Our TFR target is 2.1 in 2024... where the total fertility level is 2.1 children per woman.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) has said that controlling the total fertility rate (TFR) could help realize the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision.

"Our TFR target is 2.1 in 2024. Theoretically, (TFR of 2.1) meets the replacement level, where the total fertility level is 2.1 children per woman," head of the BKKBN's Center for Population Research and Development, Indra Murty Surbakti, said here on Monday.

According to him, Indonesia needs to have balanced population growth, with the population stabilizing at a TFR of 2.1.

"We want to get to the 2.1 TFR so that our population is stable, not decreasing in order to welcome Golden Indonesia 2045," he said.

Based on the BKKBN's calculation, Indonesia's current TFR is 2.14. Surbakti said he is optimistic that the 2.1 target will be achieved in 2024.

"Don't let our population decline too fast like in China or Japan. We need to maintain our population stable so it does not decline in the future, which is based on the 2.1 target," he said.

He noted that currently, Indonesia is at the peak of the demographic bonus, but this bonus cannot be utilized immediately and its impact will only be felt in the future.

"The demographic bonus cannot be directly utilized, meaning it is still an opportunity. The productive age population is very large, but they must have good health, high education, and must be employed. If we can take advantage of this demographic bonus, then we can achieve Golden Indonesia 2045," he said.

However, he underlined that the demographic bonus in Indonesia will only last until the late 2030s.

"After that, our productive age population will decline, thus, we need to focus on the TFR, and the population policies in each region must vary (based on their TFR)," he said.

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Translator: Lintang P, Kenzu
Editor: Sri Haryati
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