Explaining the current fertility differentials in three ASEAN countries

The Southeast Asian countries are at different stages of demographic transition. Within each country, fertility level varies widely across the socioeconomic groups, resulting from differentials in age at marriage, contraceptive use, and probably induced abortion. This paper attempts to examine factors influencing the fertility trends and differentials in Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
The near replacement fertility level achieved in Indonesia and rapid fertility transition in Cambodia were mainly attributed to the successful implementation of national family planning program. The pace of fertility reduction in the Philippines has been relatively modest, partly due to the low use of modern contraception. While rising age at marriage is an important proximate determinant of fertility in each of these countries, it is less important in explaining the different level of fertility across the three countries since the singulate mean age at marriage is about the same in all three countries (about 23 years around year 2005).
Urbanization, social changes and wider use of contraception have resulted in continuing fertility decline in these countries. However, improving women’s education and status is crucial in reducing the high fertility level among some groups of the population, in order to achieve greater economic progress.