Chandigarh: Punjab, which has a high elderly population, continues to record one of the lowest birth and fertility levels in the region. Its crude birth rate (CBR) remains below Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and the national average, pointing to slower population growth in the state, even as concerns persist over its sex ratio at birth.
Crude Birth Rate Trends
According to the Sample Registration System Statistical Report 2024, Punjab's CBR stood at 13.6 in 2024, well below the national average of 18.3. Haryana recorded a much higher CBR of 18.5, while Himachal Pradesh stood at 14.0. The rural-urban gap was also visible in Punjab, where the rural CBR was 14.2 and the urban CBR was 12.9. By comparison, Haryana reported 19.7 in rural areas and 16.6 in urban areas, while Himachal Pradesh recorded 14.4 and 9.4, respectively. At the all-India level, rural CBR was 20.2 and urban CBR was 14.7.
The decline over the past decade was also significant. Punjab's average CBR fell from 15.7 in 2012-14 to 13.9 in 2022-24, a decline of 11.5%. Haryana saw a decline of 11.7%, from 21.3 to 18.8, while Himachal Pradesh recorded a fall of 12.3%, from 16.2 to 14.2. The all-India decline was sharper at 12.7%, from 21.3 to 18.6.
Total Fertility Rate
Punjab also reported one of the lowest total fertility rates (TFR) among the four. Its TFR stood at 1.4 in 2024, below Haryana's 1.9, Himachal Pradesh's 1.5 and the national average of 1.9. In rural Punjab, the TFR was 1.5, while in urban areas it was 1.4. Haryana recorded 2.0 in rural areas and 1.6 in urban areas, while Himachal Pradesh recorded 1.5 and 1.0, respectively. India's rural TFR stood at 2.1 and urban TFR at 1.5.
General Fertility Rate
The general fertility rate also shows Punjab below Haryana and India. Punjab's GFR was 47.8 in 2024, compared with Haryana's 64.9, Himachal Pradesh's 48.7 and the all-India figure of 63.6. Rural Punjab and Himachal Pradesh both recorded a GFR of 50.5, while urban Punjab stood at 44.6.
Sex Ratio at Birth
The sex ratio at birth remains another key concern. Punjab recorded 910 females per 1,000 males at birth in 2022-24, lower than the all-India figure of 918 and Himachal Pradesh's 956, but higher than Haryana's 885. In rural Punjab, the sex ratio at birth was 903, while in urban areas it was 920.
Age Pattern of Fertility
The age pattern of fertility shows that Punjab's childbearing is relatively more delayed. Punjab's mean age of fertility was 29.2 years, higher than Haryana's 28.1, Himachal Pradesh's 28.7 and the national average of 28.4. Urban Punjab reported a mean age of fertility of 29.4 years.
