Bihar vs Tamil Nadu: fertility, marriage age and wanted children

In SRS 2023, Bihar records 2.8 children per woman and Tamil Nadu records 1.3.

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), women in Bihar had about 3.0 children against a wanted 2.3, and women in Tamil Nadu had about 1.8 against a wanted 1.6.

41% of women aged 20 to 24 in Bihar were married before 18, compared with 13% in Tamil Nadu.

Since 2003, the SRS figure fell by 1.4 in Bihar and fell by 0.6 in Tamil Nadu.

Last updated:

Side by side

MeasureSourceBiharTamil Nadu
Children per womanSRS 20232.81.3
Children per womanNFHS-53.01.8
Wanted children per womanNFHS-52.31.6
Actual minus wantedNFHS-50.70.2
Women 20-24 married before 18NFHS-541%13%
Women 15-19 who have begun childbearingNFHS-511%6%
Median age at first marriage, women 25-29NFHS-517.722.0

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

Tamil Nadu

Children per woman in Tamil Nadu and all-India, SRS 2003 to 2023 Tamil Nadu: 1.9 in 2003, 1.3 in 2023. All-India: 3.0 to 1.9. 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 200320132023 1.3 1.9
Tamil Nadu All-India SRS, children per woman