Dynamic disequilibrium: demographic policies and trends in Asia

The authors present an overview of anticipated population trends and policies in the developing countries of Eastern and Southeastern Asia. Attention is given to various population projections to the years 2000 and 2025, the sources of these projections, and the assumptions on which they are based. The population policies of 14 countries in the region are then discussed. It is noted that those countries with no commitment to support family planning are not likely to reach fertility levels in line with those on which U.N. population projections are based. Changes in population policies in China, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines are summarized.