UNFPA State of the World Population 2025: India at 146.39 Crore
Why in the news
A new UN population report said India now has about 146.39 crore people and that its fertility rate had slipped under the level needed to keep the population stable.
Key facts: India
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (April 2025) | 146.39 crore, world’s most populous, above China’s 141.61 crore |
| Total fertility rate | 1.9, below replacement level 2.1 |
| Age 0-14 | 24% |
| Age 10-19 | 17% |
| Age 10-24 | 26% |
| Working age 15-64 | 68% |
| Age 65 and above | 7% |
| Life expectancy | Men 71 years, women 74 years |
- TFR in 2021 per SRS data was 2.0, so replacement level had been reached nationally.
- Replacement-level TFR is the average children per woman needed to hold population steady.
- Peak of 170 crore is projected in about 40 years, followed by a slow decline.
- The last Census was in 2011; the delayed 2021 Census is now due for completion by March 2027.
- India’s own 2019 projection had been 141.10 crore for 2025.
Global messages
- World population: 8.2 billion in 2025; growth is slowing but gaps between rich and poor countries persist.
- The real worry is unmet fertility goals, not overpopulation or underpopulation.
- Focus on reproductive agency: choosing when, how many, or whether to have children, backed by access to contraception, health care and education.
- Over 60% of people are aged 15-64, a demographic dividend chance, especially in low and middle income countries.
- The 65+ group is rising fast, needing health systems, pension reform and safety nets.
- Youth-heavy countries such as India and Nigeria need investment in skills, health and jobs.
- Women’s education and autonomy shape fertility; inequalities persist in contraception, maternal care and family planning.
Exam angle
- Publisher: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
- India’s TFR: 1.9; replacement level: 2.1.
- Census timeline: last in 2011, next to finish by March 2027.