The country’s total fertility rate has increased for the first time in 50 years, a shift officials and public health experts say is linked to a nationwide shortage of contraceptives.
The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2025, published last month, showed that the fertility rate rose to 2.4 from 2.3 last year. The survey also found that both the use of contraceptives and access to modern contraception have declined, indicating what researchers described as a direct connection between reduced availability of contraceptives and the rise in fertility rates.
Government programmes had previously driven the fertility rate down to 2.3 in 2012 from 6.3 in 1975. The Population Policy 2012 set a goal of lowering the rate to 2.1 by 2015 by increasing the contraceptive prevalence rate to 72 percent.
Health officials warned that the current increase could continue if shortages persist and said efforts to restore supply and expand family planning services are underway.