Key Findings on TFR
- National TFR remains stable at 2.0 in 2021, same as in 2020.
- Replacement level fertility (TFR of 2.1) has been achieved nationally.
- Bihar has the highest TFR at 3.0.
- West Bengal and Delhi report the lowest TFR, both at 1.4.
Relevance : GS 1(Society) , GS 2(Governance)
Demographic Shifts
- Share of population aged 0–14 years dropped from 41.2% (1971) to 24.8% (2021).
- Working-age population (15–59 years) rose from 53.4% to 66.2% over the same period.
- Elderly population (60+):
- Increased from 6% to 9%.
- 65+ age group rose from 5.3% to 5.9%.
Elderly Population (60+ Age Group)
- Highest % of elderly:
- Kerala – 14.4%
- Tamil Nadu – 12.9%
- Himachal Pradesh – 12.3%
- Lowest % of elderly:
- Bihar – 6.9%
- Assam – 7%
- Delhi – 7.1%
Fertility Rates by State
- Below Replacement Level TFR (≤2.1):
- Delhi, West Bengal – 1.4
- Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, J&K, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab – 1.5
- Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka – 1.6
- Odisha, Uttarakhand – 1.8
- Gujarat, Haryana – 2.0
- Assam – 2.1
- States above replacement level: Bihar, Uttar Pradesh (implied though not directly mentioned)
Marriage Trends
- Mean age at effective female marriage increased from 19.3 (1990) to 22.5 (2021).
Policy Context
- Despite Budget 2024’s announcement of a high-power committee on population growth, SRS data indicates demographic stabilisation, not rapid growth.
- Full clarity requires the 2021 Census, still pending since last held in 2011.
Survey Details
- Conducted across 8,842 sample units.
- Covered a population of around 84 lakh.
- Largest demographic survey in India aside from the Census.
