Haryana has brought its infant mortality rate (IMR) down to the national average of 24 deaths per 1,000 live births, showed the Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2024, released by the Registrar General of India. The IMR according to the 2023 report was 26 in the state. The latest report also mentioned that the state continues to record a slightly higher death rate, especially among males, and marginally higher birth rate than the national figure.
The report shows that Haryana’s overall birth rate stood at 18.5 per 1,000 population against 18.7 of 2023, marginally higher than the national average of 18.3. However, the state’s rural birth rate of 19.7 was lower than the national rural average of 20.2 and and last year’s 20 of Haryana, indicating relatively better fertility control in villages. On the other hand, the urban birth rate was significantly higher at 16.6 compared to India’s urban average of 14.7. The previous year’s state figure stood at 16.8.
Meanwhile, neighboring Punjab continued to record a lower fertility level than Haryana as the former’s 12.9 birth rate remained among the lowest in north India.
The SRS bulletin also flagged concerns over Haryana’s mortality indicators as the figures reveal that the state’s death rate stood at 6.7 per 1,000 population against the national average of 6.4 and 6.8 (state) of the 2023, as Haryana has recorded higher death rates in both rural and urban areas — 7 and 6.3, respectively, in comparison to India’s rural and urban figures of 6.8 and 5.6.
Also the report reveals that the male mortality in Haryana was particularly higher as it stood at 7.8 compared to the national average of 7.1 and 8 (state figure) of the previous year, while the female death rate remained equal to the national figure at 5.6. Even in the rural parts of the state, the male death rate was measured at 8.4 against the national average of 7.6.
{{/usCountry}}Also the report reveals that the male mortality in Haryana was particularly higher as it stood at 7.8 compared to the national average of 7.1 and 8 (state figure) of the previous year, while the female death rate remained equal to the national figure at 5.6. Even in the rural parts of the state, the male death rate was measured at 8.4 against the national average of 7.6.
{{/usCountry}}Similarly, Haryana’s natural growth rate, which is measured as the difference between birth and death rates, stood at 11.8 per 1,000 population, almost identical to the national average of 11.9.
The 12.7 rural natural growth rate against 12.9 of the previous year in Haryana was lower than the 13.5 national rural figure, but the state’s 10.3 urban growth rate, equivalent to the previous year, was higher than nation’s 9, thus reflecting an uneven demographic transition pattern.
The state’s rural IMR was identical to the national rural figure at 27. The previous year’s state figure was 29. However, the urban IMR stood at 19, higher than the national urban average of 17. The state’s urban IMR in 2023 was 20. The male IMR stood at 25, while female IMR was marginally lower at 24 in the state. Nationally, the female IMR (25) remained slightly higher than male IMR (24).
According to the Registrar General of India, the report is based on a substantial sample coverage of 256 sample units and a covered population of nearly 2.87 lakh people, including 2.13 lakh rural and 74,000 urban population.
Virender Yadav, Haryana director of the National Health Mission, said that even as the overall performance of Haryana remains at par with the national average, there are still some sections where the state health department has been focusing. “There is a need to counter the infant mortality rate. Also the state health department is working to counter the declining fertility rate, especially in the urban areas, as most families have adopted the single child concept,” he added.