New Delhi: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) released its 2025 State of World Population (SOWP) Report, titled “The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Agency in a Changing World,” on Tuesday, July 10, 2024, in New Delhi. This comprehensive report shifts the global narrative from panic over declining fertility rates to addressing the critical issue of unmet reproductive goals, emphasizing that millions worldwide, including in India, are unable to achieve their desired family size due to a lack of reproductive agency. With India’s population estimated at 1.46 billion in 2025, making it the world’s most populous nation, the report highlights the country’s unique challenges and opportunities in achieving reproductive freedom and demographic resilience.
The Real Fertility Crisis: A Shift in Perspective
The UNFPA report challenges the traditional discourse around population dynamics, dismissing concerns of “population explosion” or “population collapse” as misaligned with the true crisis: the inability of individuals to realize their fertility goals. According to the report, one in three adult Indians (36%) face unintended pregnancies, while 30% experience an unfulfilled desire to have either more or fewer children. A significant 23% of respondents reported facing both issues in their lifetime, a figure higher than in many of the 14 countries surveyed, including Brazil, Morocco, South Africa, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, Italy, Thailand, Hungary, the United States, Sweden, the Republic of Korea, and Germany.
Andrea M. Wojnar, UNFPA India Representative, emphasized that the solution lies in enhancing reproductive agency—the ability of individuals to make free and informed choices about sex, contraception, and family planning. “The real demographic dividend comes when everyone has the freedom and means to make informed reproductive choices,” Wojnar stated. “India has a unique opportunity to show how reproductive rights and economic prosperity can advance together.”
India’s Demographic Landscape
India’s population, projected to peak at 1.7 billion in the early 2060s before declining, according to United Nations estimates, reflects significant progress in reducing fertility rates. From an average of five children per woman in 1970, India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has dropped to 2.0 in 2025, aligning with replacement-level fertility (2.1 births per woman), the rate at which a population remains stable across generations. This decline is attributed to improved access to education and reproductive healthcare, which has significantly reduced maternal mortality and empowered millions of mothers to raise families and contribute to communities.
However, the report underscores a stark “high fertility and low fertility duality” across India. While 31 states and Union Territories have achieved below-replacement fertility, states like Bihar (TFR 3.0), Meghalaya (TFR 2.9), and Uttar Pradesh (TFR 2.7) continue to experience high fertility rates. In contrast, urban centers like Delhi, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu report sustained below-replacement fertility, driven by economic pressures, work-life conflicts, and higher education levels, particularly among middle-class women. Urban-rural gaps persist, with seven states yet to achieve replacement TFR in rural areas.
The report also highlights disparities in Total Wanted Fertility Rate (TWFR) versus actual TFR. For instance, in high-fertility states like Bihar (TFR 3.0; TWFR 2.2) and Meghalaya (TFR 2.9; TWFR 2.2), the gap between desired and actual fertility is significant, indicating unmet reproductive goals. In contrast, low-fertility states like Sikkim (TFR 1.0; TWFR 0.9–1.0) show smaller gaps, reflecting better alignment between aspirations and outcomes.
Barriers to Reproductive Freedom
The UNFPA-YouGov survey, conducted across 14 countries with 14,000 respondents, identifies multiple barriers to reproductive autonomy in India. Financial constraints are the most significant, with nearly four in ten Indians citing financial limitations as a barrier to achieving their desired family size. Job insecurity (21%), housing constraints (22%), and lack of reliable childcare (18%) further exacerbate the challenges of parenthood, making it feel out of reach for many.
Health-related barriers also play a critical role. Poor general well-being (15%), infertility (13%), and limited access to pregnancy-related care (14%) add strain to reproductive decision-making. The report notes that infertility, affecting an estimated 27.5 million Indian couples, remains under-prioritized. Public sector services for infertility are limited, and private care, often expensive, is largely confined to urban centers. The UNFPA recommends including infertility treatment under government health insurance schemes to address this gap.
Modern anxieties further complicate reproductive choices. Concerns about climate change, political instability, loneliness, and shifting gender norms influence decisions about when or whether to have children. Social pressures also play a role, with 19% of respondents reporting family or partner pressure to have fewer children than desired. Additionally, rising expectations around intensive parenting disproportionately burden women, reinforcing unequal caregiving responsibilities and delaying or deterring childbirth.
Adolescent Fertility and Health Risks
India’s adolescent fertility rate remains high at 14.1 per 1,000 women aged 15–19, compared to lower rates in countries like China (6.6), Sri Lanka (7.3), and Thailand (8.3). High adolescent fertility poses risks to maternal and child health and limits educational and employment opportunities for young women. The report emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to address this issue, including improved access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and education.
India’s Progress and Persistent Inequalities
India’s journey from a TFR of 5 in 1970 to 2 in 2025 reflects significant strides in education, healthcare, and gender empowerment. These advancements have led to a demographic dividend, with 68% of the population in the 15–64 age group in 2025, offering a window of economic opportunity. However, deep inequalities persist across states, castes, and income groups, limiting equitable access to reproductive rights.
The report highlights disparities in access to SRH services, with marginalized groups, including LGBTQIA+ individuals and unmarried persons, often excluded from mainstream healthcare systems. Rural-urban divides and socioeconomic barriers further exacerbate these challenges, underscoring the need for inclusive policies.
UNFPA’s Recommendations for India
To address India’s fertility crisis and promote demographic resilience, the UNFPA proposes a multi-faceted approach:
- Expanding SRH Services: Ensure universal access to contraception, safe abortion, maternal health, and infertility care to empower individuals to make informed reproductive choices.
- Removing Structural Barriers: Invest in affordable childcare, education, housing, and flexible work policies to alleviate financial and logistical constraints on parenthood.
- Promoting Inclusive Policies: Extend SRH services to LGBTQIA+ individuals, unmarried persons, and other marginalized groups to ensure equitable access.
- Improving Data and Accountability: Move beyond fertility rates to measure unmet family planning needs and bodily autonomy, ensuring policies address real-world challenges.
- Fostering Social Change: Support community initiatives to challenge stigma, promote health literacy, and address gender norms that hinder reproductive freedom.
Modern Challenges Shaping Reproductive Decisions
The report identifies a complex web of modern challenges influencing reproductive decisions in India. The growing loneliness pandemic, shifting relationship patterns, and difficulties in finding supportive partners contribute to delays in family planning. Social stigma around reproductive choices and entrenched gender norms further complicate decision-making. For instance, 41% of women and 33% of men in India consider two children ideal, while 13% of women and 14% of men prefer one child, and 6% of women and 4% of men opt for three. These preferences highlight the need for policies that support diverse family planning goals.
Understanding Key Population Terms
The report also clarifies essential population-related concepts:
- Positive Growth of Population: Occurs when the birth rate exceeds the death rate or when immigration increases population size.
- Negative Growth of Population: Results from a birth rate lower than the death rate or emigration.
- Density of Population: India’s population density was 382 persons per square kilometer in 2011, with Bihar recording the highest at 1,106 persons per square kilometer.
- Demographic Dividend: A falling dependency ratio (the proportion of dependents to the working-age population) can drive economic growth. India’s 68% working-age population in 2025 positions it to capitalize on this dividend.
- Total Fertility Rate (TFR): The average number of children a woman would bear if she lived to the end of her childbearing years, aligned with current age-specific fertility rates.
- Period of Population Explosion: In India, the 1951–1981 period saw an annual growth rate of 2.2%, marking rapid population increase.
About UNFPA
Founded in 1969 as the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, UNFPA was renamed the United Nations Population Fund in 1987, retaining its original acronym. Its core mission is to guarantee sexual and reproductive rights and choices for all, empowering women and young people to make informed decisions about their bodies and lives.
Conclusion
The UNFPA State of World Population 2025 Report reframes India’s demographic challenges as a matter of reproductive agency rather than population size. By addressing financial, structural, and social barriers, India can unlock its demographic dividend while ensuring that all individuals—regardless of region, caste, or identity—can freely and responsibly decide if, when, and how many children to have. As Wojnar aptly stated, “India has made significant progress, but the real crisis lies in the gaps that prevent millions from achieving their reproductive goals.” With targeted policies and inclusive approaches, India can lead the way in aligning reproductive rights with economic prosperity, setting a global example for demographic resilience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the main focus of the UNFPA State of World Population 2025 Report?
The UNFPA State of World Population (SOWP) 2025 Report, titled “The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Agency in a Changing World,” shifts the focus from concerns about overpopulation or underpopulation to the critical issue of unmet reproductive goals. It emphasizes that the real crisis is the inability of millions, including one in three adult Indians (36% facing unintended pregnancies and 30% with unfulfilled family size desires), to achieve their desired family size due to barriers like financial constraints, job insecurity, and lack of reproductive agency.
2. What is meant by India’s “high fertility and low fertility duality”?
India’s “high fertility and low fertility duality” refers to the significant variation in fertility rates across the country. States like Bihar (TFR 3.0), Meghalaya (TFR 2.9), and Uttar Pradesh (TFR 2.7) have high fertility rates, while urban centers like Delhi, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu have below-replacement fertility (TFR 2.0 or lower). This duality reflects disparities in economic opportunities, healthcare access, education, and social norms, with 31 states/UTs achieving below-replacement fertility, while rural areas in seven states lag behind.
3. What are the key barriers to reproductive freedom in India according to the report?
The report identifies multiple barriers to reproductive autonomy in India:
Modern Anxieties: Concerns about climate change, political instability, loneliness, and shifting gender norms influence decisions.
Financial Constraints: Nearly 4 in 10 Indians cite financial limitations as a major barrier to achieving desired family size.
Structural Challenges: Job insecurity (21%), housing constraints (22%), and lack of reliable childcare (18%) make parenthood challenging.
Health Barriers: Poor general well-being (15%), infertility (13%), and limited access to pregnancy-related care (14%) hinder reproductive choices.
Social Pressures: 19% face family or partner pressure to have fewer children.
4. What recommendations does the UNFPA provide for India to address the fertility crisis?
The UNFPA proposes a rights-based approach to enhance demographic resilience in India:
Foster Social Change: Support community initiatives to challenge stigma and promote health literacy.
Expand Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Services: Ensure universal access to contraception, safe abortion, maternal health, and infertility care.
Remove Structural Barriers: Invest in affordable childcare, education, housing, and flexible work policies.
Promote Inclusive Policies: Extend SRH services to LGBTQIA+ individuals, unmarried persons, and marginalized groups.
Improve Data and Accountability: Measure unmet family planning needs and bodily autonomy beyond fertility rates.
5. How has India’s fertility rate changed over time, and what challenges remain?
India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has declined significantly from 5 children per woman in 1970 to 2.0 in 2025, reaching replacement-level fertility (2.1). This progress is due to improved education and healthcare, reducing maternal mortality and empowering communities. However, challenges persist, including high adolescent fertility (14.1 per 1,000 women aged 15–19), disparities across states, castes, and income groups, and limited access to infertility care (affecting 27.5 million couples). Inclusive policies and equitable access to SRH services are needed to address these gaps.
