Andaman and Nicobar Islands Record India’s Lowest Fertility Rate in NFHS-6

India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands have emerged as the region with lowest fertility rate in India, this latest identification is based on to the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) which is released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). The Union Territory has recorded the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of just 0.9 and it is significantly below the replacement level of 2.1.

Andaman and Nicobar Registers The India’s Lowest Fertility Rate

The NFHS-6 data reveals that the Total Fertility Rate in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has dropped to just 0.9 and making it as the lowest in the country. This marks the decline from 1.3 in NFHS-5 and 1.4 in NFHS-4.

A fertility rate below the 2.1 means that the population is unable to replace itself over the period of time without migration. The current figure indicates that the Union Territory could experience the sustained population decline in the coming decades if the trend continues.

What Does a Fertility Rate of 0.9 Mean?

The Total Fertility Rate means that the average number of the children a woman is expected to have during her reproductive years.

A TFR of 2.1 is considered as the replacement level which ensuring that each generation replaces itself. When this rate falls significantly below this benchmark, the number of the births becomes insufficient to maintain the population stability.

With a fertility rate of just 0.9, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands stand out as the only Union Territory in India with the TFR below one and it is highlighting a major demographic shift.

Declining Child Population Signals Demographic Change

The survey shows the noticeable reduction in the share of the children within the population.

The proportion of the children under five years of age declined from 5.3% in NFHS-5 to 3.7% in NFHS-6. Similarly, the share of the children who are below 15 years fell from 20.8% to 17.5%.

These figures indicates that the fewer births and a shrinking younger population which could eventually affect the school enrolments, workforce availability and economic productivity.

Ageing Population on the Rise

While the number of the children is decreasing, the share of the elderly residents in the country is steadily increasing.

According to the NFHS-6, the population who are aged 60 years and above has risen from the 11% to 12.6%. This trend also suggests that the Union Territory is moving towards an ageing demographic structure.

An ageing population can creates the additional pressure on healthcare services, social welfare systems and pension support mechanisms while reducing the the proportion of working-age citizens.

Why Is Fertility Declining in Andaman and Nicobar?

The health officials and researchers have attributed there are many several factors for fall in the fertility rate.

According to the  local health authorities, many couples now prefers the smaller families and they often choose to have only one child.

Also the improved access to the modern family-planning methods has also contributed to the trend.

In addition, the higher levels of the education among women, better literacy rates, improved economic conditions and greater financial independence have influenced the family size decisions.

This islands are considered relatively well-educated with the low unemployment levels and these factors often correlate with the lower fertility rates.