India's fertility rate falls to 1.9 — below replacement level — as women prioritise careers over children

India's latest Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report, released in May 2026 by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, shows the country's total fertility rate (TFR) has dropped to 1.9 children per woman — below the 2.1 benchmark required to sustain population at current levels. Experts cited in the report attribute the decline to better access to education and contraceptives, the rising financial cost of raising children, and a generational shift in which educated women in cities such as Bengaluru are choosing to prioritise careers and personal goals over motherhood. Consultant gynaecologist Jyotsna Mirlay told Al Jazeera that the traditional narrative telling women they must have children to feel complete 'has totally lost credibility' among the 30–40 age group.