Population Size:
- As of 2023, India's population is estimated to be over 1.42 billion, making it the most populous country in the world, surpassing China.
Growth Rate:
- Current Growth Rate: The annual population growth rate has slowed down in recent years, now at approximately 1% per year.
- Historical Trends: India experienced rapid population growth throughout the 20th century, particularly in the 1950s and 1960s, when the growth rate peaked at over 2%.
- Declining Fertility Rate: The Total Fertility Rate (TFR), which represents the average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime, has declined significantly from around 5.9 in the 1950s to about 2.0 children per woman in 2023. This decline has contributed to a reduced growth rate.
- Projected Growth: While India’s population is expected to continue growing for the next few decades, it is projected to peak around 1.6 billion by 2060, after which it will likely stabilize or begin to decline due to the ongoing drop in fertility rates.
Factors Contributing to Population Growth:
- High Birth Rate in the Past: Historically, a high birth rate coupled with declining mortality rates led to significant population growth.
- Improved Healthcare: Advances in healthcare have reduced infant mortality and increased life expectancy, contributing to population growth.
- Urbanization and Education: As urbanization increases and educational levels rise, especially for women, fertility rates are falling, helping slow the growth rate.
India’s population growth is slowing due to economic development, improvements in education, and family planning initiatives, but the country will remain densely populated and influential on global demographic trends for decades to come.
