The world population in 2010 is about 6.8 billion, and it is growing at a rate of about 2 percent a year, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. This growth is not happening in every country. Some parts of the world are experiencing population decline. Population growth activities attempt to manipulate the rate of population growth by discouraging or encouraging people from having children. Social and economic factors can influence population growth. The economic development usually brings better education, social security and healthcare. This is also associated with a lower birth rate.
Purpose
Population growth activities are designed to control the rate of population growth. Many individuals and governments have been concerned about the rate of population growth both worldwide and in specific countries.These concerns center on whether there will be sufficient resources to sustain a larger population and whether an aging population can be supported in a country experiencing a negative rate of growth.
Government Control
Some governments have taken more drastic measures to control population growth. These can be designed either to slow the rate of growth or to encourage people to have more children. Governments also control immigration to control the growth of their country's population. There has been no similar attempt to control population at a global level.
China's One-Child Policy
The Chinese government introduced a one-child policy in 1978 to slow the growth of the country's population. During the 1970s, the government had encouraged people to marry and have children and later to have fewer children. This has reduced the fertility rate from more than five children per woman to just more than two. From 1978, most couples were only allowed to have a single child. This policy was strictly enforced. The fertility rate in 2007 was between 1.5 and 1.8. This is below replacement rate. The Chinese authorities are now beginning to relax the one-child policy.
Iran
Contraception and family planning played an important part in declining population growth in Iran. The country has reduced the growth of its population from 3.2 percent in 1986 to 1.2 percent in 2001. The fertility rate dropped from 7 to less than 3 in this time. This was achieved through a family planning program.
France
France has experienced a declining population, and the government has offered financial incentives to encourage couples to have more children. As of 2006, France had the second-highest birth rate in Europe, 1.94 children per woman.
Tags: population growth, fertility rate, rate population, rate population growth, birth rate