Couples may be free to decide number of children

The above proposal was put foward by the Ministry of Health.

The regulation is in line with the 2013 Constitution on human rights and citizen rights and international agreements which Viet Nam is a signatory. It also complies with political commitments which Viet Nam has made at multilateral forums on fertility.

According to Population Ordinance No. 08/2008/PL-UBTVQH12, each couple shall have one child or two children, except particular cases stipulated by the Government.

However, the regulation is no longer appropriate as item 2 of Article 14 of the 2013 Constitution regulates that “Human rights and citizens’ rights shall only be restricted when prescribed by law in imperative circumstances for the reasons of national defense, national security, social order and security, social morality and community well-being.

As its population has surpassed the milestone of over 100 million people, Viet Nam became the third most populous country in Southeast Asia and 15th in the world. The working-age group accounts for over 66 percent of the total population.

In 1999, the average number of children per woman was 2.33. This number has steadily dipped, reaching a record low of 1.9 children per woman in 2023. This falls short of the replacement fertility rate of 2.1 children needed to maintain a stable population./.