... if our population stood at 237.6 million in 2010 it must grow by 3.5 million to more than 241 million this year...Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian population is estimated to have increased to more than 241 million this year, far exceeding the results of the 2010 census, the Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) said.
The population exceeded the national projection of 237.6 million with an annual growth rate of 1.49 percent based on the results of the census, BKKBN Chief Secretary Sudibyo Alimoeso said here on Sunday.
"The projection is based on last year's population census so our population has increased this year," he said.
With an annual population growth of 1.49 percent, the Indonesian population increased by 3.5 million per year, he said.
"So if our population stood at 237.6 million in 2010 it must grow by 3.5 million to more than 241 million this year," he said.
If the country did not keep down the population growth the population would increase to 450 million in 2045. This meant that one of every 20 people in the world would be Indonesian, he said.
He said the government needed to revise the present projection of the country's population.
"If we still rely on the previous projection we fear it will have an impact on national food supplies," he said.
He said the projection of the Indonesian population far exceeded the reality because of large deviation and therefore, it must be revised soon.
The inaccurate projection of the population would have an impact on the fulfillment of basic needs such as health care, food, housing and job opportunities, he said.
"Based on the calculation of food and nutrition needs, an excess of 4 million will have a far-reaching effect on all population sectors," he said. (W004)
Editor: Ade P Marboen
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