NEW DELHI — While India continues to be the most populous country, with an
estimated 1.46 billion people in 2025, the country's total fertility rate has
fallen to 1.9, below the replacement level of 2.1, according to the latest
report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) released on Tuesday.
The 2025 State of World Population (SOWP) report
underscores that the real crisis lies not in population size, but in the
widespread challenges to support individuals’ right to decide freely and
responsibly if, when, and how many children to have.
The UN report estimates “India's population at present at
1,463.9 million”.
“India is now the world’s most populous nation, with
nearly 1.5 billion people -- a number expected to grow to about 1.7 billion
before it begins falling,” the report said.
The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in India is currently 2.0
children per woman. This means that on average, a woman in India would be
expected to have 2 children during her childbearing years (typically ages 15-49).
This rate has remained constant since 2020, according to the Sample
Registration System (SRS) report for 2021.
However, the new report showed it has declined to 1.9
births per woman, which means that, on average, Indian women are having fewer
children than needed to maintain the population size from one generation to the
next, without migration.
Despite the slowing birth rate, India's youth population
remains significant, with 24 per cent in the age bracket of 0-14, 17 per cent
in 10-19, and 26 per cent in 10-24.
While 68 per cent of the population accounts for the
15-64 age bracket, the elderly population (65 and older) stands at seven per
cent.
As of 2025, life expectancy at birth is projected to be
71 years for men and 74 years for women.
The UN report also placed India in a group of
middle-income countries undergoing rapid demographic change, with the
population doubling time now estimated at 79 years.
“India has made significant progress in lowering
fertility rates -- from nearly five children per woman in 1970 to about two
today -- thanks to improved education and access to reproductive healthcare,”
said Andrea M. Wojnar, UNFPA India Representative.
“This has led to major reductions in maternal mortality,
meaning million more mothers are alive today, raising children and building
communities," Wojnar added.
