Singapore Seeks Population Solutions
In a recent interview, DPM Wong Kan Seng, Singapore’s Minister-in-charge of population issues, brought to light the problems his country is facing with a decreasing and aging population. He appeared to see the truth of Singapore’s population problems and offered good suggestions and solutions.
We can hope other leaders in the population departments of other countries will recognize the worldwide problems already facing, or soon to face, their governments with the same wisdom found in the words of DPM Wong Kan Seng.
Below is an excerpt; for the entire transcript see http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/226426/1/.html.
What is Singapore’s population challenge?
“Singapore’s total fertility rate (TFR), which measures the number of babies born per woman, fell to a historic low of 1.24 in 2004. It remained at the same level in 2005. To replace ourselves, we would need a TFR of 2.1, or at least two per woman, and we have not seen that figure in Singapore since 1976. That means we have had 30 years of under-replacement…
“Any population will shrink if the number of deaths gradually outstrips new births — this is symptomatic of an aging society.
“When coupled with more emigrants leaving the country, the rate of shrinkage will accelerate dramatically.
“This is not an optimistic picture, and has begun to happen in Japan, which has recorded its very first instance of resident deaths outstripping resident births due to declining birth rates, deaths in 2005 outnumbered births by 10,000.
“From 2006, population is projected to dwindle, falling from 127.4 million to 100.7 million by 2050. Source: Asiamedia, ‘The Corning Internationalization: Can Japan assimilate its immigrants?’ dated 12 Jan 2006, (www.asiamedia.ucla.edu)
“Another example is Germany. Its death rate outstrips birth rate — 10.6 vs. 8.3 per 1,000 population in 2005. (Source: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004395.html)
“Our own population is aging — current projections show that one-in-five Singaporeans will he over the age of 65 by 2030…
“This problem is real and imminent. We need to do something about it.
“Is Singapore unique in facing its population challenge? How does the Government intend to deal with the problem of a shrinking population?
“We are not alone in grappling with population issues…
“Almost all developed countries face the twin problems of a declining TFR and an aging population.
“Take Australia for example. In 2004, the Australian government urged families to have ‘one (baby) for mum, one for dad and one for the country’, and more recently, to ‘procreate and cherish’.
“While it has managed to reverse the downtrend to increase its TFR from 1.73 in 2001 to 1.77 in 2004, it is still below replacement rate…
“The main and outstanding exception among developed countries is the United States, where TFR is holding steady at the replacement level of 2.1.
“Among others, a key factor behind the high TFR in the U.S. is the high inflow of new immigrants…”
The Government introduced the Marriage and Parenthood package in August 2004. What are the results so far?
“It has been two years since we introduced the parenthood package.
“Overall, we have seen some positive results-there were about 240 more births from January to June 2006 compared to the same period in 2005, and about 400 more births in 2005 compared to 2004.
“The number of births has increased from 35,135 in 2004 to 35,528 in 2005, a positive reversal after four years of consecutive declines.
“The number of births in the first six months of 2006 (17,314) is also higher than that in the corresponding period in 2005 (17,075).
“This is a positive reversal which comes after four consecutive years of decline.
“However, while the numbers have gone up slightly, it is not realistic to expect out population trends to reverse overnight or even in a few years’ time.
“The TFR is declining for all ethnic groups in Singapore.
“The TFR for Indians and Chinese have been below replacement level for many years.
“For the Chinese, the TFR was 1.65 in 1990 and hit 1.08 in 2005; for the Indians, it has dropped from 1.89 in 1990 to 1.24 in 2005.
“For the Malays, the TFR was 2.69 in 1990 and dipped below the replacement rate to 2.07 for the first time last year.
“A shift in trend requires a mindset change towards desiring parenthood and celebrating family life.
“We have seen some encouraging signs.
“In a recent survey of 3,000 married respondents by MCYS [Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports], 83% of them indicated that the parenthood package had created a friendlier environment for having and raising children.
“In particular, the younger and higher income respondents were more likely to respond positively.
“Fifty-six percent of the respondents also said that the parenthood package has influenced them to have or consider having (more) children or have children earlier. We must press on….”
What does Government hope to achieve at the end of the day?
“My simple message to Singaporeans is this: ‘Build families and have more babies, stay connected wherever you are and welcome those who wish to make Singapore their new home as you would do to your friends and relatives.’”
See the Source: “Interview with DPM Wong Kan Seng on population issue,” Mediacorp News, 23 August 2006, http://www.channelnewsasia.com/strories.singaporelocalnews/view/226426/1/.html
