Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in India
India: Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate was 1.96 births per woman in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
1.96 births per woman
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
105th
of 215 countries
All-time high
5.98 births per woman
in 1964
All-time low
1.96 births per woman
in 2024
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in India, 1960–2024
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in India is 1.96 births per woman, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 14.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in India peaked at 5.98 births per woman in 1964 and was at its lowest, 1.96 births per woman, in 2024.
That places India 105th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in India, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.92 births per woman | — |
| 1961 | 5.94 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1962 | 5.95 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 5.97 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 5.98 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 5.94 births per woman | -0.6% |
| 1966 | 5.88 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 1967 | 5.83 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 1968 | 5.76 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 1969 | 5.68 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1970 | 5.62 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 1971 | 5.57 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 1972 | 5.48 births per woman | -1.5% |
| 1973 | 5.4 births per woman | -1.5% |
| 1974 | 5.33 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 1975 | 5.2 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 1976 | 5.13 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1977 | 5.01 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 1978 | 4.89 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 1979 | 4.81 births per woman | -1.6% |
| 1980 | 4.78 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 1981 | 4.7 births per woman | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 4.62 births per woman | -1.7% |
| 1983 | 4.57 births per woman | -1.2% |
| 1984 | 4.52 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 4.43 births per woman | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 4.4 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 1987 | 4.31 births per woman | -2.0% |
| 1988 | 4.22 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 1989 | 4.13 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 1990 | 4.04 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 1991 | 3.96 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 3.88 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 3.8 births per woman | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 3.72 births per woman | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 3.65 births per woman | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 3.58 births per woman | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 3.51 births per woman | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 3.45 births per woman | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 3.38 births per woman | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 3.35 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 3.3 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 3.22 births per woman | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 3.12 births per woman | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 3.05 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 2.96 births per woman | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 2.87 births per woman | -3.1% |
| 2007 | 2.77 births per woman | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 2.71 births per woman | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 2.67 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 2.6 births per woman | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 2.53 births per woman | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 2.47 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 2.4 births per woman | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 2.29 births per woman | -4.4% |
| 2015 | 2.29 births per woman | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 2.28 births per woman | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 2.19 births per woman | -4.0% |
| 2018 | 2.18 births per woman | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 2.12 births per woman | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 2.05 births per woman | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 2.01 births per woman | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 1.99 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 1.98 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 1.96 births per woman | -0.7% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 1.96 births per woman is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.12 births per woman, 63% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 1.96 births per woman is above the median for South Asia, which is 1.96 births per woman, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.88 births per woman | 5.68 births per woman | 5.98 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.24 births per woman | 4.81 births per woman | 5.62 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.47 births per woman | 4.13 births per woman | 4.78 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.7 births per woman | 3.38 births per woman | 4.04 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 3 births per woman | 2.67 births per woman | 3.35 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.34 births per woman | 2.12 births per woman | 2.6 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 2 births per woman | 1.96 births per woman | 2.05 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
- 102 United States Virgin Islands 1.97 births per woman compare
- 103 Peru 1.97 births per woman compare
- 104 New Caledonia 1.96 births per woman compare
- 106 Nepal 1.96 births per woman compare
- 107 Sri Lanka 1.95 births per woman compare
- 108 Faroe Islands 1.91 births per woman compare
More population data for India
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4607 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.2494 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 66.77 million people (2100)
- Population density 506.27 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7604 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.7665 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in India?
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in India was 1.96 births per woman in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 5.98 births per woman in 1964.
- What is the lowest total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.96 births per woman in 2024.
- How does India rank for total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate?
- India ranks 105th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total fertility rate summarizes the total number of births a woman would have, if she experienced the birth rates seen in women of each age group in one particular year across her childbearing years. The wanted fertility is an estimate of what the total fertility rate would be if all unwanted births were avoided, based on survey data.