Viet Nam's birth rate drops to record low
VGP - The birth rates in Viet Nam have declined rapidly over the past three years from 2.11 children per woman in 2021 to 1.91 in 2024. according to Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong.
Over the past two decades, urban areas have witnessed low birth rates. In 2024, birth rate of urban areas fell to only 1.67 children per women, lower than the rate of 1.7 children per women in 2023. In 2024, birth rate of rural women was 2.08.
However, since 2011, the population has been ageing at a rate much faster than most other nations.
Viet Nam is prjected to become an ageing nation by 2036 and a super-aged society by 2049. The country is also entering a phase of low fertility, with the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) recorded at 1.96 in 2023.
This shift from a youthful to an ageing population has far-reaching implications and necessitates immediate preparations.
According to Viet Nam's Population Strategy towards 2030, and intervention plans to implement the goals of Resolution No. 21-NQ/TW, the country committed to maintaining the replacement fertility rate and to bringing the sex ratio at birth to a natural balance.
The Ministry of Health is composing the draft Law on Population with specific policies to respond to and prevent the trend of declining fertility rates to firmly ensure the country's replacement fertility rate.
The draft law will be finalized this December and submitted to the National Assembly at the 10th session.
Pham Vu Hoang, Deputy General Director of the Ministry's Population and Family Planning Department proposed new policies on withdrawal of discipline for cases of giving birth to third children or more and encouragement of couples and individuals to have two children./.
