Bihar vs Madhya Pradesh: fertility, marriage age and wanted children

In SRS 2023, Bihar records 2.8 children per woman and Madhya Pradesh records 2.4.

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), women in Bihar had about 3.0 children against a wanted 2.3, and women in Madhya Pradesh had about 2.0 against a wanted 1.6.

41% of women aged 20 to 24 in Bihar were married before 18, compared with 23% in Madhya Pradesh.

Since 2003, the SRS figure fell by 1.4 in Bihar and fell by 1.4 in Madhya Pradesh.

Last updated:

Side by side

MeasureSourceBiharMadhya Pradesh
Children per womanSRS 20232.82.4
Children per womanNFHS-53.02.0
Wanted children per womanNFHS-52.31.6
Actual minus wantedNFHS-50.70.4
Women 20-24 married before 18NFHS-541%23%
Women 15-19 who have begun childbearingNFHS-511%5%
Median age at first marriage, women 25-29NFHS-517.719.1

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

Madhya Pradesh

Children per woman in Madhya Pradesh and all-India, SRS 2003 to 2023 Madhya Pradesh: 3.8 in 2003, 2.4 in 2023. All-India: 3.0 to 1.9. 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 200320132023 2.4 1.9
Madhya Pradesh All-India SRS, children per woman