Abstract
This chapter reviews the population policies of Central Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia covering 25 countries with 2.68 billion people or 34% of world’s total population. The countries are very diverse in population size, ethnicity, religions, languages and political institutions. Most countries in that region are quite advanced in their demographic transition but still experience population momentum because of their young age structure. The data presented show that in spite of the differences in the initial levels of fertility, the total fertility rates have remarkably converged in a narrow band around the replacement level in recent times in most of the countries. The countries such as Bangladesh, Iran, Bhutan, Vietnam, Uzbekistan with total fertility rate close to six children per woman barely 40 years ago have now transited to replacement level to join the league of more advanced nations in the region. The chapter examines the impact of population policies adopted by each country in reducing fertility versus other development policies and measures, such as promotion of female education, provision of healthcare services, safe drinking water and sanitation, that have also helped fertility decline gain momentum. However, it is argued in the chapter that in view of the changing age structures in all the countries, their population policies need to shift focus from sustained decline in fertility to other emerging concerns such as provision of work and employment opportunities for the increasing young population, meeting the health, financial, social and emotional needs of increasing number of aged. Also, migration of people both within countries from rural to urban areas and across countries will need attention and cooperation between countries.
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Visaria, L. (2022). South Asia: Did Population Policies Trigger a Fertility Convergence?. In: May, J.F., Goldstone, J.A. (eds) International Handbook of Population Policies. International Handbooks of Population, vol 11. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-02040-7_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-02040-7_12
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