Delhi crowned India's most youthful state as Kerala ages fastest, reveals new data

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A new government report has revealed a significant demographic shift across India, with the national capital emerging as having the country's most youthful and economically active population.

The latest Sample Registration System Statistical Report for 2023, as reported by TOI, shows that Delhi leads all states and union territories with 70.8% of its populace falling within the working-age bracket of 15 to 59 years.

The data illustrates a profound transformation in India’s age structure over the past five decades. The proportion of the population aged 0-14 has sharply declined from over 41% in 1971 to just 24% in 2023.

Conversely, the economically active segment has swelled from approximately 53% to 66.1% in the same period. This indicates a potential demographic dividend for the nation.

The urban-rural divide is particularly striking. The report found that 68.6% of the urban population is within the working-age group, compared to 64.6% in rural areas.

As per the report, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh follow Delhi closely, with 70.2% and 70.1% of their populations, respectively, in the 15-59 age category.

At the other end of the spectrum, Bihar reports the highest percentage of young citizens. It leads the nation with 32% of its population aged 0-14 and has the smallest working-age cohort at just 60.1%.

In contrast, southern states show signs of an ageing population. Kerala has the highest proportion of elderly citizens, with 15.1% of its population aged 60 and above. Tamil Nadu (14%) and Himachal Pradesh (13.2%) follow.

Tamil Nadu also has the smallest share of children in the 0-4 age group, at just 5.7%.

A notable finding is the gender gap among the elderly. Nationally, 9.7% of the population is aged 60 or older. However, women outlive men, resulting in a higher percentage of elderly females (10.2%) compared to males (9.2%). This trend holds true in most states, with the exceptions of Assam and Jammu & Kashmir.

This disparity underscores growing concerns from civil society about the need for targeted policy initiatives for senior citizens, particularly women.

The data presents a picture of two Indias: a younger, more fertile north and a progressively older south. This has immense implications for national policy, workforce planning and resource allocation.