Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2024: India’s Demographic Transition and Fertility Trends

The Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2024 released by the Office of the Registrar General of India highlights India’s continuing demographic transition.

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Key Findings of Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2024

• Birth Rate: India’s Crude Birth Rate (CBR) declined marginally from 18.4 (2023) to 18.3 (2024).
  • Rural birth rate remained higher (20.2) than urban areas (14.7).
  • Sex Ratio at Birth improved slightly to 918 girls per 1000 boys (2022–24 average).
• Fertility Trends: India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) remained at 1.9, below the replacement level of 2.1 for the fifth consecutive year.
  • Urban fertility rate remained low at 1.5, while rural TFR stayed at replacement level (2.1).
  • Declining fertility reflects urbanisation, women’s education and changing socio-economic patterns.
• Death Rate: Crude Death Rate (CDR) remained unchanged at 6.4 in 2024, still above pre-Covid levels.
  • Rural death rate (6.8) remained higher than urban death rate (5.6).
  • Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) improved slightly from 25 to 24 deaths per 1000 live births.
• Leading Causes of Death: 
  • Non-communicable diseases accounted for nearly 60% of deaths.
  • Cardiovascular diseases remained the leading cause of mortality, increasing to 32.1% of total deaths.
  • Deaths from respiratory infections declined but remained above pre-pandemic levels.

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Conclusion

India’s demographic transition reflects declining fertility and improving health indicators, necessitating stronger healthcare, elderly support, gender equity and human capital-focused policy interventions.

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