Publication Type

Book Chapter

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

9-2008

Abstract

Only 40 years ago, population experts were still worried about a population explosion that would threaten the future of humanity. Fortunately, while population growth is currently largely under control, sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South Asia still face massive increases with very serious potential consequences. Paradoxically, however, a new problem is emerging, with its key locus in Pacific Asia (the term used in this book to refer to Asian countries with a Pacific littoral). This problem is ultra-low fertility. Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, and Hong Kong SAR are among the very lowest-fertility countries in the whole world, and even China has reached fertility levels lower than those in many European countries. Fertility has sunk so low in many East Asian countries that if these levels continue over long periods, populations will face accelerating populationdecline not very far into the future.

Discipline

Asian Studies | Family, Life Course, and Society

Research Areas

Sociology

Publication

Ultra-low fertility in Pacific Asia: Trends, causes and policy issues

Editor

Gavin Jones, Paulin Straughan and Angelique Chan

First Page

1

Last Page

22

ISBN

9780415468848

Identifier

10.4324/9780203890066

Publisher

Routledge

City or Country

London

Additional URL

https://doi.org./10.4324/9780203890066

Share

COinS