Exploring Global Population Trends, Strategies, and Challenges

• NPG
• October 2, 2023
• NPG Commentary
• 1 Comment

Population Trends Around the World

Recently, Asia Times published an article written by Australian-American journalist, John P. Ruehl. Titled How Countries Prepare for Population Growth and Decline, the article discusses the population trends in different parts of the world and highlights the various measures taken to manage population growth, decline, and stabilization. Russia and Iran, for example, have seen declining birth rates, and each country has implemented measures to mitigate this by incentivizing families to have two or more kids in Russia, and by limiting access to birth control in Iran.

In northeast Asia, countries have implemented new programs hoping to boost population growth. Japan has restructured its immigration policy to allow immigrants into their country and has also hosted state-sponsored speed dating. South Korea has invested significant funds into childcare centers and programs to increase their total fertility rate (TFR), so far – without success.

India is the world’s most populous country—even with its TFR now falling below replacement level. Ruehl states, “India is currently managing its youthful population through initiatives such as promoting employment opportunities abroad.”

Western Europe is not in danger of losing its population, and that is mostly due to inbound immigration-driven growth. The United States continues to experience growth based almost entirely on immigration, as well.

Of the countries and regions listed, all but two (Western Europe and the U.S.) are hoping—by way of pro-family policies and programs— to steer their citizens toward growing their families. In the meantime, Western Europe and the U.S. stand out as the two areas that continue to see population growth, not because they have higher TFR, but due to immigration into these regions.

Meanwhile, academic and policy analyst Sean Speers wrote a compelling article about immigration-driven growth in Canada, in which he distinguishes differences between immigration-driven growth and natural growth. Most notable is that it (immigration-driven growth) “is far less geographically distributed. More than half of recent immigrants settle in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver and nine of ten settle in a census metropolitan area. Natural growth by contrast would presumably more closely reflect the general distribution of population across the country. Immigration-driven population growth should therefore be expected to impose even greater pressure on housing and other infrastructure in our major cities and contribute to a growing urban-rural divide in our economic and political outcomes.”

Ruehl advocates for long-term sustainable approaches to population management that “avoid coercion but also provide support for those raising children.” NPG agrees with this approach and has also suggested incentives (by way of education and tax adjustments) to encourage intentional family planning. Speers gathered enough data to support the fact that immigrants are mainly gathering in metropolitan areas. In the U.S., we have seen the disruption immigrants have caused, consistently at the border and recently in NYC, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, among other areas.   

Global population trends signify a crucial shift, with countries employing various strategies to manage population growth, decline, or stabilization. From pro-family policies in Russia and Iran, to revamping immigration policies in Japan, nations are adapting to their demographic realities. However, Western Europe and the U.S. continue to grow primarily due to immigration, creating unique challenges. Immigration-driven growth tends to concentrate in urban areas, exacerbating infrastructure pressures and economic disparities across regions. NPG believes in a balanced and sustainable approach to population management, guided by reasonable immigration policies that would limit legal immigration into the U.S. to no more than 200,000 per year and access to family planning services and education to encourage two-child families. By taking these steps, we are working toward our goal to slow, halt, and eventually reverse population growth.

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One Reply to “Exploring Global Population Trends, Strategies, and Challenges”

• Tony McIntyre

  October 17, 2023

  in Australia both our major political parties support a “Big Australia”. We currently see a net inflow of nearly 500,000 people per year. When you have a population of 26 million that is huge. We now have some of the most expensive housing in the world. Our roads, schools, hospitals, public transport etc etc cannot cope. Our birth rate is below replacement but the demographics are such that our current birth rate is about twice the death rate. The fact that with the housing crisis all our politicians can talk about is increasing supply. There is no mention of the huge demand due to the inflow of people. One has to wonder whose interests they are serving.