Vital Statistics of India (2023): Declining Births, Rising Registration, and Persistent Gender Gaps
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | SDG 5: Gender Equality
Institutions: Ministry of Home Affairs
The Vital Statistics of India based on the Civil Registration System (CRS) Report for 2023 was released by the Registrar General of India (RGI). The report reveals a continuation of Indiaβs fertility transition, with 2.52 crore births registered in 2023, a slight decrease from the previous year. Registered deaths saw a marginal increase to 86.6 lakh (from 86.5 lakh in 2022). Overall birth registration achieved a high coverage of 98.4% in 2023.
However, the data reveals significant policy challenges:
Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB): Arunachal Pradesh reported the highest SRB at 1,085, while Jharkhand recorded the lowest at 899, followed closely by Bihar (900). This low SRB in several northern states indicates persistent gender bias at birth.
Institutional Births: The share of institutional births in total registered births stood at 74.7%.
Registration Timeliness: While overall registration is high, many large states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh still lag behind, with only 50β80% of registrations completed within the prescribed 21-day limit.
The reportβs findings are essential for demographic policy planning, confirming a declining natural growth rate. The persistent low SRB in large states demands targeted social and health interventions to address gender equity, while poor registration timeliness in certain states suggests the administrative infrastructure for the CRS needs urgent strengthening to ensure all citizens receive timely access to legal documentation and social welfare schemes.
What is the Civil Registration System (CRS)? β The Civil Registration System (CRS) is the statutory system for the continuous, permanent, and compulsory recording of vital events like births, deaths, and stillbirths under the Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969. Compiled by the Registrar General of India (RGI), the data generated by the CRS is invaluable for evidence-based planning, policy-making, and tracking programs related to primary health care, family planning, and maternal and child health.
Follow the full report here: Vital Statistics of India based on Civil Registration System (CRS) Report (2023)