Bihar vs Karnataka: fertility, marriage age and wanted children

In SRS 2023, Bihar records 2.8 children per woman and Karnataka records 1.5.

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), women in Bihar had about 3.0 children against a wanted 2.3, and women in Karnataka had about 1.7 against a wanted 1.4.

41% of women aged 20 to 24 in Bihar were married before 18, compared with 21.3% in Karnataka.

Since 2003, the SRS figure fell by 1.4 in Bihar and fell by 0.8 in Karnataka.

Last updated:

Side by side

MeasureSourceBiharKarnataka
Children per womanSRS 20232.81.5
Children per womanNFHS-53.01.7
Wanted children per womanNFHS-52.31.4
Actual minus wantedNFHS-50.70.3
Women 20-24 married before 18*NFHS-541%21.3%
Women 15-19 who have begun childbearing*NFHS-511%5.4%
Median age at first marriage, women 25-29NFHS-517.720.2

* Rounded in source: one of these states' NFHS-5 state report publishes whole percents, the other's fact sheet one decimal.

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

Karnataka

Children per woman in Karnataka and all-India, SRS 2003 to 2023 Karnataka: 2.3 in 2003, 1.5 in 2023. All-India: 3.0 to 1.9. 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 200320132023 1.5 1.9
Karnataka All-India SRS, children per woman