New Delhi | July11, 2025
There was a time when India’s growing population was considered the country’s biggest problem. Slogans like “Hum Do, Hamare Do” (We Two, Our Two) echoed across walls and radio channels. But times have changed — and so has the narrative.
According to the latest report by the United Nations, India’s population has officially crossed 1.46 billion, making it the most populous nation on the planet. But what’s surprising is this: India’s fertility rate — the number of children a woman has — is steadily declining.
Today, the average Indian woman is giving birth to just two children, which is right around the replacement level needed to maintain a stable population.
So, if fewer children are being born, why is the population still rising? What’s really happening behind these numbers?
This Isn’t Just About Statistics — It’s a Social Shift
There was a time when India was labelled a “population bomb.” Now, several Indian states — including Kerala, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Punjab — have fertility rates below replacement level.
This isn’t happening due to force or law — but through education, awareness, and personal choice. It’s a quiet revolution led by society itself.
India is now slowly moving towards population stability, something once thought to be decades away.
Women Are Leading This Change
Behind these shifting numbers is a bigger story — the story of India’s changing women:
- They’re more educated
- They’re joining the workforce
- They’re marrying later
- And they’re making thoughtful, conscious decisions about motherhood
Children are no longer just a tradition — they’re a planned responsibility.
India’s Population Will Peak by 2060 — Then Begin to Decline
Experts say this population growth is the result of demographic momentum — a situation where the current large number of young people continues to reproduce, even as fertility falls.
But once this momentum slows, India’s population will gradually start to decline — marking the beginning of a new era.
That means: the country that is the youngest today may one day become one of the oldest nations in terms of age demographics.
The Real Question Now: What Will We Do With So Many People?
- Can we create enough jobs for all?
- Will our education and healthcare systems be able to handle the pressure?
- And when the population begins to shrink, who will take care of the elderly?
India now needs smart policies, not just to control numbers — but to improve the quality of its population. Because in the long run, it’s not just about how many people we have, but what those people can do.
The Population Game Has Changed
This UN report isn’t just another document filled with stats — it’s a signal that India is entering a new demographic era.
The country is slowly shifting its focus from “how many” to “how capable” — and that’s where real progress begins.
