Recently the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released the ‘Youth in India 2022’ report.
The Report highlights that the population share of the youth in India is now declining and the share of the elderly population is expected to increase during 2021-2036.
Key Points of the Report
The Report mentioned that the declining fertility rate has resulted in an increasing concentration of the population of working age (25-64 years).
The youth population is expected to decline in the latter half of the 2021-2036 period.
The total youth population was around 4 million in 2021 and it is projected to decrease to 345.5 million by 2036.
The Proportion of youth to the total population had increased from 6% in 1991 to 27.9% in 2016 and it is projected to decline and reach 22.7 % by the year 2036.
The proportion of the elderly population was 9.2% in 2016 and it is projected to reach 14.9% in 2036.
States such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh would see a higher elderly population than the youth by 2036.
Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, are projected to have over half (52%) of the country’s youth by 2036.
Concern
· A greater proportion of the elderly in the population would create a demand for better healthcare facilities and the development of welfare schemes/programmes for elderly people.
· An increase in the share of the elderly population will put extra pressure on social security and public welfare systems.