Daijiworld Media Network - News Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 28: In a concerning trend that points to a demographic decline, seven districts in Karnataka—including Udupi—have reported a higher number of deaths than births, according to the Centre’s latest Civil Registration System (CRS) data for 2021.
Dakshina Kannada (DK) fairs among 11 other districts in state which are graduating towards the alarm zone of mortalities considerably replacing births. This reversal of the natural demographic pattern is sounding alarm bells over the state's population stability.
Typically, birth rates outpace death rates. However, the data reveals that in these seven districts—Udupi, Hassan, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Ramanagara, Bengaluru Rural, and Chitradurga—deaths have exceeded births, indicating a substantial population decline. In 2019, only Chamarajanagar, Mandya, and Ramanagara had shown this trend.
In Dakshina Kannada, while the death rate has not yet exceeded the birth rate, the population growth is reported to be very minimal, placing it on the edge of demographic concern along with 10 other districts including Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Davanagere, Chikkamagaluru, Tumakuru, Mysuru, and Bengaluru Urban.
The situation contrasts sharply with the Kalaburagi region (Kalyana Karnataka), where districts like Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadagir, Raichur, and Koppal continue to report higher birth rates, maintaining demographic balance. However, other districts like Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Shivamogga, Ballari, Bagalkote, and Vijayapura are also approaching a demographic tipping point.
The central report, based on 2021 CRS data, indicates that this trend is not unique to Karnataka. Nationally, such patterns have been observed in 49 districts, of which a staggering 34 are in South India. Tamil Nadu alone accounts for 17 such districts, with Karnataka contributing seven, Kerala six, Puducherry two, and Andhra Pradesh and Telangana one each. Notably, in Tamil Nadu, no district has recorded a birth rate higher than the death rate.
This shrinking population trend in South India is in stark contrast with North India, where births continue to exceed deaths. Bihar, in particular, shows high birth rates in almost all its districts, while states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Jharkhand also report lower mortality rates and rising populations.
Experts are linking this demographic divergence to concerns over regional population imbalance. Recent statements by southern chief ministers such as N Chandrababu Naidu and M K Stalin have highlighted this issue, warning that declining populations in the south and surging numbers in the north could lead to long-term economic and policy disparities.
The Centre’s data also points to a greying population in the South, with an increase in deaths among the elderly as well as in the younger age group—a dual challenge that poses significant social and economic implications.