Trends in Fertility, Family Size Preferences, and Family Planning Practice: Taiwan, 1961-85

This article traces the major trends in the population of Taiwan's reproductive behavior from 1961 until 1984-85, when the net reproduction rate was below 1.0. For 1961-84 about 35 percent of the fertility decline in Taiwan was due to declining nuptiality. Major declines in fertility at ages over 30, a major factor in the first 15 years, have brought rates at the older ages close to zero. The practice of contraception has almost reached saturation levels, with high use rates in all major population strata. Sterilization has replaced the IUD as the modal method and an increasing majority of the couples now begin practicing contraception to space births. The "KAP-gap" has virtually disappeared. While preferred family size continues to fall, social differentials in preferences persist. However, few couples are satisfied with only one child. Taiwan's family planning program has attained its demographic objectives of going from high to low birth and death rates, but its social welfare functions continue.