Singapore Population Policies A pro-natalist population policy Population Policies AS/IB Higher Geography

Government of Singapore 1991 “People are, and always will be, our most precious resource. More than anything else, it is the effort of Singaporeans, with their drive and talent, that has made the country what it is today. Overcoming great odds as a newly independent nation without natural resources, we have turned our city into a thriving and modern economy…, In the next lap, the size of our population and the quality of our people will determine how successfully we fare. (But) the population is not growing fast enough to replace itself in the long term; many Singaporeans remain unmarried; and those who do marry tend to have fewer children… Too small a population will hinder development.” Government of Singapore 1991 AS/IB Higher Geography

The population is currently growing: Birth Rate 15.7 Death Rate 5 Singapore has a population density of 6450 people per square kilometre – one of the highest in the world. The population is currently growing: Birth Rate 15.7 Death Rate 5 However, Singapore’s population is ageing; it will peak in 2025 and then start to decline. Singapore became an independent nation in the 1960s. At the time Singapore’s population was rapidly increasing so a policy of stop at two was introduced. The policy was so successful that the ‘New Population Policy’ was launched. AS/IB Higher Geography

New Population Policy Launched in 1987 Aim to increase Singapore’s fertility rate to 2.1, in 1986 it was 1.5. In the first year of the policy the fertility rate rose to 2.0. The government is targeting intellectually talented people. Married Couples 2 Children University Graduate 4 Children Discouraging the emigration of Graduates. Encouraging the immigration of the educated from other parts of Asia. AS/IB Higher Geography

An informal anti-natalist population policy. The United States An informal anti-natalist population policy. AS/IB Higher Geography

The US does not have any formal population legislation – except for immigration legislation. The U.S. government has legislated people’s right to choose their own family planning. The U.S. government has enacted laws to provide funding or refunds for family planning services. In most U.S. states, a woman must have had a child or be pregnant, be single, and have an income less than 50% of the poverty level to be eligible for refunds for family planning. AS/IB Higher Geography

National Family Planning Programme Established in 1970. The programme provides support to 76% of all family planning agencies in the U.S. Each year four million Americans use government funded family planning programmes to obtain abortions or sterilisations. Family planning agencies must provide services for adolescents. AS/IB Higher Geography

An anti-natalist population policy. Nigeria An anti-natalist population policy. AS/IB Higher Geography

Why the policy is needed: Nigeria has one of the fastest growing population policies in the world. In 1998 birth rates were 42.3 and death rates were 13.9 Nigeria’s fertility rate is currently estimated to be 5.9 There is a very low level of contraceptive use. Only 6% of married women use contraception; with fewer than half of all women knowing of any method. The average ideal family size is 6 children. Another factor leading to the high fertility rate is the tradition for early marriage and childbearing. AS/IB Higher Geography

Objectives of the Policy First introduced in 1988 Promoting the awareness of population problems and the effects of rapid population growth. Providing information on the benefits of small families. Making family planning services easily accessible to all couples. AS/IB Higher Geography

Specific Targets of the Policy Reducing the proportion of women who marry before 18. Reducing the number of children a women has from an average of six to four. Reducing the rate of population growth from 3% to 2%. Extending family planning coverage to 80% of population. Reduce the infant mortality rate to 30 per 1000 live births. AS/IB Higher Geography

Implementation of the Policy Through a campaign organised by the government. Educate people about the importance of small families. This policy has tried to promote the use of family planning methods – this is difficult in a primarily Muslim country. Contraception has been promoted through day care centres established for employed women to leave their children. Minimum age of marriage has been raised to 18 years. AS/IB Higher Geography

Success? So far the policy has not achieved the ambitious targets set. Some gains have been made despite the religious difficulties. The policy can only be successful if it is effectively communicated to the rural population and works with peoples cultural needs. AS/IB Higher Geography

The first government anti-natalist policy India The first government anti-natalist policy AS/IB Higher Geography

Background Launched in 1952, with incentives such as transistor radios to men who volunteered to have vasectomies. This campaign was only partially successful as the men became disillusioned as the realised the batteries in the radio ran out but sterilisation was permanent. Campaign strengthened in 1970s when many men where sterilised against their wishes. Like in China boy babies are traditionally favoured over girls. Families with daughters continue to try and have a son. AS/IB Higher Geography

The Policy Today The policy today aims to reduce the rate by the use of contraception. Controlling population growth is seen as the sixth most important objective of national government policy. The government established the specific target of reducing the birth rate from 29.9 to 26 per 1000. The government also set specific targets for the numbers and users of specific types of contraception. AS/IB Higher Geography

Incentives Cash incentives for those who are willing to be sterilised. Commissions for health workers. New schools, drinking water and roads for areas that meet their targets. Proposal to only allow people with two or less children to run for public office. AS/IB Higher Geography

Infrastructure Results Large-scale family planning services. Mass public information campaigns. Motivators that talk with couples and maintain a register of their reproductive activities. Results Despite the governments effort there have been limited success. India’s birth rate: 1975 38.2 per 1000 1995 29.1 per 1000 2000 25.2 per 1000 Significant regional differences: Utah Pradesh 40 per 1000 Kerala 18 per 1000 AS/IB Higher Geography