- According to the State of World Population 2019 report,India’s population grew at an average of 1.2% annually between 2010 and 2019.It is more than double the annual population growth rate of China.The report was published by the United Nations Population Fund’s(UNFP).
- The report says that 27% of India’s population was in the age bracket of 0-14 years and 10-24 years while 67% of the country’s population was in the 15-64 age bracket.Further,6% of the country’s population was of the age 65 and above.
- The report adds that India’s total fertility rate per woman declined from 5.6 in 1969 to 3.7 in 1994 and 2.3 in 2019. India has also registered an improvement in life expectancy at birth.The life expectancy at birth in 1969 was 47 years,growing to 60 years in 1994 and 69 years in 2019.
- The report also noted there was a drop in the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) which was 488 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1994 and it came down to 174 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2015.MMR is defined as the proportion of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
- The findings on women aged between 15-49 years were published for the first time as part of the report.According to the report,the absence of reproductive and sexual rights all over the world has major and negative repercussions on women’s education,income and safety which leaves them unable to shape their own futures.Further,early marriage continues to remain an obstacle to female empowerment.
