Context:

According to the recent reports of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), India’s population is estimated to have reached 1.44 billion, with 24 percent in the 0-14 age bracket.

More on News: 

• The UNFPA’s State of World Population report 2024 “Interwoven Lives, Threads of Hope: Ending Inequalities in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights” revealed that India’s population is estimated to double in 77 years.

Key Highlights of the Report: 

• Population: India leads globally with an estimated population of 1.44 billion, followed by China at 1.425 billion, according to the report.
  • India’s population was recorded at 1.21 billion during the last census, conducted in 2011.
• Demographic Profile: The report provided a demographic breakdown that shows around 24% of the population is aged 0-14, 17% are aged 10-19, and 26% fall in the 10-24 age range. 
  • The largest demographic, 68%, is the working-age group of 15-64, while seniors aged 65 and above constitute 7% of the population.
  • Life expectancy at birth is 71 years for men and 74 years for women.
• Social Issues: The prevalence of child marriage remains high with 23% of marriages involving underage individuals between 2006-2023.
• Health Issues: The report highlights health issues, specifically of women
  • Maternal Health: Maternal mortality rates have significantly decreased but still present vast inequities across different regions. 
    • The report highlighted that out of India’s 640 districts nearly a third achieved the sustainable development goal of reducing maternal mortality ratio below 70 per 100,000 live births, however 114 districts still have ratios of 210 or more.
    • The highest MMR of 1,671 per 100,000 births is seen in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh, a rural area with a high proportion of indigenous peoples.
  • Healthcare Access: Marginalized groups, including women with disabilities, migrants and refugees, ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ and those from lower castes like Dalits, often have limited access to necessary health services. 
    • For instance, nearly half of Dalit women do not receive antenatal care.
• Socioeconomic Challenges
  • Gender-Based Violence: Women with disabilities are significantly more likely to experience gender-based violence, up to 10 times more than those without disabilities.
    • Furthermore, the violence is aggravated by caste based discrimination. Dalit women, have high rates of gender-based violence are considered a means of oppression and control.
  • Economic Dependency: Economic constraints force many women into cycles of poverty, exacerbating poor health outcomes and continued reliance on inadequate healthcare.
  • Increased Vulnerability: The vulnerability of women is further compounded by climate change, humanitarian crises, wards and mass migration, which have a disproportionate impact on women.
• Legal and Social Protections: The report advocates for legal protections to combat caste-based discrimination in workplaces and educational institutions, highlighting the need for policies that specifically protect vulnerable women from systemic injustices.
• Global Health Trends: Globally, progress on key health measures for women is slowing or completely stalled, with 800 women still dying daily from childbirth-related causes and many lacking autonomy over their sexual and reproductive decisions.
• • In 40 percent of countries with data, the report said women’s bodily autonomy is diminishing.
• Inequitable health benefits in India: India has made progress in healthcare accessibility and quality. However these benefits have been cornered by wealthier women and those belonging to ethnic groups that already had better access to health care.