NEWS – India’s Infant Mortality Rate Falls to Record Low; Kerala, TN Achieve UN SDG Target

HIGHLIGHTS

National Performance

• IMR Decline: India’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) dropped to 25 per 1,000 live births in 2023, marking a 37.5% fall in the last decade (39 in 2014 → 28 in 2020 → 25 in 2023).
• UN SDG Goal: The UN target is 12 per 1,000 live births. Only Kerala (5) and Tamil Nadu (12) among big states have achieved it.

Best-Performing States

• Close to Target (IMR 14): Karnataka, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, and Maharashtra.
• Smaller States: Goa, Manipur, Nagaland, and Sikkim have met the goal. Mizoram (13), Himachal Pradesh, and Tripura (15) are nearing it.
• Union Territories: All six UTs have already crossed the milestone.

Poor-Performing States

• Highest IMR (37): Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh.
• Next in Line: Assam and Odisha (30), Jharkhand and Rajasthan (29).
• Improved Case: Bihar shows significant progress with IMR at 23, better than national average.

Birth & Death Rates Trends

• Decline in Birth Rate: From 36.9 (1971) → 18.4 (2023), with narrowing rural-urban gap.
• High Birth Rate States (2023): Bihar (25.8), Rajasthan (22.9), MP (22.5), Chhattisgarh (22.3).
• Rural vs Urban: Birth rate declined faster in urban areas (14%) than rural (11%) between 2013-2023.

Demographic Transition

• Active Population Rising: Share of working-age group (15–59 years) rose from 53.4% (1971-81) → 66.1% (1991-2023).
• Implication: India entering a demographic dividend phase with declining fertility and mortality.

Key Takeaway

While India has made steady progress in reducing IMR and birth rates, regional disparities remain stark. Addressing healthcare gaps in central and eastern states is critical to meet UN SDG targets nationwide by 2030.