1. Population Policies

• Population Policies


  • Reduce population
  • Increase population
• Governments introduce population policies

  • To try and achieve a balance between population and resources
  • Focus on birth rates and sometimes migration
• Anti-natalist policies


  • Aim to reduce pressure on resources and improve the quality of life for the whole population
  • Policies introduced to reduce the birth rate
• Anti-natalist policies


  • China's one-child policy (1979-2016, relaxed in 1999)
  • Fines for having more than one child
  • Increased access to contraceptives and family planning education
  • Posters and adverts to promote the advantages of only having one child
  • Better employment opportunities for those with only one child
  • No payment for education or healthcare for second children
  • Forced abortions and sterilisations
  • Promoting late marriages
  • Abortion legalised
• Impacts of China's one-child policy

  • Affected the male/female ratio due to preference for male children
  • Over 30 million more men under 20 than women under 20
  • Decrease in population growth rate
  • Ageing population
• Other countries with anti-natalist policies


  • Singapore (1972-1987)
  • Taiwan (1964 - late 1970s)
• Pro-natalist policies


  • Aim to increase the population due to:
  • An ageing population which increases social and healthcare costs
  • A workforce shortage
  • Reduced payment of taxes due to fewer workers
• Pro-natalist policies in France

  • Discounts on public transport for families with three or more children
  • Increased paid maternity leave
  • Better mortgage deals
  • Tax allowances
  • Free childcare from 3 to school age
  • Cash incentives for mothers who stay at home to care for children
  • Subsidised holidays
• Measures used elsewhere to encourage larger families

  • Improved maternity and paternity leave/rights
  • Increased child benefits
  • Tax allowances for larger families which reduce tax payments
  • Baby bonus (Singapore)