World Population Policies 2011

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ST/ESA/SER.A/327

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS POPULATION DIVISION

World Population Policies 2011

United Nations New York, 2013


DESA The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat is a vital interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental spheres and national action. The Department works in three main interlinked areas: (i) it compiles, generates and analyses a wide range of economic, social and environmental data and information on which States Members of the United Nations draw to review common problems and take stock of policy options; (ii) it facilitates the negotiations of Member States in many intergovernmental bodies on joint courses of action to address ongoing or emerging global challenges; and (iii) it advises interested Governments on the ways and means of translating policy frameworks developed in United Nations conferences and summits into programmes at the country level and, through technical assistance, helps build national capacities.

Note The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The designations “developed” and “developing” countries and “more developed” and “less developed” regions are intended for statistical convenience and do not necessarily express a judgment about the stage reached by a particular country or area in the development process. The term “country” as used in the text of this publication also refers, as appropriate, to territories or areas. This publication has been issued without formal editing.

ST/ESA/SER.A/327

UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION Sales No. E.13.XIII.2 ISBN 978-92-1-151499-5 eISBN 978-92-1-056050-4

Copyright  United Nations, 2013 All rights reserved


PREFACE The World Population Policies 2011 report delineates Governments’ views and policies concerning population and development for 196 countries. In particular, it itemizes policies in the areas of population size and growth, population age structure, fertility, reproductive health and family planning, health and mortality, spatial distribution and internal migration, and international migration. The World Population Policies report has been published biennially since 2003. Prior to 2003, the report was published as National Population Policies in 2001 and 1998. Before 1998, the world population policies data were published in a series of monitoring reports and biennial revisions of the Global Review and Inventory of Population Policies (GRIPP) database. All the United Nations international population conferences held since 1974 have emphasized monitoring the implementation of their goals and recommendations. In particular, the International Conference on Population and Development held at Cairo in 1994 recommended that actions be taken “to measure, assess, monitor and evaluate progress towards meeting the goals of its Programme of Action”.1 The Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat is responsible for providing the international community with up-to-date, accurate and scientifically objective information on population and development. The Population Division provides guidance to the United Nations General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, and the Commission on Population and Development on population and development issues. In addition, the Division undertakes studies on population levels and trends, population estimates and projections, population policies, and population and development interrelationships. The Population Division has been implementing the United Nations Inquiry among Governments on Population and Development every five years since 1963 to gather information about Governments’ views and policies about population issues. The systematic monitoring of population policies at the international level began after the World Population Plan of Action2 was adopted at the World Population Conference held at Bucharest in 1974. The Plan of Action, the first global intergovernmental instrument on population policy, called upon the United Nations to monitor national population trends and policies. Responsibility for World Population Policies reports rests with the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Preparation of World Population Policies 2011 was facilitated by the cooperation of Member States and non-member States of the United Nations, the regional commissions, and the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system. The data on World Population Policies presented in this publication, as well as the country profiles and other population information, can be accessed on the Population Division website at: http://www.unpopulation.org. The data and the publication can also be requested in electronic format on a CD-ROM from the Population Policy Section of the Population Division. Questions and comments concerning this publication should be addressed to Chief, Population Policy Section, Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations Secretariat, New York, NY 10017, phone: 917-367-4632, fax: 212-963-2147, email: mishrav@un.org.

1

Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5–13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, para. 13.6. 2 Report of the United Nations World Population Conference, Bucharest, 19–30 August 1974 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.75.XIII.3), chap. I.

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs ‫ ׀‬Population Division

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CONTRIBUTORS This report was prepared by Mr. Vinod Mishra, Mr. Victor Gaigbe-Togbe, Ms. Yumiko Kamiya and Ms. Lina Bassarsky. Mr. John Kanakos provided programming and data analysis support, and Ms. Donna Culpepper provided editorial and formatting support.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Mr. Jason Schachter and Mr. Daniel Naujoks provided valuable support in gathering policy information for some of the countries; Mr. Patrick Gerland and Mr. Roman Gekhman designed and developed the new World Population Policies Database software; Mr. Erik Gopel provided administrative support; and Mr. Barney Cohen reviewed and provided useful comments on the draft report.

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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs ‫ ׀‬Population Division


CONTENTS Page

iii PREFACE ............................................................................................................................................. CONTENTS .......................................................................................................................................... v DEFINITIONS OF POPULATION POLICY VARIABLES ............................................................................. xv DEFINITIONS OF POPULATION INDICATORS ........................................................................................ xxiii DATA SOURCES FOR POPULATION INDICATORS ................................................................................. xxvii EXPLANATORY NOTES........................................................................................................................ xxix

PART ONE. GOVERNMENT VIEWS AND POLICIES I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII.

INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... MAJOR POPULATION CONCERNS ........................................................................................... POPULATION SIZE AND GROWTH ........................................................................................... POPULATION AGE STRUCTURE .............................................................................................. FERTILITY …………………………..................................................................................... REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING................................................................. HEALTH AND MORTALITY ..................................................................................................... SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND INTERNAL MIGRATION ............................................................ INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION ................................................................................................ REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................

1 5 7 17 25 43 59 89 101 143

BOXES Intro.1. SOURCES FOR MONITORING GOVERNMENT VIEWS AND POLICIES ON POPULATION ............. I.1. POPULATION ISSUES OF CONCERN TO GOVERNMENTS IN 2011 ............................................ V.1. COUNTRIES THAT LIBERALIZED OR RESTRICTED LEGAL GROUNDS ON WHICH ABORTION IS PERMITTED BETWEEN 1996 AND 2011............................................................. VI.1. COUNTRIES WITH LEGAL MEASURES TO PREVENT HIV/AIDS-RELATED DISCRIMINATION, BY RATE OF ADULT HIV PREVALENCE, 2011 ...........................................

3 5 48 70

FIGURES II.1.

III.1.

POPULATION SIZE AND GROWTH Government policies to influence the rate of population growth, by level of development, 1996–2011...................................................................................................... POPULATION AGE STRUCTURE Governments considering population ageing as a major concern, by level of development, 2005 and 2011 ................................................................................................

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19

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III.2.

IV.1. IV.2. IV.3. IV.4. IV.5.

V.1. V.2. V.3. V.4. VI.1. VI.2. VI.3. VI.4.

VII.1. VII.2.

VIII.1. VIII.2. VIII.3. VIII.4.

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Measures adopted by Governments in the last five years to address population ageing, by level of development, 2011.............................................................................................. FERTILITY Government views on the level of fertility, 1976–2011 ....................................................... Government views on the level of fertility, by level of development, 1976–2011............... Government policies to influence the level of fertility, 1976–2011 ..................................... Government policies to influence the level of fertility, by level of development, 1976–2011...................................................................................................... Governments considering the level of adolescent fertility as a major concern, by level of development, 1996–2011.................................................................................... REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING Governments providing direct support for family planning, by level of development, 1976–2011...................................................................................................... Legal grounds on which abortion is permitted, 1996–2011.................................................. Legal grounds on which abortion is permitted, 1996–2011 (percentage of world population).......................................................................................... Legal grounds on which abortion is permitted, by level of development, 2011 ................... HEALTH AND MORTALITY Governments considering the level of mortality and undernutrition among children under age five as unacceptable, by level of development, 2011............................. Governments considering the level of maternal mortality as unacceptable, by level of development, 2005 and 2011 .............................................................................. Governments considering the level of non-communicable diseases and overweight and obesity as a major concern, by level of development, 2011........................ Governments that have adopted all six key measures to address HIV/AIDS, by level of development, 2011.............................................................................................. SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND INTERNAL MIGRATION Governments desiring a major change in the spatial distribution of the population, by level of development, 2011.............................................................................................. Governments with policies to lower migration from rural areas to urban areas, by level of development, 2005 and 2011.................................................................... INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION Government policies to influence the level of immigration, 1996–2011.............................. Government policies to influence the level of immigration, by level of development, 1996–2011...................................................................................................... Governments with policies to encourage the immigration of highly-skilled workers, by level of development, 2005 and 2011 ........................................ Governments with policies to integrate non-nationals, by level of development, 2005 and 2011 ................................................................................................

20 26 27 28 29 30

44 46 46 47

62 64 65 71

90 91 103 104 106 108

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VIII.5. Governments with non-restricted naturalization policies for immigrants, by level of development, 2011.............................................................................................. VIII.6. Government policies to influence the level of emigration, 1996–2011 ................................ VIII.7. Government policies to influence the level of emigration, by level of development, 1996–2011...................................................................................................... VIII.8. Governments with policies to allow dual citizenship, by level of development, 2011................................................................................................................ VIII.9. Governments with policies to encourage the return of citizens, by level of development, 1996–2011................................................................................... VIII.10. Government measures to attract investment by diaspora in developing countries,2011 ....................................................................................................

109 112 112 113 114 116

SUMMARY TABLES II.1. II.2. III.1. III.2. III.3.

IV.1. IV.2. IV.3. IV.4. V.1. V.2. V.3. V.4. VI.1. VI.2. VI.3. VI.4. VI.5. VI.6.

POPULATION SIZE AND GROWTH Government views on the rate of population growth, 1976–2011........................................ Government policies on the rate of population growth, 1976–2011..................................... POPULATION AGE STRUCTURE Government level of concern about the size of the working-age population, 2005 and 2011....................................................................................................................... Government level of concern about the ageing of the population, 2005 and 2011............... Government measures adopted in the last five years to address population ageing, 2011 ...................................................................................................................................... FERTILITY Government views on the level of fertility, 1976–2011 ....................................................... Government policies on the level of fertility, 1976–2011 .................................................... Government level of concern about adolescent fertility, 1996–2011 ................................... Governments with policies to reduce adolescent fertility, 1996–2011 ................................. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING Government policies on providing support for family planning, 1976–2011....................... Legal grounds on which abortion is permitted, 1996–2011.................................................. Government level of concern about violence against women, 2011 .................................... Government policies to prevent domestic violence, 2011 .................................................... HEALTH AND MORTALITY Government views on the level of life expectancy at birth, 1976–2011............................... Government views on the level of under-five mortality, 1996–2011 ................................... Government views on the level of undernutrition among children, 2011............................. Government views on the level of maternal mortality, 2005 and 2011 ................................ Government level of concern about non-communicable diseases, 2011 .............................. Government level of concern about overweight and obesity, 2011......................................

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22 23 24 34 36 38 40 52 54 56 57 74 76 78 79 80 81 vii


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VI.7. VI.8. VI.9. VI.10.

Government level of concern about tuberculosis, 2011........................................................ Government level of concern about malaria, 2011 ............................................................... Government level of concern about HIV/AIDS, 1996–2011................................................ Government measures adopted to address HIV/AIDS, 2005 and 2011................................ SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND INTERNAL MIGRATION VII.1. Government views on the spatial distribution of the population, 1976–2011 ...................... VII.2. Government policies on internal migration from rural areas to urban areas, 2005 and 2011....................................................................................................................... VII.3. Government policies on internal migration into urban agglomerations, 1976–2011 ............................................................................................................................

82 83 84 86 94 97 98

INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION

VIII.1. VIII.2. VIII.3. VIII.4. VIII.5. VIII.6. VIII.7. VIII.8. VIII.9.

Government views on the level of immigration, 1976–2011................................................ Government policies on immigration, 1976–2011 ............................................................... Government policies on immigration for permanent settlement, 2005 and 2011................. Government policies on immigration of highly-skilled workers, 2005 and 2011 ................ Government policies on immigration of temporary workers, 2005 and 2011 ...................... Government policies on immigration for family reunification, 2005 and 2011 ................... Governments with policies to integrate non-nationals, 2005 and 2011 ................................ Governments with naturalization policies for immigrants, 2011.......................................... Governments with programmes to facilitate the return of migrants to their home countries, 2011...................................................................................................................... VIII.10. Government level of concern about irregular migration, 2011............................................. VIII.11. Government views on the level of emigration, 1976–2011 .................................................. VIII.12. Government policies on emigration, 1976–2011.................................................................. VIII.13. Governments with policies to allow dual citizenship, 2011 ................................................. VIII.14. Governments with policies to encourage the return of citizens, 1976–2011 ........................ VIII.15. Governments with a special unit dealing with diaspora matters, 2011................................. VIII.16. Government measures to attract investment by diaspora, 2011............................................

118 120 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 132 135 136 139 140

PART TWO. PROFILES OF NATIONAL POPULATION POLICIES AND INDICATORS Afghanistan ............................................................................................................................................. Albania ............................................................................................................................................. Algeria.............................................................................................................................................. Andorra............................................................................................................................................. Angola .............................................................................................................................................. Antigua and Barbuda........................................................................................................................ Argentina.......................................................................................................................................... Armenia…........................................................................................................................................

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150 152 154 156 158 160 162 164

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Australia. .......................................................................................................................................... Austria .............................................................................................................................................. Azerbaijan ........................................................................................................................................ Bahamas ........................................................................................................................................... Bahrain ............................................................................................................................................. Bangladesh ............................................................................................................................. Barbados........................................................................................................................................... Belarus.............................................................................................................................................. Belgium ............................................................................................................................................ Belize................................................................................................................................................ Benin ................................................................................................................................................ Bhutan .............................................................................................................................................. Bolivia (Plurinational State of)......................................................................................................... Bosnia and Herzegovina................................................................................................................... Botswana ......................................................................................................................................... Brazil ................................................................................................................................................ Brunei Darussalam ........................................................................................................................... Bulgaria ............................................................................................................................................ Burkina Faso .................................................................................................................................... Burundi............................................................................................................................................. Cambodia ......................................................................................................................................... Cameroon ......................................................................................................................................... Canada.............................................................................................................................................. Cape Verde ...................................................................................................................................... Central African Republic ......................................................................................................... Chad ................................................................................................................................................. Chile ................................................................................................................................................. China ................................................................................................................................................ Colombia ......................................................................................................................................... Comoros ........................................................................................................................................... Congo ............................................................................................................................................... Cook Islands ..................................................................................................................................... Costa Rica ........................................................................................................................................ Côte d’Ivoire .................................................................................................................................... Croatia .............................................................................................................................................. Cuba ...................................................................................................................................... Cyprus .............................................................................................................................................. Czech Republic ................................................................................................................................ Democratic People’s Republic of Korea .......................................................................................... Democratic Republic of the Congo .................................................................................................. Denmark ........................................................................................................................................... United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs ‫ ׀‬Population Division

166 168 170 172 174 176 178 180 182 184 186 188 190 192 194 196 198 200 202 204 206 208 210 212 214 216 218 220 222 224 226 228 230 232 234 236 238 240 242 244 246 ix


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Djibouti............................................................................................................................................. Dominica .......................................................................................................................................... Dominican Republic......................................................................................................................... Ecuador............................................................................................................................................. Egypt ................................................................................................................................................ El Salvador ....................................................................................................................................... Equatorial Guinea............................................................................................................................. Eritrea ............................................................................................................................................... Estonia.............................................................................................................................................. Ethiopia ............................................................................................................................................ Fiji .................................................................................................................................................... Finland ................................................................................................................................... France ............................................................................................................................................... Gabon ............................................................................................................................................... Gambia ............................................................................................................................................. Georgia ............................................................................................................................................. Germany ........................................................................................................................................... Ghana ............................................................................................................................................... Greece .............................................................................................................................................. Grenada ............................................................................................................................................ Guatemala......................................................................................................................................... Guinea .............................................................................................................................................. Guinea-Bissau .................................................................................................................................. Guyana ............................................................................................................................................. Haiti.................................................................................................................................................. Holy See ........................................................................................................................................... Honduras .......................................................................................................................................... Hungary............................................................................................................................................ Iceland .............................................................................................................................................. India.................................................................................................................................................. Indonesia .......................................................................................................................................... Iran (Islamic Republic of) ................................................................................................................ Iraq ................................................................................................................................................... Ireland .............................................................................................................................................. Israel ................................................................................................................................................. Italy .................................................................................................................................................. Jamaica ............................................................................................................................................. Japan ................................................................................................................................................ Jordan ............................................................................................................................................... Kazakhstan ....................................................................................................................................... Kenya ...............................................................................................................................................

x

248 250 252 254 256 258 260 262 264 266 268

270 272 274 276 278 280 282 284 286 288 290 292 294 296 298 300 302 304 306 308 310 312 314 316 318 320 322 324 326 328

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Kiribati ............................................................................................................................................. Kuwait ................................................................................................................................... Kyrgyzstan ....................................................................................................................................... Lao People’s Democratic Republic.................................................................................................. Latvia................................................................................................................................................ Lebanon............................................................................................................................................ Lesotho ............................................................................................................................................. Liberia .............................................................................................................................................. Libya ................................................................................................................................................ Liechtenstein .......................................................................................................................... Lithuania........................................................................................................................................... Luxembourg ..................................................................................................................................... Madagascar....................................................................................................................................... Malawi.............................................................................................................................................. Malaysia ........................................................................................................................................... Maldives ........................................................................................................................................... Mali .................................................................................................................................................. Malta ................................................................................................................................................ Marshall Islands ............................................................................................................................... Mauritania ........................................................................................................................................ Mauritius .......................................................................................................................................... Mexico.............................................................................................................................................. Micronesia (Federated States of)...................................................................................................... Monaco............................................................................................................................................. Mongolia .......................................................................................................................................... Montenegro ..................................................................................................................................... Morocco ........................................................................................................................................... Mozambique..................................................................................................................................... Myanmar .......................................................................................................................................... Namibia ............................................................................................................................................ Nauru................................................................................................................................................ Nepal ................................................................................................................................................ Netherlands ............................................................................................................................ New Zealand .................................................................................................................................... Nicaragua ......................................................................................................................................... Niger................................................................................................................................................. Nigeria.............................................................................................................................................. Niue .................................................................................................................................................. Norway ............................................................................................................................................. Oman ................................................................................................................................................ Pakistan ............................................................................................................................................ United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs ‫ ׀‬Population Division

330

332 334 336 338 340 342 344 346

348 350 352 354 356 358 360 362 364 366 368 370 372 374 376 378 380 382 384 386 388 390 392 394 396 398 400 402 404 406 408 410 xi


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Palau ................................................................................................................................................. Panama ............................................................................................................................................. Papua New Guinea ........................................................................................................................... Paraguay ................................................................................................................................ Peru .................................................................................................................................................. Philippines........................................................................................................................................ Poland............................................................................................................................................... Portugal ............................................................................................................................................ Qatar ................................................................................................................................................. Republic of Korea ............................................................................................................................ Republic of Moldova........................................................................................................................ Romania ........................................................................................................................................... Russian Federation ........................................................................................................................... Rwanda............................................................................................................................................. Saint Kitts and Nevis........................................................................................................................ Saint Lucia........................................................................................................................................ Saint Vincent and the Grenadines .................................................................................................... Samoa ............................................................................................................................................... San Marino ....................................................................................................................................... Sao Tome and Principe..................................................................................................................... Saudi Arabia..................................................................................................................................... Senegal ............................................................................................................................................. Serbia................................................................................................................................................ Seychelles......................................................................................................................................... Sierra Leone ..................................................................................................................................... Singapore ............................................................................................................................... Slovakia............................................................................................................................................ Slovenia............................................................................................................................................ Solomon Islands ............................................................................................................................... Somalia............................................................................................................................................. South Africa ..................................................................................................................................... South Sudan...................................................................................................................................... Spain................................................................................................................................................. Sri Lanka .......................................................................................................................................... Sudan................................................................................................................................................ Suriname........................................................................................................................................... Swaziland ......................................................................................................................................... Sweden ............................................................................................................................................. Switzerland....................................................................................................................................... Syrian Arab Republic ....................................................................................................................... Tajikistan.......................................................................................................................................... xii

412 414 416 418 420 422 424 426 428 430 432 434 436 438 440 442 444 446 448 450 452 454 456 458 460 462 464 466 468 470 472 474 476 478 480 482 484 486 488 490 492

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Thailand............................................................................................................................................ The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ................................................................................. Timor-Leste...................................................................................................................................... Togo ................................................................................................................................................. Tonga................................................................................................................................................ Trinidad and Tobago ........................................................................................................................ Tunisia.............................................................................................................................................. Turkey .............................................................................................................................................. Turkmenistan.................................................................................................................................... Tuvalu............................................................................................................................................... Uganda ............................................................................................................................................. Ukraine ................................................................................................................................. United Arab Emirates....................................................................................................................... United Kingdom............................................................................................................................... United Republic of Tanzania............................................................................................................ United States of America ................................................................................................................. Uruguay............................................................................................................................................ Uzbekistan........................................................................................................................................ Vanuatu ............................................................................................................................................ Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)................................................................................................. Viet Nam ......................................................................................................................................... Yemen .............................................................................................................................................. Zambia.............................................................................................................................................. Zimbabwe.........................................................................................................................................

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494 496 498 500 502 504 506 508 510 512 514 516 518 520 522 524 526 528 530 532 534 536 538 540

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World Population Policies 2011

DEFINITIONS OF POPULATION POLICY VARIABLES Variable name

Variable definition

Response categories

View on growth

Indicates how the Government perceives the rate of population growth in the country.

Too low Satisfactory Too high

Policy on growth

Indicates Government’s stated policy to influence the rate of population growth in the country.

Raise Maintain Lower No intervention

Level of concern about the size of the workingage population

Indicates Government’s level of concern regarding the current size of the working-age population in relation to the domestic labour market or in relation to the size of the dependent populations.

Major concern Minor concern Not a concern

Level of concern about ageing of the population

Indicates Government’s level of concern about the growing size or the proportion of older persons in the population and its consequences for health and social welfare provisions. In cases where the current proportion of older persons is relatively small, Government’s concerns about the challenges that a growing older population will pose in the future are included.

Major concern Minor concern Not a concern

Measures adopted to address population ageing

Indicates whether the Government has adopted specific measures in the last five years to address population ageing in the country.

1. Change in statutory retirement age 2. Reform in the pension system

Population size and growth

Population age structure

Neither

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Variable name

Variable definition

Response categories

View on fertility level

Indicates how the Government perceives the level of fertility in the country.

Too low Satisfactory Too high

Policy on fertility level

Indicates Government’s stated policy to influence the level of fertility in the country.

Raise Maintain Lower No intervention

Level of concern about adolescent fertility

Indicates the extent to which the Government considers the level of adolescent fertility in the country to be a concern.

Major concern Minor concern Not a concern

Policies to reduce adolescent fertility

Indicates whether the Government has implemented any programmes or measures to reduce the level of fertility among adolescents.

Yes No

Fertility

Reproductive health and family planning Government support for family planning

Indicates whether the Government provides direct or indirect support for the provision of family planning. Direct support implies that family planning information, guidance, supplies and services are provided through government-run facilities or outlets. Indirect support implies that the Government does not provide family planning services through government outlets, but instead supports the private sector, including non-governmental organizations, in providing those services. No support means that the Government allows the private sector to provide family planning services without giving it any material support. Not permitted means that the Government does not allow family planning programmes or services within its jurisdiction.

Direct support Indirect support No support Not permitted

Grounds on which abortion is permitted

Indicates legal provisions under which the Government permits induced abortion in the country. Induced abortions are those initiated

1. To save a woman’s life 2. To preserve a

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World Population Policies 2011

Variable name

Variable definition

Response categories

by deliberate action taken with the intention of terminating pregnancy; all other abortions are considered spontaneous.

woman’s physical health 3. To preserve a woman’s mental health 4. In case of rape or incest 5. Because of foetal impairment 6. For economic or social reasons 7. On request Not permitted

Level of concern about violence against women

Indicates the extent to which the Government considers violence against women to be a concern in the country. Violence against women includes any act of gender-based physical, sexual, emotional, psychological or financial abuse of women, or threat of such abuse, in domestic, communal and institutional settings.

Major concern Minor concern Not a concern

Policies to prevent domestic violence

Indicates whether the Government has adopted specific legal provisions or policies to address violence against women in domestic settings. Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviour in a relationship. It usually involves an intimate partner or a family member or relative, but may also involve a former spouse or nonmarital, non-cohabiting partners and relationships. Domestic violence does not necessarily occur within the household.

1. Legal provision 2. Policy

Indicates whether the Government considers the level of life expectancy at birth in the country to be acceptable.

Acceptable Unacceptable

Neither

Health and mortality View on life expectancy at birth

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Variable name

Variable definition

Response categories

View on under-five mortality

Indicates whether the Government considers the level of mortality among children under age five in the country to be acceptable.

Acceptable Unacceptable

View on undernutrition in children

Indicates whether the Government considers the level of undernutrition among children under age 5 in the country to be acceptable.

Acceptable Unacceptable

View on maternal mortality

Indicates whether the Government considers the level of maternal mortality in the country to be acceptable.

Acceptable Unacceptable

Level of concern about non-communicable diseases

Indicates the extent to which the Government considers the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases in the country to be a concern. Major non-communicable diseases include heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, chronic lung disease and cancers.

Major concern Minor concern Not a concern

Level of concern about overweight and obesity

Indicates the extent to which the Government considers the level of overweight and obesity in the country to be a concern.

Major concern Minor concern Not a concern

Level of concern about tuberculosis

Indicates the extent to which the Government considers the prevalence of tuberculosis in the country to be a concern.

Major concern Minor concern Not a concern

Level of concern about malaria

Indicates the extent to which the Government considers the prevalence of malaria in the country to be a concern.

Major concern Minor concern Not a concern

Level of concern about HIV/AIDS

Indicates the extent to which the Government considers the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the country to be a concern.

Major concern Minor concern Not a concern

Measures to address HIV/AIDS

Indicates specific policy measures that the Government has adopted to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country.

1. Blood screening 2. Information/ education campaigns 3. Antiretroviral treatment

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Variable name

Variable definition

Response categories 4. Nondiscrimination policies (legal measures) 5. Distribution of condoms 6. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT)

Spatial distribution and internal migration View on spatial distribution

Indicates whether the Government considers the spatial distribution of population within the country to be satisfactory or whether it desires a change.

Major change desired Minor change desired Satisfactory

Policy on migration from rural to urban areas

Indicates Government’s policy to influence the flow of migration from rural to urban areas within the country. Migration from rural to urban areas is not applicable in countries with 100 per cent urban population.

Raise Maintain Lower No intervention Not applicable

Policy on migration into urban agglomerations

Indicates Government’s policy to influence the flow of internal migration into urban agglomerations. Migration into urban agglomerations can come from both rural and urban areas. Migration into urban agglomerations is not applicable in countries with no urban agglomerations or where the entire country is one urban agglomeration.

Raise Maintain Lower No intervention Not applicable

Indicates how the Government perceives the overall level of documented or regular immigration into the country. It includes immigration for permanent settlement, temporary work or family reunification. Government views towards asylum-seekers, refugees and undocumented immigrants are

Too low Satisfactory Too high

International migration View on immigration

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Variable name

Variable definition

Response categories

not considered. Policy on immigration

Indicates Government’s policy to influence the level of documented immigration into the country.

Raise Maintain Lower No intervention

Policy on permanent settlement

Indicates Government’s policy to influence the level of immigration for permanent settlement into the country.

Raise Maintain Lower No intervention

Policy on highly-skilled workers

Indicates Government’s policy to influence the level of immigration of highly-skilled workers into the country. Highly-skilled migrants generally include highly-qualified workers with post-secondary technical or professional education or job experience, especially with qualifications or skills in demand in the host country.

Raise Maintain Lower No intervention

Policy on temporary workers

Indicates Government’s policy to influence the level of immigration of temporary workers into the country. Temporary labour migration may include seasonal workers, contract and project-linked workers, guest workers and other cross-border workers that are admitted for a fixed duration without the expectation of obtaining permanent resident status.

Raise Maintain Lower No intervention

Policy on family reunification

Indicates Government’s policy to influence the level of immigration for family reunification. Migration for family reunification mostly includes family members considered dependants, usually the spouse and minor children (even if the spouse is not financially dependent).

Raise Maintain Lower No intervention

Policy on integration of non-nationals

Indicates whether the Government has policies or programmes aimed at integrating non-nationals into society. These may include provisions for social services, involvement in civil and community

Yes No

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Variable name

Variable definition

Response categories

activities, language training, and legal provisions to ensure non-discrimination of foreigners. Policy on naturalization

Indicates whether there are legal provisions to allow immigrants to become naturalized citizens under certain conditions. Countries where naturalization entitlement is limited to a certain category of immigrants or where residency requirement is 10 years or longer are categorized as having “restricted” naturalization policies.

Yes Restricted No

Programmes to facilitate return of migrants to their home countries

Indicates whether the Government has instituted programmes to encourage or facilitate the return of immigrants to their home countries. Such programmes may include assisted return programmes and schemes to reintegrate return migrants in their countries of origin.

Yes No

Level of concern about irregular migration

Indicates the extent to which the Government considers the undocumented or irregular immigration into the country to be a concern. Government’s concerns about its own citizens living abroad in irregular conditions are not considered.

Major concern Minor concern Not a concern

View on emigration

Indicates how the Government perceives the level of emigration from the country.

Too low Satisfactory Too high

Policy on emigration

Indicates Government’s policy to influence the level of emigration from the country.

Raise Maintain Lower No intervention

Acceptance of dual citizenship

Indicates whether the Government permits its citizens to retain their original citizenship upon acquiring citizenship of another country, and if yes, under what conditions or restrictions. The conditions may refer to (i) the countries involved (acceptance of dual citizenship when some specific countries are

Yes Restricted No

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Variable name

Variable definition

Response categories

involved but not others) or (ii) the rights involved (acceptance of dual citizenship with some restrictions to full citizenship rights). Policy to encourage the return of citizens

Indicates whether the Government has instituted policies or programme initiatives to encourage the return of their citizens living abroad.

Yes No

Special governmental unit dealing with diaspora

Indicates whether the Government has a special unit, department or ministry to deal with the matters concerning the country’s diaspora.

Yes No

Measures to attract investment by diaspora

Indicates specific policy measures, including financial incentives that the Government has adopted to encourage or facilitate investment in the country, by their diaspora.

1. Tax exceptions or breaks 2. Reduction of tariffs on goods or import duties for diaspora companies 3. Preferential treatment in providing credit 4. Preferential treatment in allotment of licences 5. Streamlined bureaucratic procedures for investment 6. Diaspora bond/mutual fund None of these

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World Population Policies 2011

DEFINITIONS OF POPULATION INDICATORS Population size: Estimated mid-year population indicated in thousands, according to the 2010 Revision of the official United Nations population estimates and projections, medium variant. Annual growth rate: Average exponential rate of growth of the population over a given period, expressed as per cent. Percentage of population under age 15 years: Estimated mid-year population under age 15, indicated as percentage of the total population. Percentage of population aged 60 years or over: Estimated mid-year population aged 60 years or over, indicated as percentage of the total population. Statutory age at retirement: Age at which a person is expected or required to cease work and is usually the age at which they may be entitled to receive full pension, superannuation or other benefits. It is expressed as years. Total fertility: Average number of children a hypothetical cohort of women would have at the end of their reproductive period if they were subject during their whole lives to the fertility rates of a given period and if they were not subject to mortality. It is expressed as children per woman. Adolescent birth rate: Annual number of births to women aged 15 to 19 years, divided by the number of women aged 15 to 19 years. It is expressed as births per 1,000 women. Percentage of women aged 20–24 years married by age 18: Percentage of women aged 20 to 24 years who got married or entered a union before age 18. A union involves a man and a woman regularly cohabiting in a marriage-like relationship. Percentage of married women using contraception: Percentage of women aged 15 to 49 years who are married or in a union and are using a contraceptive method. Two different measures are provided: (1) percentage of women using any method of contraception, whether modern or traditional; and (2) percentage of women using a modern method of contraception, that is, sterilization, the pill, the IUD, injectable, implant, condom or a vaginal barrier method. A union involves a man and a woman regularly cohabiting in a marriage-like relationship. Percentage of married women with unmet need for family planning: Percentage of women aged 15 to 49 years who are married or in a union with an unmet need for family planning. Women with an unmet need for family planning are those who are fecund and sexually active but United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs ‫ ׀‬Population Division

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are not using any method of contraception although they report not wanting any more children or wanting to delay the next pregnancy. Index of family planning effort: This index measures the level of effort of national family planning programmes. In 2009, the index was calculated for 81 developing countries, covering 93 per cent of the developing world population. The index is based on 31 measures of family planning effort, organized into four components: (1) policy and stage-setting activities; (2) service and service-related activities; (3) record keeping and evaluation; and (4) availability and accessibility of methods and supplies. Each measure of family planning effort was scored from 1 to 10, where 1 is non-existent or very weak effort and 10 is extremely strong effort, based on a survey questionnaire completed by 10 to 15 expert observers in each country. The overall index for a country is the total score for the 31 measures, expressed as a percentage of the maximum score possible. Induced abortion rate: Number of legally induced abortions per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 years. Induced abortions are those initiated by deliberate action taken with the intention of terminating pregnancy; all other abortions are considered spontaneous. Percentage of women in non-agricultural wage employment: Female workers in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector expressed as a percentage of total wage employment in that same sector. The non-agricultural sector includes industry and services. Life expectancy at birth: Average number of years of life expected by a hypothetical cohort of individuals who would be subject during all their lives to the mortality rates of a given period. It is expressed as years. Infant mortality rate: Probability of dying between birth and exact age 1 year, expressed as deaths per 1,000 live births. Under-five mortality rate: Probability of dying between birth and exact age 5 years, expressed as deaths per 1,000 live births. Percentage of children 12–23 months with 3 doses of DPT vaccine: Percentage of children aged 12–23 months who had received three doses of the combined diphtheria, tetanus toxoid and pertussis (DPT) vaccine in a given year. Prevalence of stunting among children aged 0–59 months: Percentage of children aged 0–59 months whose height-for-age was less than two standard deviations below the median height-forage of the international reference population. Maternal mortality ratio: Number of maternal deaths over a year per 100,000 live births in that year. According to the World Health Organization, a maternal death is the death of a woman xxiv

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while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes. In circumstances in which cause of death attribution is inadequate, a maternal death is defined as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the cause of death. Percentage of births attended by trained health professional: Percentage of deliveries attended by trained health personnel. Traditional birth attendants (TBAs), even if they had received a short training course, are not included. Percent obese among adults aged 20 years or over: Percentage of adults aged 20 years or over whose body mass index (BMI) (weight in kg/height in meters squared) was 30 or higher. Percentage of deaths caused by non-communicable diseases: Number of deaths due to noncommunicable diseases as a percentage of deaths due to all causes. The major noncommunicable diseases include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. HIV prevalence among adults aged 15–49 years: Percentage of adults aged 15 to 49 years living with HIV at the end of the reference year. Number of people living with HIV: Estimated number of people of all ages living with HIV at the end of the reference year. Population density: Population per square kilometre. Urban population: Estimated population living in urban areas at mid-year as a percentage of the total mid-year population in a country. Urban areas are defined according to the criteria used by each country or territory. Annual urban population growth rate: Average exponential rate of growth of the urban population over a given period, expressed as per cent. Annual rural population growth rate: Average exponential rate of growth of the rural population over a given period, expressed as per cent. Percentage of urban population in urban agglomerations: Percentage of the urban population residing in urban agglomerations with 750,000 inhabitants or more.

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International migrant stock: Mid-year estimate of the number of people living in a country or area other than that in which they were born, indicated in thousands. If the number of foreignborn was not available, the estimate refers to the number of people living in a country or area other than that or their citizenship. Percentage of females among international migrants: Number of females as a percentage of the total international migrant stock in a given year. Net migration rate: Number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants over a period, divided by the person-years lived by the population of the receiving country over that period. It is expressed as net number of migrants per 1,000 population. Annual inflow of remittances: Remittance inflows include the sum of workers’ remittances, compensation of employees, and migrants’ transfers. Workers’ remittances are current private transfers from migrant workers who have lived in the host country for more than one year to recipients in their country of origin. Compensation of employees is the income of migrants who have lived in the host country for less than a year. Migrants’ transfers are the net worth of migrants who are expected to remain in the host country for more than one year that is transferred from one country to another at the time of migration. Remittances are expressed in millions US$.

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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs ‫ ׀‬Population Division


World Population Policies 2011

DATA SOURCES FOR POPULATION INDICATORS In the country profiles, data on selected demographic and socio-economic indicators are presented for 1975, 1985, 1995 and 2011, or the closest years. For period indicators such as annual growth rate, total fertility, infant mortality rate and net migration rate, average annual rates for corresponding periods 1970–1975, 1980–1985, 1990–1995 and 2005–2010 are presented. Data on population indicators were compiled during September to November 2012 from the following sources: Demographic indicators: United Nations (2011). World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision. DVD Edition – Extended Dataset in Excel and ASCII formats (Sales No. E.11XIII.7); and World Urbanization Prospects: The 2011 Revision. CD-ROM Edition – Data in digital form (POP/DB/WUP/Rev.2011). Statutory age at retirement: United States Social Security Administration. Social Security Programs Throughout the World. (Africa: 2011; Asia and the Pacific: 2010; Europe: 2012; The Americas: 2011). Available from http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/progdesc/ssptw. Percentage of women aged 20–24 years married by 18: United Nations Children’s Fund (2012). ChildInfo: Monitoring the Situation of Children and Women. Available from http://www.childinfo.org/marriage_countrydata.php. Percentage of married women using contraception: United Nations (2012). World Contraceptive Use 2012 (POP/DB/CP/Rev2012). Percentage of married women with unmet need for family planning: United Nations (2012). World Contraceptive Use 2012 (POP/DB/CP/Rev2012). Index of family planning effort: Ross, John and Ellen Smith (2010). The Family Planning Effort Index: 1999, 2004, and 2009. Washington, DC: Futures Group, Health Policy Initiative, Task Order 1. Induced abortion rate: Data on the number of induced abortions are from national sources and the United Nations Demographic Yearbook (various issues). Available from http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm. Data on the number of women aged 15 to 44 years are from United Nations (2011). World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision. DVD Edition – Extended Dataset in Excel and ASCII formats (Sales No. E.11XIII.7). Percentage of women in non-agricultural wage employment. Source: International Labour Organization. Yearbook of Labour Statistics (various issues). Available from http://unstats.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx.

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Percentage of children aged 12–23 months with 3 doses of DPT vaccine: United Nations Children’s Fund. ChildInfo: Monitoring the Situation of Children and Women. Available from http://www.childinfo.org/immunization_countrydata.php. Prevalence of stunting among children aged 0–59 months: United Nations Children’s Fund. ChildInfo: Monitoring the Situation of Children and Women. Available from http://www.childinfo.org/malnutrition_nutritional_status.php. Maternal mortality ratio: World Health Organization. Global Health Observatory Data Repository. WHO: Geneva. Available from http://apps.who.int/gho/data/#. Percentage of birth attended by trained health professional: World Health Organization. Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Available from http://apps.who.int/gho/data/#. Percent obese among adults aged 20 years or over: World Health Organization. Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Available from http://apps.who.int/gho/data/#. Percentage of deaths caused by non-communicable diseases: World Health Organization (2011). Noncommunicable Diseases Country Profiles 2011. Available from http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241502283_eng.pdf . HIV prevalence among adults aged 15–49 years: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. AIDSInfo. Available from http://www.aidsinfoonline.org. Number of people living with HIV: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. AIDSInfo. Available from http://www.aidsinfoonline.org. International migrant stock: United Nations (2011). Trends in International Migrant Stock: Migrants by Age and Sex (POP/DB/MIG/Stock/Rev.2011). Percentage of females among international migrants: United Nations (2011). Trends in International Migrant Stock: Migrants by Age and Sex (POP/DB/MIG/Stock/Rev.2011). Annual inflow of remittances: World Bank. World Development Indicators. Available from http://data.worldbank.org/data-catalog/world-development-indicators.

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World Population Policies 2011

EXPLANATORY NOTES World Population Policies 2011 provides information on 196 countries, including all 193 Member States and three non-member States (Cook Islands, the Holy See and Niue) of the United Nations. Countries and areas are grouped geographically into six major areas: Africa; Asia; Europe; Latin America and the Caribbean; Northern America; and Oceania. Those major areas are further divided geographically into 21 regions. In addition, for statistical convenience, the regions are classified as belonging to either of the two general groups: more developed and less developed regions. The more developed regions comprise all regions of Europe plus Northern America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Countries in the more developed regions are denominated “developed countries”. The less developed regions comprise all regions of Africa, Asia (excluding Japan), Latin America and the Caribbean plus Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Countries in the less developed regions are denominated “developing countries”. The least developed countries include 49 countries (34 in Africa, 9 in Asia, 5 in Oceania and 1 in Latin America and the Caribbean), as defined by the United Nations General Assembly resolutions 59/209, 59/210, 60/33, 62/97, 64/L.55 and 67/L.43: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Yemen and Zambia. Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with figures. Various symbols have been used in the tables throughout this report, as follows: Two dots (..) indicate that data are not available or are not separately reported. A hyphen (-) indicates that the item is not applicable. Two hyphens (--) indicate that data were not collected. A minus sign (-) before a figure indicates a decrease.

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs ‫ ׀‬Population Division

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Years given begin with 1 July. Use of en dash (–) between years, for example, 2005–2010, signifies the full period involved, from 1 July of the starting year to 1 July of the ending year. Use of en dash (–) between ages, for example, 15–49, signifies age range in completed years, from exact 15 years up to, but not including, exact age 50 years. Use of en dash (–) between any other pair of numbers, for example, dates: 5–13 September and page numbers: pp. 90–101, signifies the full range inclusive of both the starting and the ending numbers. Percentages in tables and figures do not necessarily add to 100 per cent because of rounding. World Population Policies 2011 uses estimates and projections of demographic indicators from the most recent 2010 Revision of World Population Prospects. This may result in minor discrepancies from World Population Policies 2009 that used the 2008 Revision of World Population Prospects. For any newly-formed States, Government views and policies are not available for previous time points, but estimates of population indicators are provided using the 2010 World Population Prospects.

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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs ‫ ׀‬Population Division


PART ONE GOVERNMENT VIEWS AND POLICIES



INTRODUCTION Population dynamics—including changes in population growth rates, age structures and distributions of people—are closely linked to national and global developmental challenges and their solutions. In the years ahead, Governments and the international community will need to address the development consequences of population dynamics before they unfold by adopting forward-looking and pro-active policies based on foreseeable demographic trends. In these efforts, it will be critical to assess and monitor key Government policies and programmes related to population dynamics and their consequences. All the United Nations international population conferences since 1974 have emphasized the need to monitor population policies and programmes related to the implementation of their goals and recommendations, including the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held at Cairo in 1994 that recommended that actions be taken “... to measure, assess, monitor and evaluate progress towards meeting the goals” of its Programme of Action (United Nations, 1995, chap. I, resolution 1, annex, para. 13.6). The overriding goal of the ICPD Programme of Action, namely, to improve human welfare and promote sustainable development, is fully consistent with the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) contained in the Millennium Declaration of 2000 (United Nations, General Assembly, 2000). Indeed, some of the goals in the Programme of Action are identical to the MDGs, including those pertaining to the reduction of child mortality, the improvement of maternal health and the achievement of universal primary education (United Nations, 2005). Recognizing the centrality of the ICPD Programme of Action to these and other developmental challenges in the future, the General Assembly has decided to extend the ICPD Programme of Action and its key actions beyond 2014, for further implementation and to “ensure its follow-up in order to fully meet its goals and objectives” (United Nations, General Assembly, 2011a, p. 2). The Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs is responsible for global monitoring of the implementation of the Programme of Action adopted by the 1994 ICPD, in the same way as it was responsible for tracking the World Population Plan of Action of the 1974 World Population Conference (United Nations, 1975). In carrying out this task, the Division conducts regular updates of Government policies and programmes related key population issues, and prepares periodic monitoring reports that adhere to the principles of objectivity and neutrality to measure the progress that countries have made in the implementation of the Programme of Action. The current report is part of the efforts of the Population Division to disseminate the information resulting from its monitoring of national population policies and programmes. It provides an overview of population policies and related population indicators for all 193 Member States and three non-Member States of the United Nations for data referring to the middle of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s decades—relating approximately to the times when the three United Nations population conferences were convened at Bucharest (1974), Mexico City (1984) and Cairo (1994)—as well as for 2005 and 2011.

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World Population Policies 2011

Successive monitoring reports have documented significant changes since mid-1970s in Government views on population issues as well as in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of population policies. Monitoring of Government views and policies may itself contribute to an evolution in thinking by increasing global awareness of population and development issues and the need for appropriate and timely policy responses.

MAJOR SOURCES OF INFORMATION In order to compile the requisite information for monitoring the implementation of the World Population Plan of Action and later the ICPD Programme of Action, the Population Division has established the Population Policy Data Bank, now called the World Population Policies Database. The major sources of information contained in the Database are of four broad types (Box Intro.1). The first type of information comprises official Government responses to the United Nations Inquiry among Governments on Population and Development, of which there have been ten separate rounds since 1963. Each round of the Inquiry has consisted of a detailed request for information sent to all Member States and non-member States of the United Nations. The first and second rounds of the Inquiry were conducted prior to the 1974 World Population Conference. The eighth Inquiry, the first directed towards the ICPD Programme of Action, was initiated in 1997. More recently, the Ninth Inquiry was sent to Governments in 2003, and the Tenth Inquiry was sent to Governments in 2008. The second type of information consists of publications, documents, statements and other materials issued by Governments, including development plans, sectoral programmes, laws, regulations and proclamations. These materials are a particularly important source of data because they reflect the official positions taken by Governments. The third category of information consists of materials provided by international organizations, such as regional commissions, funds, programmes and agencies of the United Nations system, as well as other regional intergovernmental organizations. Because countries collectively are the source of these materials, an official status is attached to them. The fourth type of information consists of non-governmental materials, including clippings from the world press, articles in academic journals, proceedings of conferences and seminars, reports and studies prepared by research centres and non-governmental organizations, as well as correspondence and personal communications with experts.

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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs ‫ ׀‬Population Division


World Population Policies 2011

ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT The report is divided into two parts. Part One provides a global perspective on the evolution of selected aspects of population policies between 1976 and 2011 and Part Two presents individual country profiles based on seven major topics: (1) population size and growth; (2) population age structure; (3) fertility; (4) reproductive health and family planning; (5) health and mortality; (6) spatial distribution and internal migration; and (7) international migration.

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World Population Policies 2011

Information on a total of 42 policy variables, covering the above seven topics, was gathered for the 2011 revision of the World Population Policies Database (see Definitions of Population Policy Variables) between June 2011 and September 2012. These variables reflect three basic types of policy information: (i) Government views and concerns on the policy significance of selected population issues; (ii) Government intentions and objectives with respect to selected population parameters; and (iii) legal and programmatic measures adopted by Government to influence the levels or direction of selected population parameters. There are several innovations in this version of the report, compared with previous editions. First, special attention is given to international migration issues in light of the fortysixth session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development in 2013, whose special theme is “New Trends in Migration: Demographic Aspects”, as well as the High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development scheduled to take place during the sixtyeighth session of the General Assembly in 2013. In addition to the standard information on Government views and policies on immigration and emigration, the report includes information on several new international migration topics, such as irregular migration, naturalization, facilitating return of migrants to their home countries, dual citizenship, and measures to attract diaspora investments. Second, given persistent morbidity and mortality challenges associated with undernutrition and infectious diseases in many countries, this report includes information on Government views on child undernutrition and Government concerns about tuberculosis and malaria. This is in addition to the information on child mortality, maternal mortality, life expectancy, and HIV/AIDS already included in previous rounds. Third, given rapid ageing and the growing significance of non-communicable diseases and their consequences for development in many countries, the report includes information on measures to address population ageing and Government concerns about the prevalence of overweight and obesity and non-communicable diseases in their countries. Finally, the report includes information on legal grounds on which abortion is permitted and laws and policies related to domestic violence under the reproductive health topic. Part Two of the report presents country specific information on the evolution of Government views and policies from 1976 to 2011 with respect to population size and growth, population age structure, fertility, reproductive health and family planning, health and mortality, spatial distribution and internal migration, and international migration. Country profiles are presented for each of the 193 Member States and three non-member States (Cook Islands, the Holy See and Niue) of the United Nations. The material is presented in the form of two-page country profiles. The first page contains population policy information for each country referring to four points in time: 1976, 1986, 1996, and 2011. The second page provides data on selected demographic and socioeconomic indicators for selected dates.

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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs ‫ ׀‬Population Division



Language | English Sales No.| E.13.XIII.2 ISBN-13 | 978-92-1-151499-5 eISBN-13 | 978-92-1-056050-4 Price USD | $85.00

Printed at the United Nations, New York 13–21741 – April 2013


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