Components of fertility change in India and in its major states during 1972-1992.

This study examined trends and differences in the total fertility rate (TFR) during 1972-92 in India nationally and for major states. Data were obtained from the Sample Registration System. The methods of Retherfod and Rele (1989) were used to decompose the change in TFR due to changes in nuptiality and in marital fertility (MF). Findings indicate that for 1972 1984 and 1992 TFR declined by 31% in rural areas and by 39% in urban areas. In many states rural and urban TFR declines were greater during 1984-92. In 1972 in states with a higher TFR than the national average the higher TFR is explained by higher nuptiality and higher MF than the national average. Both factors may be due to low contraceptive use and low marriage age. When state fertility differences were higher by under 1 point MF accounted for the higher fertility. In 1972 in urban areas and in states with higher TFR than the national average the extent of differences in MF accounting for higher fertility varied between the high fertility states. In 1992 only 3 states had higher fertility than the national average for rural TFR; urban TFR was higher in all northern states. During 1972-92 in rural India 87% of the total decline of 1.7 points in the TFR was due to MF; 13% was due to the proportion of women married. For urban areas the change in TFR was mainly due to MF with some outliers. Of the total change in TFR during 1972-92 that was due to the proportion of women married most was accounted for by women aged 15-19 years and 20-24 years.