Archive · 30 Jun 2025
Economist Warns India's Demographic Shifts Require Attention
India's population isn't as young as people think, according to economist Sanjeev Sanyal.
Birth rates are dropping, meaning fewer kids are being born.
He says cities aren't overcrowded because of too many people, but because of bad planning.
He's worried about what will happen if the number of kids keeps going down.
Some areas, like Kerala, have empty houses because fewer people are living there.
This could cause big problems for the country in the future.
Economist Sanjeev Sanyal says India is not the youngest country and its population is aging.
He notes fertility rates have declined across India, with some regions nearing concerning levels.
Sanyal challenges the idea that India's cities are overcrowded, attributing problems to poor management.
He warns population decline is hard to reverse once fertility falls below replacement levels.
Regional imbalances in population trends, such as in Kerala and Himachal, are becoming visible.
- Who
- Economist Sanjeev Sanyal, discussing demographic trends in India.
- What
- Economist Sanjeev Sanyal warns about India's aging population and declining fertility rates.
- When
- Sanyal has been raising concerns about this demographic issue for about 20 years.
- Where
- India, specifically mentioning regions like Kerala, Himachal, and West Bengal.
- Why
- To highlight the potential consequences of declining fertility rates and regional population imbalances.
Current Perception
Economist's Perspective
Urban Overcrowding
Current Perception
India's cities are overcrowded due to population growth.
Economist's Perspective
India's cities' problems are due to poor infrastructure.
- Total Fertility Rate (India)
- 1.9
- Urban Bengal Fertility Rate
- 1.2
- States with decreasing population
- Kerala, Himachal
- Expert
- Sanjeev Sanyal