US EditionVietnam scraps 2-child policy as aging threatens economic growth
- Vietnam abolished its two-child policy on Tuesday to address declining birth rates and an aging population.
- The policy emerged in 1988 amid concerns about overpopulation, but fewer couples now have children due to rising living costs and urbanization.
- Between 2021 and 2023, the average number of children born per woman declined steadily, dropping from just above two to 1.96, with the lowest fertility rates recorded in major urban areas like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
- To address the persistent imbalance in gender ratios, with 112 boys born for every 100 girls due to a cultural preference for sons, Vietnam’s health authorities have suggested increasing the fine to $3,800 for prenatal gender selection.
- The policy change aims to ease workforce shortages and welfare pressures from aging but faces challenges as many couples find raising more than two children costly and difficult.
147 Articles
147 Articles
The measure was in force since 1989 and was introduced after the war in order to reduce the pressure against limited resources. The aim is to reverse the decline in birth rates and the ageing of the population. A decrease that is not uniform and affects mainly large centres such as Ho Chi Minh City.
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Vietnam abolishes two-child policy
The policy, introduced in 1988, was initially implemented to curb population growth following years of war and economic hardship. While enforcement varied, Communist Party members often faced career penalties for exceeding the two-child limit.
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