India birth & fertility rate decline on charts

India has a birth rate of 16.1 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 1.98 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in India was 5.92 children per woman — 3 times higher than in 2023.

India birth rate statistics:

India is ranked 93/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 105/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in India is 21.2 — it was 21 in 2021.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 27.8, a change from 25.8 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 155.3 in 1960 to 14.1 in 2023.
26.3% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 22.8% in 1960.

Fertility rate in India by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	1.98	100
2022	1.99	99
2021	2.01	100
2020	2.05	100
2019	2.12	99
2018	2.18	98
2017	2.19	99
2016	2.28	95
2015	2.29	98
2014	2.29	99
2013	2.4	93
2012	2.47	92
2011	2.53	89
2010	2.6	86
2009	2.67	84
2008	2.71	83
2007	2.78	78
2006	2.87	79
2005	2.96	77
2004	3.05	77
2003	3.12	76
2002	3.22	76
2001	3.3	77
2000	3.35	78
1999	3.38	78
1998	3.45	78
1997	3.51	78
1996	3.58	80
1995	3.65	81
1994	3.72	84
1993	3.8	86
1992	3.88	87
1991	3.96	89
1990	4.05	89
1989	4.13	87
1988	4.22	88
1987	4.31	89
1986	4.4	89
1985	4.43	91
1984	4.52	92
1983	4.57	94
1982	4.62	94
1981	4.7	93
1980	4.78	96
1979	4.81	98
1978	4.89	97
1977	5.01	96
1976	5.13	95
1975	5.2	96
1974	5.33	97
1973	5.4	100
1972	5.48	102
1971	5.57	104
1970	5.62	105
1969	5.68	107
1968	5.76	106
1967	5.83	107
1966	5.88	106
1965	5.94	108
1964	5.98	108
1963	5.97	112
1962	5.95	114
1961	5.94	112
1960	5.92	113

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/india | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in India was 1.98 in 2023 and has been below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 2020. In 1993, the fertility rate was 3.8 — a 48% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	13,711,993	23,219,071	9,507,078
2022	13,912,130	23,285,713	9,373,583
2021	10,227,523	23,321,636	13,094,113
2020	13,366,946	23,485,430	10,118,484
2019	14,859,846	24,124,678	9,264,832
2018	15,451,168	24,620,143	9,168,975
2017	15,394,041	24,467,034	9,072,993
2016	16,202,593	25,207,019	9,004,426
2015	16,211,195	25,147,471	8,936,276
2014	16,165,943	25,050,059	8,884,116
2013	17,107,541	25,995,635	8,888,094
2012	17,552,365	26,432,759	8,880,394
2011	17,793,362	26,682,475	8,889,113
2010	17,991,935	26,900,236	8,908,301
2009	18,286,055	27,220,130	8,934,075
2008	18,234,926	27,185,694	8,950,768
2007	18,331,648	27,304,582	8,972,934
2006	18,641,737	27,637,718	8,995,981
2005	19,034,839	28,063,253	9,028,414
2004	19,469,758	28,537,242	9,067,484
2003	19,720,507	28,794,531	9,074,024
2002	20,024,621	29,128,118	9,103,497
2001	20,182,573	29,325,308	9,142,735
2000	19,984,160	29,111,917	9,127,757
1999	19,648,424	28,790,002	9,141,578
1998	19,569,575	28,725,336	9,155,761
1997	19,494,098	28,660,151	9,166,053
1996	19,442,699	28,623,265	9,180,566
1995	19,396,161	28,588,162	9,192,001
1994	19,310,798	28,512,556	9,201,758
1993	19,152,399	28,374,504	9,222,105
1992	19,132,757	28,365,493	9,232,736
1991	19,049,524	28,306,013	9,256,489
1990	18,893,588	28,171,280	9,277,692
1989	18,848,915	28,155,349	9,306,434
1988	18,702,916	28,040,308	9,337,392
1987	18,496,213	27,861,210	9,364,997
1986	18,455,495	27,848,101	9,392,606
1985	17,968,697	27,367,184	9,398,487
1984	17,698,810	27,112,861	9,414,051
1983	17,219,127	26,637,588	9,418,461
1982	16,790,507	26,221,571	9,431,064
1981	16,422,159	25,868,577	9,446,418
1980	16,018,786	25,471,278	9,452,492
1979	15,392,957	24,833,433	9,440,476
1978	14,898,145	24,359,647	9,461,502
1977	14,575,662	24,070,411	9,494,749
1976	14,435,504	23,935,461	9,499,957
1975	13,958,642	23,451,056	9,492,414
1974	13,795,836	23,284,614	9,488,778
1973	13,412,707	22,929,614	9,516,907
1972	13,041,792	22,510,084	9,468,292
1971	12,787,104	22,169,820	9,382,716
1970	12,417,866	21,705,200	9,287,334
1969	12,167,671	21,386,186	9,218,515
1968	12,006,807	21,162,193	9,155,386
1967	11,279,897	20,889,399	9,609,502
1966	11,089,894	20,633,001	9,543,107
1965	10,925,714	20,414,337	9,488,623
1964	11,285,378	20,156,876	8,871,498
1963	11,016,705	19,784,004	8,767,299
1962	10,743,409	19,423,099	8,679,690
1961	10,468,816	19,054,916	8,586,100
1960	10,237,489	18,704,857	8,467,368

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/india | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in India (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +1.06% annually. On average, 14,550,337 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 0.95% — 13,711,993 more people were born than died.

In 2023, India ranks 1/196 for absolute natural population change and 98/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in India compared to other countries

	India	Rank
Fertility rate	1.98	100/196
Birth rate	16.1	93/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+13,711,993	1/196
Natural population change rate	+0.95%	98/196
Population growth	+0.89%	107/197
Age at first childbirth	21.2 years	94/137
Average age at childbearing	27.8 years	169/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	11.2	135/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	129.8	69/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	18.1	125/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	26.3%	36/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	56.4%	51/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	89.4%	134/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.08%	72/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	1.73%	56/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	2.45%	57/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	2.77%	62/192
Life expectancy	72.7 years	117/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	32.1	11.2	129.8	18.1
2025	32.5	12	131.2	18.1
2024	33	13	132.9	18.3
2023	33.3	14	134.3	18.3
2022	33.7	14.1	135.6	18.7
2021	34.1	14.2	137	19
2020	34.6	14.4	139.3	19.5
2019	35.9	14.8	144.2	20.3
2018	37	15.2	148.6	21.1
2017	37.2	15.2	149.3	21.3
2016	38.8	14.6	157.6	21.8
2015	39.1	18.3	163.4	19.6
2014	39.5	28.9	164	17.9
2013	41.5	35.4	173.8	17.2
2012	42.7	39.7	178.5	17.5
2011	43.7	40.9	182	18.3
2010	44.7	41.9	185.5	19.3
2009	45.8	46.9	188	20.3
2008	46.4	54.5	187.2	20.7
2007	47.2	52.2	192.1	21.8
2006	48.5	56	195.7	23.1
2005	50	65	198.5	23.9
2004	51.7	84.1	199.4	23.5
2003	53	98.2	199.1	23.8
2002	54.5	106.1	202	24.8
2001	55.8	113.2	206	25.3
2000	56.4	115.5	207.8	26
1999	56.8	118.3	208.5	26.5
1998	57.7	124.1	209.6	27.4
1997	58.7	124	216.2	27.6
1996	59.7	128.2	220.2	28.1
1995	60.8	136.3	219.9	29.3
1994	61.8	137.3	223	30.7
1993	62.7	136.6	224.8	32.8
1992	64	141.5	229	33.4
1991	65.3	143	234.2	34.3
1990	66.4	139.7	239.3	36
1989	67.8	146.7	241.5	37.1
1988	69	145.5	246	38.8
1987	70.1	140.2	251.9	40.7
1986	71.7	156.8	249.9	41.3
1985	72.2	160	249.3	41.8
1984	73.2	160.9	251.3	43.5
1983	73.6	161	251.7	44.6
1982	74.1	162.5	253	45.3
1981	74.9	161.9	255.8	46.8
1980	75.4	159.2	259.6	48
1979	75.3	157.5	261.2	48.4
1978	75.6	149.6	266.9	50.8
1977	76.5	148.4	271.6	53.7
1976	77.8	160.2	271.9	55.8
1975	78	161.6	272.7	57.6
1974	79.3	166	277.5	59.8
1973	79.9	168.9	279.3	61.6
1972	80.2	167.1	282	63.9
1971	80.8	165.4	284	66.6
1970	80.8	162.7	285.3	68.6
1969	81.4	163.8	286.4	70.3
1968	82.3	165.9	286	72.3
1967	83	165.8	287.8	73.6
1966	83.8	163.7	290.2	75.2
1965	84.8	162.8	292.1	77
1964	85.7	160.7	294.7	78.2
1963	86.1	158.9	293.8	78.3
1962	86.5	158	292.8	78.4
1961	86.9	157.1	291.8	78.5
1960	87.3	156.4	291	78.6

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/india | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in India by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 2.93% will be to women under age 20, 68.7% to women ages 20-29, and 28.4% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 21.1%, 60.4%, and 18.5%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	India	World
2100	13.8%	16.5%
2099	13.8%	16.6%
2098	13.8%	16.6%
2097	13.9%	16.7%
2096	13.9%	16.8%
2095	13.9%	16.8%
2094	13.9%	16.9%
2093	14%	17%
2092	14%	17%
2091	14%	17.1%
2090	14.1%	17.2%
2089	14.1%	17.2%
2088	14.2%	17.3%
2087	14.2%	17.4%
2086	14.2%	17.4%
2085	14.3%	17.5%
2084	14.4%	17.5%
2083	14.4%	17.6%
2082	14.5%	17.7%
2081	14.6%	17.7%
2080	14.6%	17.8%
2079	14.7%	17.8%
2078	14.8%	17.9%
2077	14.8%	17.9%
2076	14.9%	18%
2075	15%	18%
2074	15.1%	18.1%
2073	15.2%	18.2%
2072	15.2%	18.2%
2071	15.3%	18.3%
2070	15.4%	18.3%
2069	15.5%	18.4%
2068	15.6%	18.5%
2067	15.6%	18.6%
2066	15.7%	18.6%
2065	15.8%	18.7%
2064	15.9%	18.8%
2063	16%	18.9%
2062	16.1%	19.1%
2061	16.2%	19.2%
2060	16.3%	19.3%
2059	16.4%	19.4%
2058	16.6%	19.5%
2057	16.7%	19.6%
2056	16.8%	19.8%
2055	17%	19.9%
2054	17.2%	20%
2053	17.3%	20.1%
2052	17.5%	20.2%
2051	17.7%	20.3%
2050	17.9%	20.4%
2049	18.1%	20.5%
2048	18.3%	20.6%
2047	18.5%	20.7%
2046	18.7%	20.8%
2045	18.9%	20.9%
2044	19.2%	20.9%
2043	19.4%	21%
2042	19.6%	21.1%
2041	19.8%	21.2%
2040	20%	21.2%
2039	20.3%	21.3%
2038	20.5%	21.4%
2037	20.7%	21.5%
2036	20.9%	21.6%
2035	21.1%	21.8%
2034	21.4%	22%
2033	21.7%	22.2%
2032	21.9%	22.4%
2031	22.2%	22.7%
2030	22.5%	23%
2029	22.8%	23.3%
2028	23.2%	23.6%
2027	23.6%	23.9%
2026	24%	24.2%
2025	24.4%	24.6%
2024	24.6%	24.7%
2023	25.1%	25%
2022	25.5%	25.3%
2021	25.9%	25.6%
2020	26.3%	25.8%
2019	26.8%	26%
2018	27.3%	26.2%
2017	27.8%	26.4%
2016	28.4%	26.5%
2015	28.9%	26.6%
2014	29.4%	26.8%
2013	29.9%	26.9%
2012	30.4%	27%
2011	30.9%	27.1%
2010	31.3%	27.3%
2009	31.8%	27.5%
2008	32.2%	27.6%
2007	32.7%	27.9%
2006	33.1%	28.1%
2005	33.6%	28.5%
2004	34%	28.8%
2003	34.4%	29.2%
2002	34.8%	29.6%
2001	35.2%	30%
2000	35.6%	30.4%
1999	35.9%	30.8%
1998	36.3%	31.1%
1997	36.7%	31.5%
1996	37%	31.8%
1995	37.3%	32.1%
1994	37.6%	32.3%
1993	37.9%	32.5%
1992	38.1%	32.7%
1991	38.4%	32.9%
1990	38.6%	33%
1989	38.8%	33.2%
1988	38.9%	33.4%
1987	39.1%	33.6%
1986	39.2%	33.8%
1985	39.3%	34%
1984	39.4%	34.3%
1983	39.5%	34.6%
1982	39.6%	34.9%
1981	39.7%	35.2%
1980	39.8%	35.5%
1979	40%	35.9%
1978	40.1%	36.3%
1977	40.3%	36.7%
1976	40.5%	36.9%
1975	40.7%	37.1%
1974	40.8%	37.2%
1973	41%	37.3%
1972	41.1%	37.5%
1971	41.2%	37.6%
1970	41.4%	37.7%
1969	41.5%	37.8%
1968	41.5%	37.9%
1967	41.6%	38%
1966	41.7%	38%
1965	41.7%	38%
1964	41.6%	38%
1963	41.5%	37.8%
1962	41.2%	37.6%
1961	40.9%	37.5%
1960	40.6%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/india | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in India was 40.6% in 1960, 38.1% in 1992, and 24.6% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of India.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/india | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
Year	India	World
2023	80	197
2022	90	203
2021	155	242
2020	101	211
2019	101	207
2018	107	211
2017	113	215
2016	121	220
2015	129	228
2014	137	231
2013	148	235
2012	160	239
2011	173	247
2010	188	253
2009	205	258
2008	223	264
2007	240	269
2006	258	276
2005	277	283
2004	296	291
2003	313	301
2002	330	311
2001	349	321
2000	362	328
1999	378	340
1998	393	360
1997	407	358
1996	422	366
1995	437	371
1994	451	382
1993	467	389
1992	482	395
1991	498	395
1990	516	391
1989	538	401
1988	562	414
1987	592	429
1986	624	438
1985	658	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/india | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in India was 80 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.08% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 77.9% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	India	World
2023	2.77%	2.49%
2022	2.91%	2.59%
2021	3.06%	2.66%
2020	3.24%	2.75%
2019	3.43%	2.86%
2018	3.64%	2.97%
2017	3.87%	3.11%
2016	4.11%	3.22%
2015	4.36%	3.35%
2014	4.63%	3.48%
2013	4.91%	3.61%
2012	5.2%	3.77%
2011	5.5%	3.97%
2010	5.82%	4.11%
2009	6.14%	4.31%
2008	6.46%	4.5%
2007	6.79%	4.7%
2006	7.11%	4.92%
2005	7.44%	5.16%
2004	7.77%	5.43%
2003	8.11%	5.65%
2002	8.45%	5.94%
2001	8.8%	6.21%
2000	9.16%	6.48%
1999	9.53%	6.75%
1998	9.89%	7.05%
1997	10.3%	7.28%
1996	10.6%	7.52%
1995	11%	7.76%
1994	11.3%	7.98%
1993	11.6%	8.19%
1992	12%	8.46%
1991	12.3%	8.66%
1990	12.7%	8.81%
1989	13%	9.02%
1988	13.4%	9.31%
1987	13.8%	9.47%
1986	14.2%	9.81%
1985	14.6%	10.1%
1984	15%	10.4%
1983	15.5%	10.6%
1982	15.9%	10.8%
1981	16.4%	11%
1980	16.9%	11.4%
1979	17.5%	11.7%
1978	18%	12.2%
1977	18.6%	12.6%
1976	19.1%	13%
1975	19.6%	13.4%
1974	20.1%	13.8%
1973	20.5%	14.1%
1972	20.8%	14.5%
1971	21.2%	15.1%
1970	21.5%	15.2%
1969	21.7%	15.4%
1968	22%	15.6%
1967	22.2%	15.9%
1966	22.4%	16.1%
1965	22.7%	16.4%
1964	22.9%	16.6%
1963	23.2%	16.5%
1962	23.5%	16.7%
1961	23.8%	17%
1960	24.1%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/india | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in India was 27.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 2.77% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 91.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.