Diversity in human fertility in India beyond age 30: an index based temporal study

Fertility patterns among women aged 30 years and above have undergone substantial changes in India, reflecting the country's ongoing demographic transition. However, evidence on the diversity and distribution of age-specific fertility across states and urban-rural settings remains limited.

The study examines the diversity-index using age-specific fertility rates (ASFR) among women aged 30-49 years across 16 major Indian states and the Union Territory of Delhi, with particular focus on urban-rural differentials over five rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) from 1992-93 to 2019-21.

Regional and temporal variations in fertility diversity were evident across India. Southern and western states indicates the lower diversity indices, representing more concentrated fertility patterns, whereas northern and eastern states, particularly Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, showed greater fertility heterogeneity. Urban areas consistently demonstrated lower fertility diversity than rural areas. Overall, most states experienced a decline in fertility diversity over time, reflecting increasing concentration of childbearing within specific age groups.

The findings indicate that fertility beyond age 30 is becoming increasingly concentrated across India, although substantial regional and rural-urban disparities persist. These results highlight the need for region-specific reproductive health and family planning strategies and provide valuable evidence for understanding fertility transitions and informing demographic and women's reproductive health policies.