Fertility rate, total (births per woman) (UNESCO Institute) in India
India: Fertility rate, total (births per woman) (UNESCO Institute) was 1.98 births per woman in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
1.98 births per woman
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
107th
of 215 countries
All-time high
5.62 births per woman
in 1970
All-time low
1.98 births per woman
in 2023
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Fertility rate, total in India, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fertility rate, total in India is 1.98 births per woman, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 54 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and down 17.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility rate, total in India peaked at 5.62 births per woman in 1970 and was at its lowest, 1.98 births per woman, in 2023.
That places India 107th out of 215 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.
Fertility rate, total (births per woman) (UNESCO Institute) in India, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 5.62 births per woman | — |
| 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% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 1.98 births per woman is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.15 births per woman, 63% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 1.98 births per woman is above the median for South Asia, which is 1.97 births per woman, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2.01 births per woman | 1.98 births per woman | 2.05 births per woman | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
- 104 New Caledonia 1.98 births per woman compare
- 104 Peru 1.98 births per woman compare
- 104 United States Virgin Islands 1.98 births per woman compare
- 108 Sri Lanka 1.97 births per woman compare
- 109 Philippines 1.92 births per woman compare
- 110 Vietnam 1.91 births per woman compare
More population data for India
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4607 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 1.67 million Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.7665 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7604 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.512 (2100)
- Population density 506.27 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 66.77 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility rate, total in India?
- Fertility rate, total in India was 1.98 births per woman in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest fertility rate, total recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 5.62 births per woman in 1970.
- What is the lowest fertility rate, total recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.98 births per woman in 2023.
- How does India rank for fertility rate, total?
- India ranks 107th out of 215 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertility rate, total rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Fertility rate, total (births per woman). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release