Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has argued that sustained demographic strength will be central to the country’s economic and strategic influence over the coming centuries, endorsing a call for families to have three children and framing population growth as a long-horizon policy challenge rather than a short-term political issue.Speaking at a public forum, Naidu said the country’s global footprint already demonstrated the economic value of its people, pointing to a large diaspora spread across advanced economies. He said millions of citizens live abroad and, in many destinations, form communities with high average incomes and professional visibility. That pattern, he argued, underscored the importance of human capital and demographic scale in shaping long-term prosperity. The case for population-led strength over centuries, he said, required planning that extended well beyond electoral cycles.
Naidu echoed a statement made earlier by Mohan Bhagwat, who in August urged couples to consider having three children to safeguard social balance and national vitality. Naidu said the argument should be viewed in the context of the year 2047 and beyond, when the country aims to consolidate its position as a major economic power. He framed population not merely as a number but as a driver of markets, innovation and geopolitical relevance.
The remarks arrive amid a wider debate on demographic transitions. While parts of the country continue to grow, fertility rates have fallen sharply in several states over the past two decades, aligning with global trends seen in East Asia and parts of Europe. Economists warn that ageing populations can constrain labour supply, increase fiscal pressure through pensions and healthcare, and dampen long-term growth. Naidu suggested that early recognition of these risks would allow policymakers to act before demographic shifts become entrenched.
At the same time, population policy remains politically sensitive. For decades, public discourse emphasised smaller families as a route to better health and education outcomes. Government programmes across multiple states focused on stabilisation, maternal health and women’s education, which helped drive down fertility rates and improve child survival. Any pivot towards encouraging larger families raises questions about resources, employment creation and environmental sustainability.
Naidu sought to address those concerns by linking population to productivity rather than welfare dependence. He argued that the diaspora’s success showed how education, skills and opportunity could convert demographic size into economic advantage. The challenge, he said, was to ensure that domestic systems—from schools and universities to manufacturing and services—were capable of absorbing and upgrading a larger workforce.
Demographers note that timing matters. Countries that reap a “demographic dividend” typically do so when a large working-age population is matched with investments in health, education and jobs. Without those conditions, rapid population growth can strain infrastructure and public services. Naidu’s comments implicitly acknowledged this balance, stressing planning and long-term vision rather than immediate numerical targets.
The intervention also reflects a broader ideological debate about national power. Supporters of higher fertility argue that population underpins market size, military recruitment and cultural influence. Critics counter that productivity, technology and institutional quality matter more than sheer numbers, pointing to smaller nations with high incomes and strong global influence. Naidu positioned his argument between these poles, presenting population as a necessary but not sufficient condition for dominance.
Within Andhra Pradesh, the chief minister has previously spoken about leveraging human capital through skill development, digital governance and investment-led growth. His latest remarks extend that narrative into the demographic realm, suggesting that state-level planning must align with a national outlook that spans generations. Analysts say such statements are likely to prompt renewed discussion among policymakers, economists and social scientists about how to reconcile declining fertility in some regions with aspirations for long-term growth.