Childfree in Odisha: what the numbers say

The SRS 2023 estimate for Odisha is 1.7 children per woman, below the all-India figure of 1.9.

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), women in Odisha had about 1.8 children each and said they would have 1.5 if every birth were wanted.

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Key numbers

Children per woman (NFHS-5)

1.8

NFHS-5, 2019-21

Wanted children per woman (NFHS-5)

1.5

NFHS-5, 2019-21

Women 20-24 married before 18

21%

Rounded in source.

NFHS-5, 2019-21

Women 15-19 who have begun childbearing

8%

Rounded in source.

NFHS-5, 2019-21

Median age at first marriage, women 25-29

20.2

Years.

NFHS-5, 2019-21

SRS figures are annual estimates from the Sample Registration System. NFHS-5 figures come from a household survey carried out in 2019-21. They are different instruments and are not combined.

Wanted vs actual

0123 Wanted 1.5 Actual 1.8

Women in Odisha have about 1.8 children; they say they would have 1.5 if every birth were wanted.

Wanted fertility is what women say they would have if every birth were wanted. It is a survey measure from NFHS-5, not a count of childfree people.

The trend, 2003 to 2023

Children per woman in Odisha and all-India, SRS 2003 to 2023 Odisha: 2.6 in 2003, 1.7 in 2023. All-India: 3.0 to 1.9. 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 20032008201320182023 1.7 1.9
Odisha All-India SRS, children per woman

In Odisha, children per woman fell from 2.6 in 2003 to 1.7 in 2023 (SRS). Across India it went from 3.0 to 1.9 over the same years. The highest value in the series is 2.7 (2004) and the lowest is 1.7 (2023).

Show the data table
Children per woman by year, SRS-based, Odisha and all-India
YearOdishaAll-India
20032.63.0
20042.72.9
20052.62.9
20062.52.8
20072.42.7
20082.42.6
20092.42.6
20102.32.5
20112.22.4
20122.12.4
20132.12.3
20142.12.3
20152.02.3
20162.02.3
20171.92.2
20181.92.2
20191.82.1
20201.82.0
20211.82.0
20221.72.0
20231.71.9

Source: SRS 2023 via RBI Handbook of Statistics on Indian States, Table 6. Years missing from the official table are left out, not filled in.

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Sources

Percentages for this state come from the NFHS-5 state report, which publishes whole numbers (rounded in source).

How we use these sources