Abstract
This paper examines fertility differentials by religion in India. It uses data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS 4) conducted in 2015-2016. The analysis of data has done by using bi-variate, and multivariate analyses to observe the association between each of the dependent and independent variables. The analysis reveals that Muslim religion is having higher fertility as compared to Hindu, Christian, Buddhist/Neo-Buddhist and other religions. The socioeconomic status does not necessarily have a negative impact on fertility, as is generally the case, implying that the effects of socioeconomic status may vary according to the religious context. The results indicate that religion has an effect on fertility differentials in India. The Muslims were found to have the highest fertility followed by Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, and Sikhs; Jains exhibited the lowest fertility. Religious fertility differentials exist even after controlling the effects of socio-economic development. There is a negative relationship between education and fertility. Multivariate analysis on fertility show that religious fertility differentials exist even after controlling for the other socioeconomic and demographic variables.
Presenters
Dewaram NagdeveProfessor, Fertility and Social Demography, International Institute for Population Sciences Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Religion, Fertility, Family planning, Differentials, India
