Strategies for Managing Human Population Size (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Environmental Management): Revision Note

Population policies

• Managing human population size is important for sustainable development

• Rapid population growth can place pressure on resources, services and the environment

• In contrast, very slow growth or population decline can cause labour shortages and economic problems

• Governments use a range of strategies to influence birth rates, death rates and migration

Anti-natalist population policies

• Anti-natalist policies aim to reduce birth rates

  • They are often used in countries experiencing rapid population growth (overpopulation), where resources are strained

• Governments may encourage smaller families through education, incentives or laws

  • Examples include limits on family size or financial benefits for having fewer children

    • For example, Vietnam’s Two-Child Policy (introduced in the 1980s) aimed to limit family size by encouraging people to have only two children

• Anti-natalist policies lead to:

  • Slower population growth

  • Reduced pressure on resources

• However, they can also cause long-term issues, such as an ageing population (fewer young people to support the elderly)

China's population policy

• The best-known example is China's one-child policy, which was in effect from 1979 to 2016, although it was relaxed in 1999

• The policy used various methods to reduce the birth rate, including: 

  • Fines for having more than one child

  • Increased access to contraceptives and family planning education

  • Posters and advertisements to promote the advantages of only having one child

  • Better employment opportunities for those with only one child

  • No payment for education or healthcare for second child

  • Encouraging late marriages

  • Legalised abortion

• The policy had many impacts; it:

  • Reports of forced abortions and sterilisations 

  • Affected the male/female ratio due to the preference for male children

    • Led to over 30 million more men under 20 than women under 20

  • Caused a decrease in the population growth rate

    • Leading to an ageing population

Pro-natalist population policies

• Pro-natalist policies aim to increase birth rates

• They are used in countries with ageing populations, labour shortages or population decline

• These policies actively encourage families to have more children

• There are several countries that have implemented pro-natalist policies, including:

  • France’s Code de la Famille (1939)

  • Singapore's 'Baby Bonus', after 1987

  • Sweden offers generous parental leave (up to 480 days shared between both parents) to support family growth

  • Russia's 'Maternity Capital' bonus

• Government measures used to encourage people to have larger families have included:

  • Improved maternity and paternity leave rights

  • Increased child benefits

  • Tax allowances for larger families, which reduce tax payments

  • Improved childcare provision

  • Free pre-school places

• Success depends on the cost of living, childcare availability and cultural attitudes

French population policy

• In France, past policies have included:

  • Discounts on public transport for families with three or more children

  • Increased paid maternity leave

  • Better mortgage deals

  • Tax allowances

  • Free childcare from 3 to school age

  • Cash incentives for mothers who stay at home to care for children

  • Subsidised holidays

• The policies have led to one of the highest fertility rates in Europe

Population strategies

Access to contraception

• Access to contraception allows people to control the number and timing of children they have

• Greater availability of contraception usually leads to lower birth rates

• This is especially important in countries with rapid population growth

  • For example, in India, family planning campaigns have included the distribution of free contraceptives

• Family planning programmes help reduce unplanned pregnancies

• Lower birth rates can improve maternal health and reduce pressure on resources

Access to education

• Improved access to education, especially for girls and women, often leads to lower birth rates

• Educated women are more likely to delay marriage and childbirth

• Education increases awareness of family planning and career opportunities

• Higher education levels are linked to smaller family sizes

• This supports long-term population management

Access to healthcare

• Improved healthcare reduces death rates and increases life expectancy

• When child survival rates improve, families often choose to have fewer children

• Healthcare services include maternity care, vaccinations and disease prevention

• Healthier populations support economic development

• Over time, improved healthcare can stabilise population growth

Control of migration

• Governments can influence population size by controlling migration

  • Immigration policies can increase population size and labour supply

  • Emigration policies may reduce population growth or relieve pressure on resources

• Controls may include visas, work permits or border regulations

  • Open immigration policies: allowing more people to enter the country, particularly if there is a need for workers

    • For example, Germany has encouraged immigration to offset its declining population and labour shortages

  • Restrictions on immigration: limiting the number of people who can enter a country to control population growth or preserve jobs for citizens

    • For example, Australia has a strict immigration policy based on points

    • This points-based system favours skilled workers

  • Encouraging emigration: some countries promote emigration to relieve population pressure

• Immigration can help to:

  • Balance an ageing population

  • Provide labour

  • Diversify the economy

• Emigration can reduce population pressure, but may lead to a 'brain drain', where skilled workers leave the country

Benefits & limitations of strategies for managing human population size

• Governments use a range of strategies to manage human population size

• These strategies aim to reduce rapid population growth, slow population decline or stabilise population change

• While many strategies can be effective, each also has limitations and may create social, economic or ethical challenges

• Evaluating both benefits and limitations is essential for balanced understanding

Access to contraception

Benefits

• Access to contraception allows individuals and families to choose the number and spacing of children

• It is an effective way to reduce birth rates and slow population growth

• Improved family planning can reduce maternal and infant mortality

• Lower birth rates reduce pressure on resources, healthcare and education systems

Limitations

• Access may be limited by cost, availability or lack of healthcare infrastructure

• Cultural or religious beliefs may discourage contraceptive use

• In some regions, women may have limited control over reproductive choices

• Contraception alone may not be effective without education and support

Anti-natalist policies

Benefits

• Anti-natalist policies can significantly reduce birth rates over time

• Slower population growth reduces pressure on resources and services

• Governments can better plan for education, housing and employment

Limitations

• Policies may be unpopular or viewed as restricting personal freedom

• They can create imbalanced population structures, such as ageing populations

• Long-term labour shortages may occur if birth rates fall too far

• Enforcement can raise ethical and human rights concerns

Pro-natalist policies

Benefits

• Pro-natalist policies can increase birth rates in countries facing population decline

• A larger future workforce supports economic growth

• They can help balance ageing populations

Limitations

• Financial incentives are expensive for governments

• Policies may have limited impact if childcare and housing are unaffordable

• Increased birth rates can raise pressure on services in the long term

• Cultural attitudes may reduce effectiveness

Access to education

Benefits

• Education, especially for women, is strongly linked to lower birth rates

• Educated populations are more likely to understand family planning

• Education improves employment opportunities and living standards

• This strategy supports long-term, sustainable population management

Limitations

• Education systems take time to develop and expand

• Benefits are long-term rather than immediate

• In some regions, girls’ access to education may be limited by tradition or poverty

• Education alone may not reduce birth rates without healthcare access

Access to healthcare

Benefits

• Improved healthcare reduces death rates and increases life expectancy

• Lower infant mortality leads families to choose smaller family sizes

• Healthier populations support economic development

• Healthcare improvements contribute to population stability over time

Limitations

• Healthcare improvements may initially increase population growth

• High costs limit healthcare access in low-income countries

• Unequal access can increase regional inequalities

• Requires long-term investment and trained professionals

Control of migration

Benefits

• Migration control allows governments to manage population size and structure

• Immigration can fill labour shortages and support economic growth

• Emigration can reduce pressure on jobs and services in high-growth countries

• Policies can be adjusted quickly to meet economic needs

Limitations

• Strict migration controls may lead to labour shortages

• Irregular or illegal migration may increase

• Migration policies can cause political tension and social division

• Migration does not address natural population change