Viet Nam projected to become aging population society by 2038

There are major trends in Viet Nam's population: rising life expectancy and low fertility rate, according to the minister.

Viet Nam's average life expectancy increased to 74.5 in 2023, reported the General Statistics Office (GSO).

The life expectancy of Vietnamese men rose by one year, and women by 0.8 year.

Last year, the country's total fertility rate fell to record low of 1.96 children per woman and the trend is forecast to further decline while the ideal replacement level for maintaining population stability is 2.1 children per woman.

The country first entered the aging stage in 2011 when the number of people aged 60 and above accounted for 9.9% and the figure rose to 11.95% in 2018, according to Nguyen Doan Tu, Director General of the Department of Population-Family Planning under the Ministry of Health.

Aging population represents one of the great achievements of the country's socio-economic development process, but it also poses great challenges for social welfare, employment, transport, entertainment, and especially healthcare system, said Dao./.