Fewer births, bigger questions for Tamil Nadu
While the decline in births reflects a broader demographic transition, with implications for the workforce and ageing population, experts say greater attention must be paid to education, childcare, social security, elderly care and standard of living
Tamil Nadu saw a 5.3% decrease in births from 8.47 lakh in 2024 to 8.02 lakh in 2025, according to Civil Registration System data. Experts attribute this decline to a long-term trend of declining fertility rates in the state. Former executive director of the National Health Systems Resource Centre, T. Sundararaman, noted that Tamil Nadu's total fertility rate has been below the replacement level of 2.1 for nearly two decades, leading to a population growth rate that is no longer maintained by population momentum.
S. Irudaya Rajan, chairperson of the International Institute for Migration and Development, said that Tamil Nadu is in a better position compared to Kerala, which recorded around three lakh births. He emphasized the need for investing in quality education over the next 20 to 25 years to create a healthy and productive population.
Independent research consultant in demography, Padmavathi Srinivasan, argued that the declining birth rate opens up opportunities to improve the standard of living and better access to the state's resources, suggesting the government should focus on education and employment.
While politicians might worry about the impact on the state's labor force, Srinivasan encouraged focusing on education and employment opportunities. She suggested that the state, known for its prosperity, should ensure that prosperity translates into better living standards. Professor Rajan dismissed the idea of financial incentives to reverse low fertility rates, stating that they have not worked in developed countries and may not be effective in Tamil Nadu either.
He believed that policies like increasing maternity leave for government employees may not be significant incentives.
Professor Sundararaman warned that the aging population, with more people aged 65 or above, will pose challenges for social security and elderly care. He advocated for innovative community-based efforts for elderly care and better utilization of funds for child care support, creches for working women, and primary education.
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