What is the total fertility rate (children per woman) of India as per National Family Health Survey 2019-21?

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (b) 2.0

Explanation:

As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) conducted during 2019–21, India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) was recorded at 2.0 children per woman.

• This indicates a significant decline compared to previous surveys and shows that India has reached below the replacement level fertility, which is 2.1.
• A TFR of 2.0 means that, on average, a woman in India will give birth to 2 children in her lifetime.

Information Booster:

• Survey: NFHS-5 (2019–21)
• Conducted by: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), coordinated by IIPS (International Institute for Population Sciences), Mumbai
• TFR of India: 2.0
• Replacement Level Fertility: 2.1 (the level needed to maintain a stable population in the absence of migration)
• Urban-Rural Divide:
• Urban TFR: 1.6
• Rural TFR: 2.1
• Significance:
• Indicates population stabilization.
• Suggests improvements in family planning, education, and healthcare access.

Additional Knowledge:

• States with lowest TFR:
• Sikkim: 1.1
• Goa, Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands: around 1.3–1.6
• States with TFR above 2.1:
• Bihar: 3.0
• Meghalaya: 2.9
• Uttar Pradesh: 2.4
• These states need more focused intervention on reproductive health and family planning.