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

In SRS 2023, Punjab records 1.5 children per woman and West Bengal records 1.3.

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

8.7% of women aged 20 to 24 in Punjab were married before 18, compared with 41.6% in West Bengal.

Since 2003, the SRS figure fell by 0.8 in Punjab and fell by 1.0 in West Bengal.

Last updated:

Side by side

MeasureSourcePunjabWest Bengal
Children per womanSRS 20231.51.3
Children per womanNFHS-51.61.6
Wanted children per womanNFHS-51.41.4
Actual minus wantedNFHS-50.20.2
Women 20-24 married before 18NFHS-58.7%41.6%
Women 15-19 who have begun childbearingNFHS-53.1%16.4%
Median age at first marriage, women 25-29NFHS-523.018.0

Trends since 2003 (SRS)

Punjab

Children per woman in Punjab and all-India, SRS 2003 to 2023 Punjab: 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
Punjab 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
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Sources

How we use these sources