Telangana Fertility Rate Falls to 1.7
HYDERABAD: Telangana’s declining fertility rate is emerging as a demographic concern, with fewer couples opting to have children and many choosing to limit their families to a single child. Experts say delayed marriages and changing family preferences are contributing to the trend.
According to the National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6), released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on May 29, Telangana’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has fallen to 1.7, below both the replacement level of 2.1 and the national average of 1.9. The survey covered about 6.79 lakh households across 715 districts during 2023-24.
Fertility rate continues downward trend
The Total Fertility Rate measures the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime. A TFR of 2.1 is considered necessary to maintain a stable population.
Telangana’s fertility rate has remained below this level for years. It stood at 1.8 in NFHS-3 (2005-06) and remained unchanged in NFHS-4 and NFHS-5. The latest NFHS-6 data shows a further decline to 1.7.
Experts say the trend indicates that future generations may not fully replace the existing population, raising concerns over long-term demographic balance.
Ageing population may pose future challenges
Telangana currently benefits from a demographic dividend, with a large share of its population in the working-age group. However, experts warn that a prolonged decline in birth rates could reduce the number of young people entering the workforce in the coming decades.
At the same time, the proportion of elderly citizens is expected to rise. This could increase government spending on pensions, healthcare and elderly care services. Experts point to countries such as Japan, South Korea and Italy, where low fertility rates have contributed to ageing population challenges.
Fertility rates in southern states (NFHS-6, 2023-24)
| State | TFR |
|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | 1.5 |
| Karnataka | 1.8 |
| Kerala | 1.6 |
| Telangana | 1.7 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 1.7 |
| India | 1.9 |
Telangana follows wider southern trend
All southern states continue to record fertility rates below the replacement level. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh reported a TFR of 1.7 each, while Tamil Nadu recorded 1.5. Kerala and Karnataka stood at 1.6 and 1.8 respectively, indicating that the decline in birth rates is part of a broader regional trend.
