Singapore
(Fact file of current Singapore)
Population: 5,921,231
Birth rate: 9.05/1000
Death rate: 4.04/1000
Average age: 35.6 years
Life expectancy: 86.35 years
GDP per capita: $93,400 (2020 est.)
Population Pyramid 1970
Age group with the highest amount of the population: 10-14
-> high birth rate
Population Pyramid 2022
Age group with the highest amount of population: 45-49, 55-59
-> Normal birth rate
Examples of population policies:
The most notable activities were the publicity campaigns that carried messages such
as “Small families, brighter future – Two is enough” and “The more you have, the less
they get – Two is enough”.
The main goal of the programme was to reduce the nation’s birth rate and achieve a
state of zero population growth such that the population would remain stable at a certain
size due to an equal number of births and deaths. From 1970 to 1972, the birth rate of
Singapore began to rise from 22.1 to 23.1 births per 1,000 residents.
How the anti-natalist policy in Singapore worked:
- Penalising large families
- Clinical measures (Abortion, Sterilisation)
- Making contraceptives available at a low cost.
- Creating family planning clinics to help make advice more available.
- Publicising through the media the advantages of having a smaller family.
- Introducing financial incentives for smaller families (such as free education and
health care benefits). The financial support stopped with larger families.
Results:
The population policy was successful. From 1972 to 1986, Singapore’s birth rate
dropped from 23.1 to 14.8 births per 1,000 residents. The change in the birth rate was
more dramatic because it was also caused by the increasing development of Singapore,
meaning that more women followed careers rather than starting a family. This meant the
birth rate fell because of factors not directly because of the policy.
- There were insufficient workers to fill job vacancies because of the decrease in
the birth rate.
- Singapore has an ageing population.
- Falling economic growth and tax base.
