Population Council Research that makes a difference

Statement on the Effectiveness of Family Planning Programs

A serious inaccuracy about the contribution of contraception to declining fertility rates has appeared in print media and is now being perpetuated on the Internet.

Incorrectly citing the Population Council, President Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines used erroneous figures to bolster an anti-contraceptive position in a 2005 speech at the United Nations.

The correct information is as follows: Population Council vice president and distinguished scholar John Bongaarts estimates that between 1960 and 1990 family planning programs were responsible for 43 percent of the fertility decline in developing countries, when taking country size into account.

The evidence in fact demonstrates that well-planned and -implemented family planning programs are effective and advisable for governments concerned about the health and well-being of their people.

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The Population Council confronts critical health and development issues—from stopping the spread of HIV to improving reproductive health and ensuring that young people lead full and productive lives. Through biomedical, social science, and public health research in 50 countries, we work with our partners to deliver solutions that lead to more effective policies, programs, and technologies that improve lives around the world. Established in 1952 and headquartered in New York, the Council is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization governed by an international board of trustees.

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Media contact

Diane Rubino: drubino@popcouncil.org; +1 212 339 0617