Harmonization of Central and Regional Population Policies in the Era of Decentralization: A Socio-Legal Review

Abstract

Government decentralization has transformed the landscape of population policy in Indonesia from a centralized system into a fragmented one. Previous studies have tended to examine demographic aspects and the effectiveness of family planning programs separately, without positioning law as an instrument for harmonizing central and regional policies. This article aims to analyze the role of law in harmonizing population policies within a decentralized system and to identify the juridical and sociological constraints affecting their implementation. This study employs normative legal research using statutory and conceptual approaches. The primary legal materials include the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, Law No. 52 of 2009 concerning Population Development, and Law No. 24 of 2013 concerning Population Administration. These materials are analyzed through vertical and horizontal synchronization techniques, while their effectiveness is assessed using Soerjono Soekanto's theory of legal effectiveness. Secondary data were obtained from 25 accredited journal articles published between 2020 and 2025 and data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) for 2024. The findings reveal three main results. First, vertical disharmony exists between national population development targets and regional regulations, as most regional regulations lack indicators aligned with the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN). Second, the effectiveness of population growth control is hindered not by the absence of legal norms, but by weaknesses in law enforcement and regional infrastructure, as well as cultural resistance. Third, population administration has not functioned optimally as a single data system due to the dualism of authority between central and regional civil registration agencies. This article recommends strengthening binding coordination provisions through the revision of Law No. 52 of 2009 and developing a legal education model based on local wisdom.