| Abstract: | The population of minority groups has been increasing rapidly in recent years, but the rate of increase is different depending on the region, for various reasons: 1) Population increase rates are high in flat, low regions with warm weather, a good natural environment, and good transportation systems. Productivity is beginning to lag behind population growth (population increased by 90% from 1953 to 1982). 2) Population is increasing at a slower rate in high regions with cool weather and an average natural environment. The productivity growth rate in these regions is about the same (the population increased by 37.5% from 1949 to 1980). 3) Population is increasing at a lower, or even negative, rate in mountainous regions with little flat land and poor transportation service. 4) In some regions, large families are predominant because of tradition and/or religion. In some minority groups, where large extended families are the rule, increases are low because of health problems. People in minority groups are willing to practice family planning, but it is impossible to make one general family planning policy because people in different regions face different problems. |
