The population growth rate in Kerala is the lowest among major Indian states. Which one of the following is the most widely accepted reason for this ?

Kerala’s unusually low population growth is widely attributed to its sustained public investments in human development—especially education and health—rather than solely to family‑planning programs or atypical age‑structure. Census-based analysis shows Kerala recorded the lowest decadal growth (9.4%) among Indian states [1]. Studies note that southern states’ fertility declines, including Kerala’s, were driven by increases in literacy (particularly female literacy) and broader social development, not just clinical family‑planning drives [2]. Official assessments of Kerala emphasize vigorous public action and financial commitment focused on universal education and health, producing high literacy, low infant mortality and lower fertility as part of the ‘Kerala Model’ of social policy prioritization [3].

Sources

1. [1] INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 1: Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition > Regional V gional Vgional Variation in tion Population Gr tion Growth > p. 7
2. [2] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 19: Population and Demographic Dividend > Evaluation of Government Policies > p. 568
3. [3] https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/india2003.pdf