International Institute for Population Sciences
Deemed to be University (An Autonomous Organization of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India)

Background: Demographic transition has been a crucial leading issue studied often by demographers. This study assesses and compares the fertility, mortality and demographic transition across states of India. Methods: The present study collated data from Sample-Registration-Systems (SRS), and SRS abridge life tables. Based on TFR and LEB for 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2020, we have estimated Indexes: Fertility-Transition (FTI), Mortality-Transition (MTI), and Demographic Transition (DTI) for all study periods. These indices were estimated on the lines of HDI index methodology and used for comparing fertility, mortality and demographic transition over the time period and across the states. Result: India achieved advanced Fertility Transition, almost 85% in 2020, whereas it was just at the stage of middle-FT 62% in 1990. For Mortality Transition (MT) also significantly declined up-to 70% high-MT stage from middle-MT in 2020, which was at low-MT in 1990. DTI scores were achieving a transition from low-DT (54%) in 1990 to high-DT (77%) in 2020. Among all states, Kerala was the only state at a high-DT level in even 1990; however, it has shifted to Advanced since 2000. While most western states (Maharashtra and Gujarat), southern (Tamil Nadu, Andhra-Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka) northern (Punjab, Himachal-Pradesh, J&K, and Haryana) were found High-DT in 2010. Conclusion: In India, fertility, mortality and demographic transition found significant variation across the states and over the past four periods. As a whole, India, with such ongoing family-planning programme and policies for fertility, mortality and the demographic transition, has performed well. Only particular focus should be given to the most populous states: Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which are still lagging behind in decades in terms of fertility and mortality transition.