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

* Seventy-two out of every 1,000 babies born die before their first birthday. Seven per cent of newborn infants perish within a year of birth, because of low birth weight, pre-maturity, malnutrition, diarrhoeal diseases, acute respiratory infections and malnutrition.
** 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