Total fertility rate is a measure of the average number of children that would be born per woman if she was subject to the age-specific fertility rates of a given year throughout her reproductive life. It is calculated by summing the specific fertility rates of different age groups and multiplying by the class interval. The total fertility rate in India is currently 2.1 according to NFHS-5 data from 2019-2021. The total fertility rate is important as it indicates the average family size, replacement fertility needed for each generation to replace itself, and can help identify population growth or decline trends.

1. TOTAL
FERTILITY
RATE
P C H AN IKYA

2. TOTAL FERTILITY RATE
Total fertility rate (TFR) is sum of all age specific fertility
rate (ASFR) for all ages and is expressed per woman.
Thus, it is the average number of children a woman would
have during her reproductive age if she passes through the
current fertility rate. It is 2.1 (NFHS – 5 2019-2021) in
India.

3. It is calculated by summing up the ASFRs of
different age groups and multiplying the
sum with class interval.

4. TFR IMPORTANCE
∙ TFR gives the complete family size or total children
per woman.
∙ Replacement level fertility –
The average no of Children a woman would need to have, to
reproduce herself by bearing a daughter who survived to
childbearing age
∙ Identifying population growth or decline