Doctors flag risks as India's fertility falls

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

India's fertility rate has dropped to 1.9 children per woman, falling below the replacement level of 2.1 for the first time, according to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report released by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner. The milestone marks a significant demographic shift, indicating that India's population growth could slow and eventually decline in the coming decades.

The Total Fertility Rate (TFR), which measures the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime, has steadily declined from around 3.3 in the early 2000s to the current level of 1.9. Experts warn that the trend could result in a shrinking workforce and a growing elderly population, posing long-term economic and social challenges.

Dr. K. Shilpi Reddy, Clinical Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at KIMS Hyderabad, described the development as "a critical issue which is going to change the entire dynamics." She said India currently benefits from a young population but could face an ageing society similar to several European nations. She noted that delayed marriages, changing lifestyles, rising living costs and an increasing preference for child-free living are influencing reproductive choices among younger generations.

The trend is also being reflected in urban centres such as Hyderabad and Telangana, where demand for fertility counselling and assisted reproductive services continues to grow.