New Delhi: Population growth in India is on the decline. This view was expressed by Francois M Farah, representative of the United Nations Population Fund while addressing a seminar on "Population Growth and Quality of Life" on July 10.

According to him, this was because "those coming into existence are fewer".

"You need a fertility rate slightly above two to replace existing population," Farah said, adding that this rate in Kerala had fallen to 1.8 per cent. He added that "this is quite near Germany's figure which is 1.6.". A quarter of India's population lay in the age group of 10-19, which was going to determine the "quality of life in terms of numbers".

Farah also stressed the need to safeguard adolescents from the dangers of HIV/AIDS, and said they needed to get correct information and knowledge.

ANI