Total fertility rate dips, sharpest decline among Muslims - NFHS-5 data

In NFHS 5, the country’s overall fertility fell below the replacement level of two children per woman, falling from 2.2 in NFHS 4.

Fertility Rate in various communities

The country’s overall fertility fell below the replacement level of 2 children per woman, falling from 2.2 in NFHS 4. The Muslim community’s fertility rate remains the highest among all religious communities.

• Hindu community - 1.94, down from 2.1 in 2015-16. The Hindu community had a fertility rate of 3.3 in 1992-93.
• Christian community - 1.88,
• Sikh community - 1.61,
• Jain community - 1.6,
• Buddhist and neo-Buddhist community - 1.39 (lowest rate in the country)

Sharpest decline in Muslims

The community’s fertility rate dipped to 2.3 in 2019-2021 from 2.6 in 2015-16.

• All religious communities shown a decline in fertility
• The fall has been sharpest in the Muslim community, from 4.4 in NFHS 1(1992-93) to 2.3 in NFHS 5(2019-2021).
• The fertility gap between Hindus and Muslims is narrowing.
• High fertility is mostly a result of non-religious factors such as levels of literacy, employment, income and access to health services.
• The current gap between the two communities is because of Muslims’ disadvantage on these parameters.
• Over the past few decades, an emerging Muslim middle class realising the value of girls’ education and family planning.

Other findings of NFHS 5

• The percentage of Muslim women who have had no schooling reduced from 32 per cent in NFHS 4 (2015-16) to 21.9.
• Among Hindus - marginal change from 31.4 percent in NFHS 4 to 28.5 per cent in NFHS 5.
• The number of children per woman declined with women’s level of schooling.
• Women with no schooling have an average of 2.8 children, compared with 1.8 children for women with 12 or more years of schooling.
• The use of contraceptive pills is highest among Muslims, while the use of condoms is third highest among Muslims, after Sikhs and Jains.
• The total fertility rate in rural areas has declined from 3.7 children per woman in 1992-93 to 2.1 children in 2019-21.
• The corresponding decline among women in urban areas was from 2.7 children in 1992-93 to 1.6 children in 2019-21.

Conclusion

31 states and Union Territories, including all states in the south, west, and north regions, have fertility below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman.

Bihar and Meghalaya have the highest fertility rates in the country, while Sikkim and Andaman and Nicobar islands have the lowest.

Exam Track

Prelims Takeaway

• NFHS-5
• Fertility Rate
• Country’s Overall Fertility Rate