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

In SRS 2023, Bihar records 2.8 children per woman and Uttar Pradesh records 2.6.

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), women in Bihar had about 3.0 children against a wanted 2.3, and women in Uttar Pradesh had about 2.4 against a wanted 1.8.

41% of women aged 20 to 24 in Bihar were married before 18, compared with 15.8% in Uttar Pradesh.

Since 2003, the SRS figure fell by 1.4 in Bihar and fell by 1.8 in Uttar Pradesh.

Last updated:

Side by side

MeasureSourceBiharUttar Pradesh
Children per womanSRS 20232.82.6
Children per womanNFHS-53.02.4
Wanted children per womanNFHS-52.31.8
Actual minus wantedNFHS-50.70.6
Women 20-24 married before 18*NFHS-541%15.8%
Women 15-19 who have begun childbearing*NFHS-511%2.9%
Median age at first marriage, women 25-29NFHS-517.719.7

* 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

Uttar Pradesh

Children per woman in Uttar Pradesh and all-India, SRS 2003 to 2023 Uttar Pradesh: 4.4 in 2003, 2.6 in 2023. All-India: 3.0 to 1.9. 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 200320132023 2.6 1.9
Uttar Pradesh All-India SRS, children per woman