Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said that India’s long-term global dominance will depend on families choosing to have more children, echoing remarks made earlier by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat. Speaking on the subject, Naidu said that population strength would be a decisive factor in shaping India’s future over the next century. Referring to the Indian diaspora, he noted that nearly 4 to 5 crore Indians live abroad and have achieved high per capita incomes in several countries. Drawing from Bhagwat’s views, Naidu said every couple should ideally have three children, adding that such a demographic approach would ensure India’s continued growth and leadership beyond 2047.
Naidu reiterated Bhagwat’s argument that population trends play a crucial role in determining a nation’s long-term stability and strength. He said that if India remains focused on maintaining a healthy and sustainable population size, it would remain dominant for generations to come. According to him, the discussion is not just about numbers but about ensuring continuity, productivity, and national strength in the decades ahead.
During the RSS centenary celebrations earlier this year, Mohan Bhagwat had warned that communities whose fertility rate falls to 2.1 or below would gradually face extinction. He argued that to maintain demographic balance and social continuity, the birth rate must remain above three. Bhagwat also stressed the importance of marrying at the appropriate age and having three children, saying this helps ensure the physical and mental well-being of both parents and children. He acknowledged that while a growing population can be an asset, it can also become a burden if not managed responsibly.
Bhagwat’s remarks gained added significance as India recently overtook China to become the world’s most populous country. However, new demographic data suggests that the country may be approaching a turning point. According to a United Nations report released in June, India’s total fertility rate has now dropped below the replacement level.
The UNFPA’s 2025 State of World Population report, titled The Real Fertility Crisis, revealed that India’s fertility rate has declined to 1.9 births per woman. This is lower than the replacement rate of 2.1, which is required to maintain population levels without migration. The findings indicate that Indian women, on average, are now having fewer children than needed to sustain the population across generations.
Despite this decline, the report noted that India still has a large and youthful population base. Around 24 per cent of Indians are in the 0–14 age group, 17 per cent fall within the 10–19 bracket, and nearly 26 per cent are between 10 and 24 years of age. This demographic advantage, experts say, could continue to fuel economic growth if supported by adequate employment and social policies.
Reiterating his views at an event in Nagpur last December, Bhagwat had again urged families to have at least three children to prevent long-term population decline. He cited demographic studies to argue that population stability is essential for the survival and progress of any society. Referring to India’s population policy, he said no community should fall below the replacement threshold of 2.1, and since fractional births are impossible, three children per family remain the safest benchmark for sustaining demographic balance.
