On World Population Day 2025, the Population Foundation of India joins the global community in embracing this year’s theme: “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world.” With over half the world’s population living in countries with fertility below replacement level, and others—like India—navigating regional disparities in reproductive access and demographic transition, the core issue is not the number of people—but how we invest in each life with dignity, rights, and opportunity.
“India’s population story is not a crisis—it’s a crossroads,” said Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director, Population Foundation of India. “We must stop oscillating between fears of ‘overpopulation’ and ‘population collapse,’ and instead focus on what really matters—gender equality, reproductive autonomy, and inclusive public investment.”
India, now the world’s most populous country, reflects the full spectrum of demographic realities—from high fertility and unmet need in states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, to concerns around ageing and below-replacement fertility in states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu. India’s Total Fertility Rate stands at 2.0, but over 24 million married women still lack access to the contraception they need. Early marriage, unsafe abortions, and limited male engagement in family planning continue to limit reproductive choices—while rising economic pressures and safety concerns make young people hesitate to start families.
The Population Foundation of India highlights three key areas of action:
- Realise the Gender Dividend
Policies and programmes must place women at the centre—not merely as childbearers, but as autonomous individuals shaping their own lives and communities. This means moving beyond female sterilisation to offering a full range of contraceptive options. Women also need to feel safe and be able to move freely to access services and opportunities. At the same time, men and boys must be part of the conversation, sharing responsibility for contraception, caregiving, and reproductive health. Raising boys to value equality, empathy, and responsibility is key to creating a society where women can truly make their own choices.
- Harness the Demographic Dividend
India is home to over 250 million young people—a powerful opportunity to drive inclusive growth. But this will only be possible through investments in education, skilling, sexual and reproductive health, and mental well-being—especially for adolescent girls, who often face compounded discrimination.
- Prepare for the Silver Dividend
By 2050, nearly 20% of India’s population will be over 60. We must prepare now with pensions, elder care services, healthcare, and infrastructure that recognises the value of older adults—not as dependents, but as contributors to families and communities.
“Family planning has long been seen as a woman’s responsibility,” added Muttreja. “But reproductive health is a shared responsibility. We need men to be part of the solution, not just as supporters, but as active participants. And we must ensure that women are safe—in homes, workplaces, and public spaces—to truly exercise choice.”
This World Population Day, Population Foundation of India calls on policymakers, civil society, and citizens to leave behind fear-based framings of population. Fertility decline should not trigger panic or pronatalist pressure—it should prompt investment in care systems, safety nets, and social equity.
If we centre people—especially women, youth, and the elderly—in our policies, population trends will not be a crisis, but a path to a more just and resilient future.
