Demographic Dividend of India: A Blessing or a Curse?

Demographic dividend refers to the economic growth potential from changes in a population’s age structure. It occurs when the working-age population (typically 15-64 years) is larger than the dependent population (children and elderly). This shift can lead to increased productivity, higher savings, and more investment. According to United Nations Population Fund “The demographic dividend is the economic growth potential that can result from shifts in a population’s age structure, mainly when the share of the working-age population (15 to 64) is larger than the non-working-age share of the population (14 and younger, and 65 and older)”.