Elderly population rises in Punjab & HP, while Haryana stays younger

Chandigarh: Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are ageing faster than most states, while Haryana continues to retain a younger population profile. The latest Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2023 shows although all three states achieved replacement-level fertility, the demographic impact played out differently across the region.In 2023, 13.2% of Himachal's population was aged 60 and above, the third-highest share in the country after Kerala at 15.1% and Tamil Nadu at 14%. Punjab followed closely with 11.6%, making it the fourth-highest state in elderly population. Haryana, by contrast, reported only 8.5%, lower than the national average of 9.7%. Women outnumbered men among the elderly in all three states. In rural Himachal, 14.3% of women were over 60 compared to 12.5% of men, while in rural Punjab, 12.8% of women were elderly compared to 11.6% of men.At the other end of the demographic spectrum, the share of children aged 0–4 years was among the lowest in Punjab and Himachal. Punjab stood at 6%, Himachal at 6.3%, and Haryana significantly higher at 8.1%. In urban Himachal, the proportion dropped to just 4.8%, the lowest in India. By comparison, the national average was 8%, with Bihar recording the highest at 11.3%. Looking at the broader 0–14 years age group, Punjab reported 19.3%, Himachal 20.4%, and Haryana 24.5%, the last figure close to the national average of 24.2%.The working-age population (15-59 years) dominated across the region. Punjab led with 69.1%, followed by Haryana (67.1%) and Himachal (66.4%), all higher than the national average of 66.1%. Himachal's urban areas showed the highest concentration of working-age people at 71.1%. Birth and death indicators further underline demographic contrasts. Punjab and Himachal reported lower birth rates of 13.8 and 14.3 per 1,000, respectively, compared to Haryana at 18.7 and the national average of 18.4. Death rates were 7.3 in Punjab, 6.7 in Himachal, 6.8 in Haryana, and 6.4 nationally. The natural growth rate was lowest in Punjab at 6.4, followed by Himachal at 7.6, while Haryana, at 11.9, was closer to the national average of 12. Infant mortality was lowest in Himachal at 14, followed by Punjab at 17, both better than the national figure of 25, while Haryana recorded a higher rate of 26.Maternal health outcomes were broadly in line with national trends. Maternal mortality ratio (MMR) for India in 2021-23 stood at 88 per 1,00,000 live births, while Punjab recorded 90 and Haryana 89. The lifetime risk of maternal death was estimated at 0.16% in Punjab and 0.22% in Haryana.India's total fertility rate (TFR) stood at 1.9. Punjab reported a TFR of 1.5, Himachal Pradesh 1.6, and Haryana 1.9. Bihar recorded the highest TFR at 2.8, while Delhi had the lowest at 1.2. The attainment of replacement-level fertility across Punjab, Himachal, and Haryana means that while populations have stabilised.FOR GRAPHICPERCENTAGE OF POPULATION IN THE AGE-GROUP 0-4 YEARSPunjabTotal | 6Male | 5.9Female | 6RURALTotal | 6.3Male | 6.3Female | 6.3URBANTotal | 5.6Male | 5.5Female | 5.6HIMACHAL PRADESHTotal | 6.3Male | 6.5Female | 6.0RURALTotal | 6.4Male | 6.7Female | 6.1URBANTotal | 4.8Male | 4.8Female | 4.7HARYANATotal | 8.1Male | 8.3Female | 7.9RURALTotal | 8.5Male | 8.7Female | 8.3URBANTotal | 7.5Male | 7.7Female | 7.2INDIATotal | 8Male | 8.2Female | 7.7RURALTotal | 8.7Male | 9Female | 8.4URBANTotal | 6.6Male | 6.8Female | 6.4PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION IN THE AGE-GROUP 60 YEARSHIMACHALTotal | 13.2Male | 12.4Female | 14RURALTotal | 13.4Male | 12.5Female | 14.3URBANTotal | 11Male | 11Female | 10.9PUNJABTotal | 11.6Male | 11.1Female | 12.1RURALTotal | 12.2Male | 11.6Female | 12.8URBANTotal | 10.9Male | 10.5Female | 11.3HARYANATotal | 8.5Male | 8.1Female | 8.9RURALTotal | 8.5Male | 8Female | 9.1URBANTotal | 8.4Male | 8.2Female | 8.6INDIATotal | 9.7Male | 9.2Female | 10.2RURALTotal | 9.5Male | 8.9Female | 10.1URBANTotal | 10Male | 9.7Female | 10.4