United Nations Population Fund

United Nations Population Fund : Recently, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in its State of World Population 2025: The Real Fertility Crisis report, estimated that India’s population has reached 146 crore as of April 2025.

o This surpasses China’s 141 crore, officially confirming India as the world’s most populous country.

• Key Findings: India’s population is projected to peak at 170 crore in the next 40 years before beginning to decline, consistent with Indian demographers’ projections from 2019.

o Total Fertility Rate (TFR) Falls Below Replacement Level : India’s TFR has declined to 1.9, below the replacement level of 2.1, indicating a move toward population stabilization.

o The report highlights the “real fertility crisis” as the inability of individuals to achieve desired family size, rather than overpopulation.

• About UNFPA : Founded in 1969 as the United Nations Fund for Population Activities.

o In 1987, it was renamed the United Nations Population Fund, while retaining the original acronym UNFPA.

o Core Mission: Promotes sexual and reproductive health and rights for all individuals.

ü Focuses on empowering women and youth to make informed decisions about their bodies and reproductive choices.