RI's changing demographics: pros and cons

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has undergone sweeping demographic changes over the past 25 years thanks to its highly successful family planning program, population experts say.

Declining birth and mortality rates, coupled with rising life expectancies and migration have changed the population mix in Indonesia, something that policy makers should take into account while plotting the nation's development.

The Demography Research and Development Center of the University of Indonesia will hold a seminar on April 18 to discuss the problems and challenges facing Indonesia in what experts describe as a demographic revolution.

"The major question that needs to be urgently addressed is how the national development should be carried out in accordance with the demographic changes," Aris Ananta of the demographic center told reporters yesterday.

The meeting, which will feature demographers and senior scientists, will be held as part of the celebration of the center's 30th anniversary. The center falls under the School of Economics at the state university.

Dwiantini J. Fergus, one of the demographers tipped to address the meeting, said the seminar will also discuss the conditions of labor market and productivity in relation to the composition of the population in the year 2005 when the demographic transition is predicted to cease. (rms)