Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji
Panaji, Sep 10: Goa’s crude birth rate (CBR) has fallen to 10.8, making it the second lowest in India, according to the Sample Registration System Statistical Report, 2023. The figure is just over half the national CBR of 18.4 and down from 11.7 in 2021, indicating a slowdown in population growth and an ageing population.
Among smaller states and UTs, Meghalaya recorded the highest CBR at 22.7, followed by Arunachal Pradesh (16.6), while Andaman & Nicobar Islands had the lowest at 10.1. Unlike the national trend, Goa’s urban areas (11) saw a slightly higher birth rate than rural areas (10.4).
The report also highlighted Goa’s higher crude death rate (CDR) of 6.8, the highest among smaller states, reflecting the impact of diseases such as heart ailments, cancers, and diabetes, which account for over 47% of natural deaths in the state.
On a positive note, Goa fared well on infant mortality, with a rate of 6, significantly lower than the national average of 25.