Indonesia refocuses family planning to address aging population and improve family wellbeing

At a working meeting with the House of Representatives' Commission IX, Minister Wihaji outlined a comprehensive overhaul of Indonesia's family planning approach. The government will move away from the "two children are enough" slogan toward enhancing overall family quality while still managing demographic numbers. Key actions involve raising the legal marriage age, preventing child marriage, promoting long-acting contraceptives, and coordinating culturally-sensitive campaigns with religious figures and traditional leaders.

Existing schemes like Development for Families with Toddlers (BKB), TAMASYA daycare, the Family Acceptor Income Improvement Business (UPPKA) and the Quality Family Village will be aligned with new adolescent resilience and elderly empowerment projects, including the GATI fathers movement and the Indonesian Family Academy. Support for stunting prevention continues through the Genting foster-parent network, which has enrolled 159,587 participants and delivered roughly Rp72 billion in aid. Demographic data show a rising share of citizens aged 65 and over, while the working-age and child cohorts shrink.