The country aims to restore fertility levels and ensure economic stability through new family policies.
Vietnam Reverses Two-Child Policy Amid Declining Birthrate Crisis
Vietnam Reverses Two-Child Policy Amid Declining Birthrate Crisis
Vietnam takes bold step to encourage higher birthrate and combat demographic challenges.
Vietnam has officially abolished its longstanding two-child policy in a decisive move to address its declining birthrate, which poses significant threats to the nation’s future economic stability. The National Assembly's new regulation, enacted earlier this week, reflects a shift towards a more flexible family planning approach, as the government strives to boost its fertility rate.
Implemented in 1988, the two-child limit was seldom enforced uniformly across the population, with Communist Party members facing penalties for having more than two children. The recent legal change allows all families to have as many kids as they wish, with officials now actively endorsing family expansion.
Vietnam's birthrate saw a troubling decline to a record low of 1.91 children per woman last year, marking three consecutive years below the replacement threshold of 2.1. Similar to other Asian countries like China and Japan, Vietnam faces an imminent demographic crisis characterized by an emerging shortage of workers to support an aging population.
The United Nations Population Fund has warned that Vietnam will transition from an “aging” to an “aged” society in just two decades. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Vietnamese government has implemented various initiatives, such as dating programs and public awareness campaigns, to inspire younger generations to embrace parenthood. Additionally, new incentives, including a cash bonus of approximately $120 for women who bear two children before turning 35, have been introduced in urban centers like Ho Chi Minh City, where the fertility rate has plummeted to as low as 1.39.
These strategies mark a proactive attempt by Vietnam to reverse the alarming demographic trends and ensure that the economy is underpinned by a robust future workforce.
Implemented in 1988, the two-child limit was seldom enforced uniformly across the population, with Communist Party members facing penalties for having more than two children. The recent legal change allows all families to have as many kids as they wish, with officials now actively endorsing family expansion.
Vietnam's birthrate saw a troubling decline to a record low of 1.91 children per woman last year, marking three consecutive years below the replacement threshold of 2.1. Similar to other Asian countries like China and Japan, Vietnam faces an imminent demographic crisis characterized by an emerging shortage of workers to support an aging population.
The United Nations Population Fund has warned that Vietnam will transition from an “aging” to an “aged” society in just two decades. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Vietnamese government has implemented various initiatives, such as dating programs and public awareness campaigns, to inspire younger generations to embrace parenthood. Additionally, new incentives, including a cash bonus of approximately $120 for women who bear two children before turning 35, have been introduced in urban centers like Ho Chi Minh City, where the fertility rate has plummeted to as low as 1.39.
These strategies mark a proactive attempt by Vietnam to reverse the alarming demographic trends and ensure that the economy is underpinned by a robust future workforce.
