Elon Musk Raises Concerns Over Falling Birth Rate in India

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has expressed concern over India's declining birth rate. He warned that the Total Fertility Rate (TFR), particularly among educated populations, has fallen significantly. Posting on X, Musk said that this demographic shift began many years ago and noted that fertility levels have dropped below the replacement rate of 2.1 required to maintain a stable population. He shared a report by Agence France-Presse (AFP) on the issue.

According to government statistics, India's Total Fertility Rate has declined from 2.3 to 1.9 over the past decade. TFR refers to the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime. Demographers consider a TFR of 2.1 necessary for a population to replace itself without shrinking.

Data also show significant regional variations in fertility rates across India. Delhi has recorded one of the lowest TFRs at 1.2, while fertility rates have also dropped sharply in southern states, including Tamil Nadu. In contrast, states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan continue to maintain TFRs above 2.1.

Experts caution that if the trend continues, the proportion of elderly people in the population will increase, potentially placing greater pressure on social security systems, economic growth, and other key sectors.