World's most populous country no longer has enough babies to sustain itself (opens original article in a new tab)

India and Vietnam face declining birth rates below replacement levels, leading to demographic challenges and school closures, with similar trends observed in other middle-income countries.

• India's total fertility rate has dropped to 1.9, below the 2.1 needed for population stability.
• Schools in Tamil Nadu report no new admissions, with some temporarily suspended due to declining birth rates.
• Vietnam's fertility rate fell to 1.91 in 2024, its lowest ever, with projections of population shrinkage after 2054.