India's Population Set for a Historic Stabilization by 2080: Experts

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India's population is on track to reach a historic milestone by 2080, with estimates suggesting it will stabilize at 1.8 or 1.9 billion. This significant development is attributed to a drastic decline in the total fertility rate (TFR), which has dropped from 3.5 in 2000 to 1.9 currently, below the replacement level. According to Anil Chandran, general secretary of the Indian Association for the Study of Population (IASP), the sharp decline in birth rates is largely due to increasing education and development levels, particularly among women. Greater access to education has empowered women to make informed decisions about marriage and childbearing, leading to smaller families. Additionally, the increased use of contraceptives and birth control measures has further accelerated the decline in fertility rates. Chandran noted that couples today are better equipped to exercise control over their reproductive choices, with many opting for late marriages and smaller families. Kerala, a state that achieved replacement-level fertility in the late 1980s, serves as a prime example of this trend. Its TFR has dropped to around 1.5, while West Bengal's TFR has plummeted to 1.3, making it one of the lowest in the country. While birth rates are falling, life expectancy continues to rise due to improvements in healthcare. However, this also brings new challenges, such as elderly care, as more people live beyond 60 and younger people migrate for work. Experts are already exploring solutions, including elderly day-care facilities, to address these emerging issues.