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Sample Registration Survey (SRS) 2023 fertility and demographic findings:

05 Sep 2025 GS 1 Social Issues

Key Findings

Crude Birth Rate (CBR)

The crude birth rate (CBR) is the number of live births per 1,000 people in a population during a specific year, calculated as the total number of live births divided by the mid-year population, then multiplied by 1,000.

  • India’s CBR declined from 19.1 (2022) → 18.4 (2023).

  • Highest: Bihar (25.8).

  • Lowest: Tamil Nadu (12).

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

The total fertility rate (TFR) is the average number of children a woman would have during her reproductive years if she experienced the current fertility patterns throughout her life

  • India’s TFR dipped for the first time in 2 years:

    • 2.0 (2021–22) → 1.9 (2023).

  • Below replacement level (2.1): 18 States/UTs.

  • Above replacement level: All in northern India –

    • Bihar (2.8), Uttar Pradesh (2.6), Madhya Pradesh (2.4), Rajasthan (2.3), Chhattisgarh (2.2).

  • Lowest TFR States/UTs: Delhi (1.2), West Bengal (1.3), Tamil Nadu (1.3), Maharashtra (1.4).

India’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) 

The infant mortality rate (IMR) is the number of deaths of infants under one year of age per 1,000 live births

National Trend

  • India’s IMR: 25 per 1,000 live births (record low).

  • Decline has been steady:

    • 39 (2014) → 33 (2017) → 28 (2020) → 25 (2023).

    • ~37.5% decline in last 10 years.

  • Still, 1 in every 40 infants dies before age 1 nationally.

Best Performers

  • Kerala – IMR: 5 (best in India).

  • Tamil Nadu – IMR: 12.

  • Karnataka – IMR: 14 (close to UN target of 12).

  • Other States with IMR of 14: Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Maharashtra.

  • Smaller States achieving SDG IMR ≤ 25: Goa, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim.

  • Close to target: Mizoram (13), Himachal Pradesh (15), Tripura (15).

  • All 6 Union Territories crossed milestone.

Worst Performers

  • Highest IMR (37): Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh.

  • Followed by:

    • Assam & Odisha (30 each).

    • Jharkhand & Rajasthan (29 each).

Special Case: Bihar

  • Improved to IMR 23, better than national average.

Demographic Ageing

  • Elderly (60+) share rose: from 9.0% → 9.7% (in one year).

  • Highest: Kerala (15%).

  • Lowest: Assam (7.6%), Delhi (7.7%), Jharkhand (7.6%).

Data Releases

  • Registrar General of India (RGI) had delayed CRS, SRS, MCCD data for 2021 (released in May 2024 after 4 years).

  • 2022 datasets released in June 2024.

  • 2023 SRS released, but CRS & MCCD for 2023 still awaited.

Among nine smaller states, four – Goa, Manipur, Nagaland and Sikkim – have achieved the SDG target while three others – Mizoram (13), Himachal Pradesh and Tripura (15) – are nearing it.


Implications

  1. Population Stabilisation

    • India has entered the phase of below-replacement fertility in most States.

    • Northern Hindi-belt States remain the exception, delaying nationwide stabilisation.

  2. Demographic Transition

    • Declining fertility + rising elderly share → signs of population ageing.

    • Kerala already has 15% elderly, close to developed-country levels.

  3. Policy Challenges

    • Labour force shrinkage in low-TFR States.

    • Health, pensions, and social security burden due to ageing population.

    • Need for differential strategies – fertility reduction in high-TFR States, elderly care in low-TFR States.



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