims (2.36) followed by Hindus (1.94) and Christians (1.88). Other than Muslims TFR has fallen in all religious groups below the replacement level of 2.1.

ReligionFertility rate (2019-21)Fertility rate (2015-16)
Hindu1.942.13
Muslims2.362.62
Christians1.881.99
Sikh1.611.58
Buddhist1.391.74
Jain1.61.2
India22.2

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India Fertility Rate 2024 | Indian States by Fertility Rate and Birth Rate
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Rajeev Rana

Rajeev Rana loves reading about history and demography and has been writing on these topics for five years. While not a certified expert, he has a deep understanding of demography in India. Rajeev contributes to several websites and has extensive knowledge of the Delhi NCR area.