Most countries in Southeast Asia (including Indonesia) have entered the demographic bonus period. The demographic bonus period is the result of a decline in the total birth rate, he explained at the “2nd Southeast Asia Biennial Conference on Population and Health Related to Stunting” here on Tuesday.
The proportion of the population aged 15–64 years has sharply increased compared to the unproductive population, such as infants and elderly people, he noted.
This has created a demographic bonus opportunity, the peak of which will be reached during the 2025–2030 period.
Indonesia's dependency ratio has currently reached a point where every 100 members of the productive population can support around 41 to 46 members of the unproductive population, he informed.
This has provided the country an opportunity to increase revenue and improve family welfare since high productivity can help support sustainable programs.
However, the demographic bonus in Indonesia has encountered a serious threat related to population quality.
While population quantity is still deemed strategic, Indonesia's population quality can be considered worrying given that the country is still struggling with unequal population distribution, especially in the outermost remote islands.
Hence, sustainable development, as part of the 2030 Agenda related to population problems, such as population growth, elderly population, urbanization, and migration, must receive attention from all parties, Wardoyo said.
Then, by 2030, almost 10 percent of the population will be aged 60 years or above. So, the elderly population must be prepared to be healthy and productive.
However, based on field observations, there are many elderly people with low education and poor economic status.
In relation to the government's program, Wardoyo said that the Family Planning and Family Development program, which covers stunting, already matches the main goals mandated within the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
The main goals comprise a world without poverty, without starvation, with healthy and prosperous life, with gender equality, with clean water, and with proper sanitation.
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Translator: Hreeloita D S, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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