India’s Birth & Death Rates Halve in 50 Years; Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) Drops to Record Low of 25 in 2023.
National
According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2023, India has achieved a major demographic milestone with both Crude Birth Rate (CBR) and Crude Death Rate (CDR) halving since 1971, while the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has fallen to its lowest-ever level of 25 per 1,000 live births.
- The Crude Birth Rate (CBR) declined from 36.9 in 1971 to 18.4 in 2023, marking a steep fall of more than 50% in five decades. In just the last 10 years, CBR dropped from 21.4 (2013) to 18.4 (2023).
- The Crude Death Rate (CDR) also showed sharp improvement, falling from 14.9 in 1971 to 6.4 in 2023. A decade earlier, in 2013, the death rate stood at 7.0, highlighting steady improvements in healthcare and life expectancy.
- The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), which measures the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births, dropped from a staggering 129 in 1971 to just 25 in 2023. Between 2013 and 2023 alone, IMR declined significantly from 40 to 25, reflecting stronger maternal and child health programs.
Main Point :- (i) Rural IMR remains higher at 28, while urban areas recorded a much lower 18, underlining healthcare disparities despite overall progress.
(ii) Bihar reported the highest birth rate at 25.8 per 1,000, while Andaman & Nicobar Islands recorded the lowest at 10.1. For death rates, Chhattisgarh was the highest at 8.3, whereas Chandigarh had the lowest at 4.0.
(iii) India’s TFR has fallen to 1.9 in 2023, below the replacement level of 2.1, indicating that India is moving toward population stabilization. Rural TFR has touched 2.1, while urban TFR is lower at 1.6.
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