Population Growth Rate
Growth rate expected to exceed China's by 2010
| Crude Birth Rate 27.00 per 1,000 annually |
Crude Death Rate 9.00 per 1,000 annually |
Infant Mortality
Rate* 72 per 1,000 |
| Life expectancy 62 years |
Rate of natural
increase 1.80 |
Total Fertility
Rate** 3.30 |
** average number of children born to a woman during her lifetime.
Note:
- Only nine states or union territories in the country have a TFR less
than or equal to the desired 2.1: Eleven have a total fertility rate of
more than 2.1 but less than 3.0. At least 12 have a total fertility rate
of 3.0 or over.
- Eighteen per cent of births are to teenage women aged between 15 and
19.
- Forty-nine per cent of women give birth for the first time by age 20.
- The average age at first marriage (or
informal union) is 20.
- Forty-three per cent of married women are using modern methods of contraception.
Decadal growth rate (adjusted) by religious communities
| Religious Communities | 1961-71 | 1971-81 | 1981-91 | 1991-2001 |
| All | 24.8 | 24.8 | 23.8 | 21.5 |
| Hindus | 23.4 | 24.2 | 22.8 | 20 |
| Muslims | 31.2 | 30.8 | 32.9 | 29.3 |
| Christians | 36 | 19.2 | 17 | 22.1 |
| Buddhists | 17 | 25.4 | 36 | 23.2 |
| Jains | 28.5 | 23.7 | 4 | 26 |
| Others | 97.7 | 26.6 | 13.2 | 111.3 |