Female Fertility Rates on decline in Karnataka

Update: 1 more recent article on TimesofIndia.com

Fertility rate is on the decline in Karnataka. In a report published by Institute for social and economic change (ISEC), Bangalore, the total fertility rate (TFR) of the women in Karnataka has dropped to 2 children per woman.

Is Fertility rate of 2 children less?

Yes, since this is just an average taken across both rural and urban areas. And since the population growth rate in rural areas is very high, it simply implicates that the situation in urban areas is more worrisome than is stated by the figures. Secondly it does not take the mortality rates into account, so the real average can be even lesser.

But Fertility rate of 2 children sounds good!! Why is it a problem?

A fertility rate of 2 will mean that a woman will see 2 children in her life span. That means the woman and her spouse (2 people) have given birth to another 2 .If this is considered average, then it will mean the population will just be able to replicate itself effectively meaning 0% growth rate in population. So a rate less than 2 will mean negative population growth.

Negative growth rate... really?

Excerpts From wikipedia

Sub-replacement fertility is a total fertility rate (TFR) that (if sustained) leads to each new generation being less populous than the previous one in a given area. In developed countries sub-replacement fertility is any rate below approximately 2.1 children born per woman.

Ok, then why is the population of a city like Bangalore increased by 48 % over the last decade?

The population growth in Bangalore is attributed more to migration of people from other cities all across India and rural places in Karnataka. The figure of 48 % is total population growth, and not the growth in female fertility.

How are the individual female fertility rates in Bangalore?

As of now, I haven't come across any statistics related to fertility rates or IVF/IUI treatments in Bangalore. There are around 30 fertility clinics in Bangalore. Big players such as Nova are about to enter Bangalore landscape. The Indian IVF market is more than 1.5 billion dollars growing at more than 20 % yearly.