by The computation of vital statistics such as birth, death, fertility, and reproduction rates is an important aspect of population census in India. These statistics provide valuable insights into the demographic characteristics of the population and help in policy planning and decision making.
Here is a brief overview of how these vital statistics are computed in India:
- Birth Rate: The birth rate is the number of live births per 1,000 population in a given year. It is computed using the following formula:
Birth Rate = (Number of live births in a year / Mid-year population) x 1000
- Death Rate: The death rate is the number of deaths per 1,000 population in a given year. It is computed using the following formula:
Death Rate = (Number of deaths in a year / Mid-year population) x 1000
- Fertility Rate: The fertility rate is the number of live births per 1,000 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in a given year. It is computed using the following formula:
Fertility Rate = (Number of live births in a year / Number of women of reproductive age) x 1000
- Reproduction Rate: The reproduction rate is the average number of daughters that would be born to a woman if she survives to the end of her reproductive life and bears children according to the prevailing age-specific fertility rates. It is computed using the following formula:
Reproduction Rate = Summation of age-specific fertility rates
In India, these vital statistics are computed based on the data collected during the population census, which is conducted every ten years. The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India is responsible for compiling and publishing these statistics at the national and state levels.
Here is a table showing the birth rate, death rate, fertility rate, and reproduction rate for India since 1901:
| Year | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | Death Rate (per 1,000) | Fertility Rate (per woman) | Reproduction Rate |
| 1901 | 48.2 | 42.1 | – | – |
| 1911 | 48.7 | 39.8 | – | – |
| 1921 | 49.3 | 35.3 | – | – |
| 1931 | 47.7 | 31.6 | – | – |
| 1941 | 45.9 | 28.3 | – | – |
| 1951 | 41.6 | 25.1 | – | – |
| 1961 | 40.8 | 20.8 | 5.9 | 1.13 |
| 1971 | 37.5 | 16.5 | 5.1 | 1.09 |
| 1981 | 34.5 | 12.9 | 4.5 | 1.06 |
| 1991 | 29.5 | 10.1 | 3.9 | 1.03 |
| 2001 | 25.0 | 8.3 | 3.0 | 1.01 |
| 2011 | 21.8 | 7.0 | 2.4 | 1.01 |
Note: Birth rate and death rate are reported as crude rates per 1,000 population, while fertility rate is reported as the number of children a woman would bear over her lifetime, and reproduction rate is the number of daughters born per woman. Data for 1901 to 1951 are from the Registrar General of India, while data for 1961 to 2011 are from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
