Maharashtra's Population to Hit 12.93 Crore by 2026 Amid Ageing Society, Falling Fertility

• Maharashtra's population is projected to reach 12.93 crore by March 2026, up from 11.24 crore in 2011, facing an ageing society and falling fertility rate.
• The state's population density is expected to rise to 420 per sq km, with 6.73 crore males and 6.20 crore females, and a higher urbanization rate of 45.2% compared to India's 31.1%.
• Konkan division leads with 25.2% of the projected 2026 population, followed by Pune (21.1%) and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (17.2%).
• The proportion of children (0-14) will decline to 19.6% by 2026, while the working-age population (15-59) will rise to 67.3%, and those aged 60+ will increase to 13.1%.
• Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is projected to fall to 1.56, well below the replacement level of 2.1, while Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and life expectancy are better than national averages.