| Total Fertility Rate: Total Fertility Rate (TFR) data (number of births a woman gives in her lifetime), a credible indicator to project population growth, shows that in India, against the preferred TFR of 2.19, the national average is hovering around 2.It is a decline from 2.2 in 2015 and 3.4 in 1991. This decline, according to the National Family Health Survey data, is across all religious groups. Between 1991 and 2015, this decline for Hindus was from 3.3 to 2.1, while that of Muslims was from 4.4 to 2.6. Today, the figures for Hindus and Muslims have further declined to 1.9 and 2.4 respectively. |
A recent study by three members of the PM-Economic Advisory Council in India, ‘Share of Religious Minorities – A Cross-Country Analysis,’ shows the trend of the radically changing demographics of the OECD countries.
- This study concludes that of the 35 out of the 38 OECD countries, 30 countries have witnessed a steep decline in the share of the majority religious denomination – Roman Catholics between 1950 to 2015.
- The study covers 167 countries and finds that the average reduction of majority populations globally during the period was 22 per cent.
- The decline was much steeper in the OECD countries where the average decline of the majority religious population was at 29 per cent.
- Data about Africa too is revealing. Animism or native religion was the dominant religion in 24 countries in Africa in 1950. By 2015, it was no longer a majority in any of these.
- Study says, India too has witnessed a reduction in the share of the majority religious denomination by 7.81 per cent.
- In India’s context, increase in the populations of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Buddhists whereas Parsis and Jains saw a decline.
Dig Deeper: Make a list of minorities in India and Revise article 29 and 30.
