THE FERTILITY TRENDS AND NUPTIALITY PROFILE IN SINGAPORE, 1947-1990

Abstract

General definitions of fertility and nuptiality, measurement of fertility are spelt out in the introductory chapter. In addition, a review of population policies adopted by the government which had helped in shaping the demographic profile of Singapore are also done. In chapter two, several measures of fertility, namely the crude birth rate, age specific fertility rate, total fertility rate and gross reproduction rate, are used to analyse fertility patterns in general and fertility differentials among the three major ethnic groups in particular. The effects of educational qualification and activity status of women on fertility are observed in chapter three through the use of mean number of children ever born by women and the birth order. These effects on fertility are also analysed for the three ethnic groups to ascertain whether these two variables, the educational qualification and activity status of women, are able to cut across other socio-economic and cultural differences in affecting fertility behaviour. As marriage usually marks the onset of the female reproduction process, changes in marriage patterns thus hold significant influence on fertility levels. For this reason, in chapter four, we confine our analysis to the transition in nuptiality patterns. The trends in the age pattern of marriage and the frequency of marital disruption are analysed. Differences in nuptiality pattern for women of different educational qualifications are also examined. The principal observations and the factors affecting the fertility decline in the past three decades are summarized in the concluding chapter.