Sample Registration System Report 2024: India's Fertility Rate Falls to 1.9, Infant Mortality Drops to 24

The Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report, 2024 has confirmed that India's pace of population growth is slowing considerably. The SRS is a large-scale demographic survey that provides reliable estimates of birth rate, death rate, fertility and infant mortality at the national and state level. Its latest figures show falling fertility and a low birth rate, pointing to a long-term demographic shift.

According to the report, India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has dropped to 1.9, below the replacement level of 2.1. The country's birth rate fell from 21 (per 1,000 population) in 2014 to 18.3 in 2024, while the death rate edged down from 6.7 to 6.4 over the same period. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has fallen to 24 (per 1,000 live births), and life expectancy at birth stands at about 72 years, reflecting better access to health care.

India still has a young population and can benefit from its demographic dividend. The median age is about 29.2 years, much lower than in China (about 40.2 years) and many European countries. In 2026, India has an estimated 370 to 380 million young people aged 15 to 29 years, roughly 27 per cent of the population, and more than 65 per cent of people are below 35 years of age. However, experts caution that the country is gradually moving from a phase of rapid population growth towards an ageing population and slower workforce expansion, which will require forward planning.

The report also highlights wide regional and rural-urban disparities. Performance in rural areas generally lags behind urban centres, and the southern states continue to do better than the northern states on demographic indicators. While improvements in child survival are real, some high-burden states in the north still have a much higher infant mortality rate, which means lagging states and areas will need targeted interventions in health care, awareness and education to bring about national convergence.