inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Ministry of Population and Family Development /National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) responded to the issue of the increasing number of young people choosing to remain childless, or childfree, with the Child-Friendly Parenting Program (Tamasya).
Minister of Population and Family Development, Wihaji, stated that although Indonesia's current total fertility rate is ideal at 2.1, the issue of childfree needs to be addressed to maintain population balance and prevent a fertility crisis similar to that experienced in developed countries.
"We are talking about the fear of some of our citizens about having children, which has given rise to what we call childfree. As a ministry overseeing this issue, we must find solutions to ensure that people are not anxious about this matter. Such a step is a program called Tamasya, or the Indonesian Exemplary Father Movement (GATI), as evidence of the state's intervention to the issue," explained Wihaji on Wednesday (2/25/2026).
Based on data from the Directorate of Family Resilience for Toddlers and Children at the Ministry of Education and Culture, as of February 20, 2026, there were 3,730 "Tamasya" serving families throughout Indonesia.
To create a better-quality generation of Indonesians through family development, Wihaji emphasized the importance of population planning, not just controlling education.
"Our priority in population development is reproductive health. We will prioritize areas where the TFR (is still high) to provide contraception," he explained.
Furthermore, he believes that the development of the Population Development Roadmap (PJPK) is also crucial for creating a better-quality generation of Indonesians, not just reducing the number of children.
Through education on reproductive health, he believes, the younger generation can become more aware of their choices about having children. Furthermore, ensuring job opportunities, social and employment security, and adequate maternal and child health services are also crucial factors in addressing the issue of childfree.
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