SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has pointed out India’s declining birth rate, emphasizing that the country’s fertility rate has dropped below the replacement level needed to sustain population stability. Musk highlighted that India’s birth rate has fallen below replacement, especially among the most educated individuals. Data from media outlet AF Post revealed that India’s total fertility rate has decreased below the critical threshold of 2.1 children per woman for the first time in the nation’s history.
The report also mentioned that Delhi’s fertility rate has declined to 1.2, which is lower than that of Finland. The trend of decreasing fertility rates in India was discussed in The Economist’s June 4 article, suggesting that India’s population might start shrinking in the upcoming years and at a faster rate than previously expected. The United Nations Population Fund’s 2025 State of World Population Report also highlighted this concerning trend.
According to the UNFPA report, India’s total fertility rate has dropped to 1.9 births per woman, below the replacement level of 2.1. This decline indicates that without migration, the population will eventually start decreasing as each generation becomes smaller than the previous one. Despite the decrease in fertility rates, India remains the most populous country globally, surpassing China in 2023.
The UNFPA report acknowledged India’s advancements in healthcare and education but also pointed out persistent challenges. The country still faces significant social and economic disparities, along with ongoing issues related to maternal mortality and gender inequality in various regions. Factors such as early marriages, teenage pregnancies, rising education levels, urbanization, increased female workforce participation, and changing family dynamics have all contributed to the declining fertility rates across India.
