The total fertility rate (TFR), the typical number of children a woman would bear by the end of her reproductive years, declined in India in the last few decades. According to the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), the TFR has reduced from 2.2 kids in 2015-16 to 2.0 children in 2019-21. It was 3.4 kids back in 1992-93 when the first round of the survey was conducted.

The amount of children required to replace the current population is 2 per woman, the fertility rate has reduced to below replacement levels in India. There are several factors affecting the number of children a couple chooses to bear, economic condition, education level, infertility, and older age of conceiving are among few.

According to the report, the fertility rate and household income were indirectly proportional. In a wealthy population, the TFR was 1.6 children. But, for the women who lean towards poverty, the number was 2.6 kids, for example, women in the poorer family have on average 1.0 more kids than women in the rich household.

Some other interesting facts come forward in the study. 

Muslims have the highest fertility rate among all the communities in India. It is about 2.3 kids per woman, although it has declined from 4.4 which was recorded in 1992.

82 per cent of women in India can refuse to engage in sex with their husbands.

“More than four in five women (82 per cent) can say no to their husband if they do not want to have sexual intercourse. Women are most likely to be able to say no in Goa (92 per cent) and least likely to be able to say no in Arunachal Pradesh (63 per cent) and Jammu & Kashmir (65 per cent),” states the NFHS-5 report, released last week by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. 

The survey has found the rate of employment among married women to be at 32 per cent — a marginal rise from the 31 per cent recorded in the NFHS-4 survey which reflected the situation in 2015-16.

“In India, only 32 per cent of currently married women aged 15-49 are employed, compared with 98 per cent of currently married men aged 15-49,” it states.

“Among employed women, 83 per cent earn cash, including 8 per cent whose earnings are in both cash and kind. Fifteen per cent of employed women are not paid for the work they do. By comparison, 95 per cent of employed men earn cash, and 4 per cent do not receive any payment for their work,” it reveals.

66% of men think women are justifiable to refuse sex to their husband, if she is tired or if any quarrel is going on between them.