As per recent news reports, the Parsi population in Kolkata has declined to just 347 individuals, marking its lowest recorded figure since the 1980s and reflecting a worrying demographic trend affecting the community across India. Once home to a thriving and influential Parsi population of nearly 1,600 members in the early 1980s, the city is now witnessing a dramatic shrinkage in numbers that has raised concerns among community leaders and policymakers alike.

According to reports citing findings from the National Minorities Commission, several factors are contributing to the sharp decline. While 30% to 40% of the Parsi population in Kolkata reportedly remains unmarried, another 35% to 40% are above the age of 60, and inter-community marriages too have become increasingly common, with nearly one-third of Parsis choosing partners from outside the faith.

According to the demographic data provided by the Calcutta Zoroastrian Community’s Religious and Charity Fund, the Parsi population in Calcutta is heavily skewed towards the older age groups. There are only 29 Parsis in the 0–20 age bracket and another 29 in the 21–40 category. The number rises to 74 individuals in the 41–60 age group, while the largest segment comprises 160 Parsis between the ages of 61 and 80. Additionally, 52 members of the community are above 80 years of age, highlighting the rapidly ageing profile of the dwindling Parsi population.

Describing the situation as a “huge crisis of numbers,” a commission member noted that the Parsi community’s death rate is estimated to be nearly three times its birth rate, with around 200 more deaths than births recorded annually nationwide. The decline has once again drawn attention to the Government’s ‘Jiyo Parsi’ scheme, introduced to encourage childbirth through financial aid, counselling and fertility support. While the initiative initially showed promising results, participation has reportedly slowed in recent years, particularly in cities with smaller Parsi populations like Kolkata.

Parsis first settled in Calcutta in the mid-18^th century and went on to contribute immensely to the city’s commercial, cultural and philanthropic landscape, playing a vital role in shaping the city’s history and identity. As numbers continue to decline, the challenge now lies in preserving the community’s rich heritage and centuries-old identity for future generations.