Bihar vs Gujarat: fertility, marriage age and wanted children

In SRS 2023, Bihar records 2.8 children per woman and Gujarat records 1.8.

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), women in Bihar had about 3.0 children against a wanted 2.3, and women in Gujarat had about 1.9 against a wanted 1.5.

41% of women aged 20 to 24 in Bihar were married before 18, compared with 22% in Gujarat.

Since 2003, the SRS figure fell by 1.4 in Bihar and fell by 1.0 in Gujarat.

Last updated:

Side by side

MeasureSourceBiharGujarat
Children per womanSRS 20232.81.8
Children per womanNFHS-53.01.9
Wanted children per womanNFHS-52.31.5
Actual minus wantedNFHS-50.70.4
Women 20-24 married before 18NFHS-541%22%
Women 15-19 who have begun childbearingNFHS-511%5%
Median age at first marriage, women 25-29NFHS-517.720.3

Trends since 2003 (SRS)

Bihar

Children per woman in Bihar and all-India, SRS 2003 to 2023 Bihar: 4.2 in 2003, 2.8 in 2023. All-India: 3.0 to 1.9. 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 200320132023 2.8 1.9
Bihar All-India SRS, children per woman

Gujarat

Children per woman in Gujarat and all-India, SRS 2003 to 2023 Gujarat: 2.8 in 2003, 1.8 in 2023. All-India: 3.0 to 1.9. 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 200320132023 1.8 1.9
Gujarat All-India SRS, children per woman