In India, the crude birth rate in 1880 was 41.5 live births per thousand people, meaning that approximately 4.2 percent of the population had been born in that year. After an initial jump from 40.9 to 46.5 births per thousand between 1885 and 1890, India's crude birth rate remained consistent at just over 45 until the middle of the twentieth century. It was during the late 1940s that India gained its independence from the British Empire, and from this point the crude birth rate has gradually decreased from over 45 births per thousand people in 1945, to below twenty today. In 2020, it is expected to be just 18 births per thousand.

Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) in India was reported at 16.15 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Birth rate, crude - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2023, the crude birth rate in live births per 1,000 inhabitants in India stood at 16.15. Between 1960 and 2023, the figure dropped by 26.75, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Graph and download economic data for Crude Birth Rate for India (SPDYNCBRTININD) from 1960 to 2023 about birth, crude, India, and rate.

India: The number of crude births per 1000 people, per year: The latest value from 2022 is 16.27 births per 1000 people, a decline from 16.42 births per 1000 people in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 18.38 births per 1000 people, based on data from 195 countries. Historically, the average for India from 1960 to 2022 is 30.5 births per 1000 people. The minimum value, 16.27 births per 1000 people, was reached in 2022 while the maximum of 42.51 births per 1000 people was recorded in 1960.

Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Uttar Pradesh data was reported at 25.100 NA in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 25.400 NA for 2019. Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Uttar Pradesh data is updated yearly, averaging 28.700 NA from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2020, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 32.800 NA in 2000 and a record low of 25.100 NA in 2020. Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Uttar Pradesh data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAH002: Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: by States.

Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Punjab: Rural data was reported at 14.900 NA in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 15.000 NA for 2019. Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Punjab: Rural data is updated yearly, averaging 17.700 NA from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2020, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 23.700 NA in 1998 and a record low of 14.900 NA in 2020. Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Punjab: Rural data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAH002: Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: by States.

Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Tamil Nadu: Urban data was reported at 13.600 NA in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 14.000 NA for 2019. Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Tamil Nadu: Urban data is updated yearly, averaging 15.800 NA from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2020, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18.200 NA in 1999 and a record low of 13.600 NA in 2020. Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Tamil Nadu: Urban data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAH002: Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: by States.

The statistic displays the birth rate in India between 2009 and 2013. In 2009, the birth rate was around 19.8 births per 1,000 inhabitants, and has dropped slightly since. The fertility rate or the number of children born per woman in India can be found here.

In 2020, the northern state of Uttar Pradesh had the highest urban birth rate of 22.1 births per 1,000 inhabitants. It was followed by states of Bihar and Rajasthan. Among other states, Himachal Pradesh had the lowest birth rate in the urban areas that year.

India Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Urban data was reported at 17.000 NA in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 17.300 NA for 2015. India Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Urban data is updated yearly, averaging 23.100 NA from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2016, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 30.500 NA in 1972 and a record low of 17.000 NA in 2016. India Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Urban data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census of India. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.GAH001: Vital Statistics.

In fiscal year 2020, over ************ children in India were born through institutional deliveries, and a little over *** thousand were home births. The overall data shows a growing trend of institutional deliveries at hospitals or primary health centres, compared to ones at home. This indicated an improvement in India’s efforts at improving maternity care facilities.

Childbirth assistance

However, this does not guarantee proper care and attention to the millions of expectant mothers each year in this south-Asian country. In the first half of 2020, over *** thousand women in the state of Uttar Pradesh were reported to have given birth at home. Of these, only about ** thousand women delivered with the help of skilled birth attendants.

Decline in maternal mortality

In order to improve these metrics, the government has established the world’s largest network of grass root healthcare workers for pregnant women. This has helped reduce the maternal mortality rate by a considerable margin over the last two decades. From about *** pregnancy-related deaths for every 100,000 live births in 1995, the country’s maternal mortality ratio has gone down to *** in 2015.

Fertility rate, total (births per woman) in India was reported at 1.975 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Fertility rate, total (births per woman) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

India Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Rural data was reported at 22.100 NA in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 22.400 NA for 2015. India Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Rural data is updated yearly, averaging 30.500 NA from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2016, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 38.900 NA in 1971 and a record low of 22.100 NA in 2016. India Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Rural data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census of India. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.GAH001: Vital Statistics.

The birth rate, also known as the crude birth rate, is a key demographic indicator that measures the number of live births occurring in a population per 1,000 people annually. This vital statistic provides insight into population growth and is often used by policymakers, researchers, and governments to understand trends in fertility, family planning, and societal development. A high birth rate generally indicates a growing population, while a low birth rate may suggest declining growth or aging demographics. Factors influencing birth rates include cultural, economic, social, and environmental conditions. Countries with advanced healthcare systems and access to education often see lower birth rates, as families may opt for fewer children. In contrast, regions with limited access to family planning and healthcare may experience higher birth rates. Understanding the birth rate is crucial for managing resources, planning social services, and predicting future population changes on both national and global scales.

Sex ratio at birth (male births per female births) in India was reported at 1.073 in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Sex ratio at birth (male births per female births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Completeness of birth registration (%) in India was reported at 89.1 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Completeness of birth registration - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

In 2020, the state of Bihar had the highest rural birth rate of 26.2 births per 1,000 inhabitants. It was followed by Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Among the larger states and union territories, the southern state of Kerala had the lowest birth rate in the rural areas that year.

This layer shows State wise Birth rate, Death rate & Infant Mortality rate (2009 & 2019)Source of data: https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/economicsurvey/doc/stat/tab82.pdfNote: Andhra Pradesh includes Telangana for the year 2009 and Jammu & Kashmir includes Ladakh for the year 2019, Birth rate & death rate per 1000 population and IMR is infant deaths per 1000 live births.This web layer is offered by Esri India, for ArcGIS Online subscribers. If you have any questions or comments, please let us know via content@esri.in.

In 1992-93, India’s crude birth rate (CBR) was 28.5 births per 1,000 population. In 2019-21, this figure dropped dramatically to 17.1, representing a 40% decrease over the period. This decline has been steady and consistent across all survey years. The most substantial drop occurred between the 1992-93 and 1998-99 surveys when the CBR fell from 28.5 to 24.8 and recorded a decrease of 3.7 points. Subsequent surveys showed a continued decline from 23.1 in 2005-06, 19.0 in 2015-16, and finally 17.1 in 2019-21.