From "Stop at two!" to "Have three if you can afford it!": Singapore's Population Policy

Abstract

Singapore introduced the National Family Planning and Population Programme in 1965. The family planning effort expanded rapidly during the following years. Fertility declined in the late sixties and early seventies, and in 1975 replacement fertility was attained. However, fertility rates continued to fall in the following years, reaching a historic low of 1.44 in 1986. Concerns about the adverse implications of sustained below-replacement fertility gave rise to a comprehensive review of Singapore’s population programme. A "New Population Policy" was announced in 1987, ending the anti-natal population policy and introducing a package of measures to stop the declining fertility and to promote higher population growth. The official population policy now emphasised the goals of replacement-level fertility rates and the longterm stabilization of the population. However, it is highly questionable whether the recennt produced incentives will actually bring about the hoped for results. Moreover, Singapore’s population policy appears to discriminate according to income, favouring the higher income groups, and according to educational levels, favouring couples with higher educational qualifications.