From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Optimum population is where the amount of resources available in a country is equal to the country's population, so there are enough resources to maintain its population.

If it is below its optimum population then it has more resources than needed for the population, if it is above then it has too little resources to maintain its population.

To stably maintain optimum population a country needs a fertility rate of 2.1; this is a level of replacement to guarantee a continuing population. To adjust the optimum population in a country, it will have to aim for above or below a fertility level of 2.1.

To achieve optimum population, a country must change some of the following dimensions to lower or increase their fertility rate, before they can achieve optimum population.

Social and Cultural

Changing people's views and attitudes on religion to adjust it into a modern fashion, changing social attitudes, such as giving women more rights and thought in starting a large family than following tradition.

Economic

Increasing career opportunities will have peoples' minds set on education and career prospects, and maintaining their job, such that the immediate impulse to start a family might be delayed.

Also, starting a "Western way of life" in which people buy entertainment and expensive goods rather than spending large amounts of money on raising a child.

Medical and Scientific

Increasing the amount of contraception in LEDC (Less Economically Developed Country) educating adults and children about sexual education, on how to use contraception and the risks involved, persuading people to use less contraception in countries with a declining fertility rate, also to improve healthcare in some LED countries who need to increase their fertility rate.

Political

Improving education to direct people into a career, this will have people concentrate on getting a stable job rather than plan ahead on starting a family. Thus allowing outside countries and aid companies to help a country with its population problems, and also improving women's rights, moving away from tradition.

Social and Cultural

Higher status has been given to women, so that they can get better career prospects, and have a say in planning a family, this means they can work on their career rather than plan a family straight away.

Also the government has asked couples to marry later, and asked for fewer marriages to take place, so that fewer children will be born.

Economic

The government is delivering “Glory Certificates” to any couple who have followed the "One Child" law; this gives many benefits such as lower taxes, cash rewards, and better career opportunities.

Medical and Scientific

Before a couple can marry and have children, they must go through several tests, one including a test to see if they carry and genetic or infectious diseases, to see if a child they would have will carry it on, also they must agree to a form of sterilization after their first child.^{[citation needed]}

Political

The "One Child" policy is known all around the world, China had enforced this law to reduce its rapidly growing population, and the effects of this method will only be seen until 2040, where the population will start a steady or drastic decline.

Because of this one child policy, families tend to only want a boy to help them in the future, but this is fading out with growing job opportunities for women.

Different Countries Optimum Population