Search

The trajectory of Singapore's population size and composition can be mapped out with its progression through the various phases of demographic transition from high birth and death rates in the post-war years to very low birth and death rates today, all within the context of rapid economic and social development that has taken place in the past 50 years. Population planning has been integral in Singapore's national development strategy, balancing the economy's needs for more and better qualified workers with social considerations such as the dependency burden and the integration of large numbers of foreigners in a global city-state. This paper considers Singapore's population and manpower planning policies, with an account of the country's passage through the various stages of its demographic transition, and how its working age population composition has evolved. Population and labor force policies are examined with specific consideration of the social, economic and political implications resulting from those policy choices. A final section considers the challenges for the future stemming from these demographic trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines population and population policy in Singapore. A decline in the country's birth rate since 1977 to below replacement level s examined, as are forecasts population will begin to decline by 2025 without additional immigration or an improbably sharp rise in births. The economic and social impact of the aging of the baby boom generation are discussed.