India’s rise to becoming the most populated country shows clear signs of national development

India’s rise to becoming the most populated country shows clear signs of national development

Early last year, India overtook China to become the most populated country in the world, according to the United Nations. For decades, the two nations shared almost an identical fertility and birth rate, but China led with lower mortality rates, putting it at the top of the table for several years. In 2022, however, China’s fertility rates took a steep dive to fall to 1.3 births per woman, the lowest in the world.
In this scenario, it is expected that India has a climbing or, at the least, consistent birthrate. Over the last few decades, the country has witnessed a fall in birthrate instead. The highest recorded birthrate at any time was in 1970, wherein there were close to 40 births per 1,000 population. With a consistent decline in this figure, the record of 2024 currently stands at around 15 births per 1,000.

Also on the decline is the rate of population change in the country, which calculates the difference of population density of a country from the start of a year and the end of the same year to chart the dynamics of change. This change of population has halved over the years, the median percentage of change dropping to 0.9% in 2024 from 2.3% (1970).
On the other hand, there is a phenomenon that is on the rise in the Indian sub-continent – the use of contraceptives. The discussion of sexual health and contraception has been a taboo in the region for the longest time and the reasons for shying away from the topic vary, from religion to culture, or just plain misconception. However, in recent years the trendline has curved upwards, with the rates of usage almost quintupling in the last 50 years. According to research, the first significant spike was recorded between 1975 to 1980, specifically due to the government subsidising the promotion of contraceptives and becoming available via doctor’s prescription. The second surge in use came in 2020 which recorded a 10% rise in 5 years and this development can be attributed to many factors.

Education as a factor
Sex education, both as a point of discussion and an area of academic curriculum, is very much a taboo across India. Many states, such as Maharashtra and Rajasthan among others, have gone as far as to ban the subject being taught in schools, citing the negative impact it may have on the children’s ideologies. In the state of Jharkhand, a program called ‘Udaan’ was integrated into schools in 2015 as an effort to propagate the importance of sexual health and has educated over a million children on sexual awareness so far. But this initiative, while noble, did not make the impact across the country as it had intended, and its effect was largely isolated to Jharkhand.
Regardless of this subject-specific education, literacy rates have been climbing exponentially across the years in the region. The early 1980s saw literacy rates of the population at near 41%, indicating that literacy or education was largely an upper-class notion. The most recent count in 2022, the percentage has risen to a near double at 77%.
Education for women was even more out of reach in the past, with only 40% of educated women in the 1980s making up the count. Now, nearly the entire female youth is educated and literate. This increase allows girls to take charge of their body and their biological and sexual needs and requirements.















While the discussion of contraception and sexual safety is still mostly frowned upon, the modern generation empowered with rising literacy rates, are entering into the much-needed conversation of practicing safe sex and embracing the importance of contraceptives. Most women are no longer shying away from availing such methods of contraception and are prompt in addressing any medical concerns regarding the same.

Healthcare as a factor
The increase or development of healthcare facilities has not been remarkable as compared to the rate of literacy and access to quality education. Healthcare in India, unfortunately retains almost the same status as in the past with almost no significant jump in quality or quantity.
India’s healthcare system comprises of two specific types of health centres - primary and community. Primary health care involves affordable and basic medical facilities and is the first point of contact for rural areas due to their immediate and cheap access. The number of these medical care centres have not increased remarkably and have, as data shows, remained mainly stagnant from 2005 to 2019
Community Health Care offers high quality medical care and are comparatively pricier but have a wide range of pathological options and wide area of expertise within it. These are mainly found in urban locations and, in rural areas, citizens are only referred to the CHCs in cases of urgency or immediate attention. These centres have also not witnessed any drastic changes and have portrayed the same dynamics is its primary counterparts.
The number of these medical care centres have not increased remarkably and have, as data shows, remained mainly stagnant from 2005 to 2019
Rural states like Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka have shown a slight increase in PHCs as well as CHCs while many urban-dominated states, mainly Kerala, West Bengal, and Punjab among others, have shown a decrease in number of PHCs and a significant increase in CHCs.
True to their functions and offerings, the two types of medical care have flourished in their pertinent states. The near stagnancy in the number of PHCs shows the need of rural people and its functional importance in less connected areas of the region. CHCs, due to their high expenses, thrive in upper-market states and are more frequently accessed by the upper-class populations.














India’s flourishing data has shown a positive outlook on medical management and overall social development. A healthier and more educated citizenship has contributed to the proper management of the population growth, leading India to the top of the population table where it is predicted to be for at least the next 30 years.