From Baby Booms To Baby Busts: Why Countries Are Worried About Falling Birth Rates

Key points

• From Baby Booms To Baby Busts: Why Countries Are Worried About Falling Birth Rates Published By, Last Updated: May 20, 2026, 22:22 IST India’s situation is different.
• Although the country is now below replacement level, its population will continue growing for years because of demographic momentum.
• Rapid Read India, the world’s most populous country, has a fertility rate of 1.94, while China’s has dropped sharply to 1.02, among the lowest in the world.
• (IMAGE: REUTERS) ATTENTION EDITORS: PICTURE 23 OF 33 FOR PACKAGE 'SURROGACY IN INDIA' TO FIND ALL IMAGES SEARCH 'SURROGACY ANAND' The global population story is changing rapidly.
• Countries that once feared overpopulation are now struggling with falling birth rates, ageing societies and shrinking workforces.