The only way to harness demographics
The Tribune Editorial: India must create jobs, transform education into employability, ensure women’s participation and build social safety nets.
Updated At : 06:39 AM Sep 06, 2025 IST
Representational photo.
INDIA has crossed a historic threshold: its birth and death rates have halved in 40 years, according to government data for 2023. The crude birth rate has fallen from 36.9 per 1,000 in 1971 to 17.2 in 2023, while the crude death rate has dropped from 14.9 to 6.4. Infant mortality has declined from a staggering 129 per 1,000 live births in the early 1970s to 22 today, while the maternal mortality ratio has fallen to 97 per 1,00,000. These are victories of better healthcare, family planning and social well-being.
