India's Population Dilemma: A Push for More Children Amidst Declining Birth Rates

Tue Oct 21 2025 13:52:04 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As India becomes the world's most populous nation, leaders in southern states advocate for increased birth rates to counteract ageing populations and potential political shifts.

Despite having 1.45 billion people, India is witnessing discussions around boosting birth rates, led by southern states concerned about declining fertility and demographic consequences. With policies shifting and calls to action for families to have more children, the nation's future balance between youth and elderly poses a significant challenge.

India has recently claimed the title of the world's most populated country, overtaking China with a staggering population of 1.45 billion. Surprisingly, amid this demographic milestone, some Indian leaders are now advocating for families to have more children, particularly in the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

These leaders are reacting to low fertility rates, currently at an average of two births per woman, which is significantly below the replacement level required to maintain the population. Andhra Pradesh is considering policies to motivate families to expand, such as incentives for larger families. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu is echoing these sentiments with calls for an increase in births to secure their future—concerns amplified by fears of losing parliamentary representation and federal funds due to dwindling population numbers.

Southern India, having achieved replacement-level fertility rates much earlier than the rest of the nation—like Kerala in 1988 and Tamil Nadu in 1993—now faces pressing concerns about an ageing populace. As India prepares for its first delimitation of electoral seats since 1976, southern states worry that northern states will benefit from more parliamentary seats due to their larger populations.

They face significant challenges ahead, as India's elderly population continues to grow, with increasing pressure on social security and healthcare systems, especially since over 40% of elderly citizens belong to the poorest wealth quintile. With rapid ageing projected to occur more quickly in India than in many developed nations, demographers stress the importance of early intervention to bolster health and fulfill the needs of this demographic.

Recently, Mohan Bhagwat, the head of a major nationalist organization in India, urged couples to consider having at least three children to avert demographic decline. However, experts argue that this push may be too late to counteract systemic societal changes that have led to lower birth rates.

While this call may resonate amidst the backdrop of global concerns about declining populations seen in countries like South Korea and Greece, analysts insist that simply encouraging higher birth rates in India will not suffice. Instead, addressing the needs of an ageing population and capitalizing on the youthful workforce are crucial steps for the nation’s future economic health and stability.