Gujarat vs West Bengal: fertility, marriage age and wanted children

In SRS 2023, Gujarat records 1.8 children per woman and West Bengal records 1.3.

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), women in Gujarat had about 1.9 children against a wanted 1.5, and women in West Bengal had about 1.6 against a wanted 1.4.

22% of women aged 20 to 24 in Gujarat were married before 18, compared with 41.6% in West Bengal.

Since 2003, the SRS figure fell by 1.0 in Gujarat and fell by 1.0 in West Bengal.

Last updated:

Side by side

MeasureSourceGujaratWest Bengal
Children per womanSRS 20231.81.3
Children per womanNFHS-51.91.6
Wanted children per womanNFHS-51.51.4
Actual minus wantedNFHS-50.40.2
Women 20-24 married before 18*NFHS-522%41.6%
Women 15-19 who have begun childbearing*NFHS-55%16.4%
Median age at first marriage, women 25-29NFHS-520.318.0

* 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)

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

West Bengal

Children per woman in West Bengal and all-India, SRS 2003 to 2023 West Bengal: 2.3 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
West Bengal All-India SRS, children per woman