HANOI (dpa): Vietnam is facing major challenges, including the lowest fertility rate in its history, a severe gender imbalance at birth and the rapid ageing of the population, the government said on Friday.
"The total fertility rate has dropped to its lowest level in history and is expected to continue to decrease in the coming years," Health Minister Dao Hong Lan said at a meeting on the occasion of World Population Day, adding that these challenges affect the country's sustainable development.
Citing the results of the population change survey in April 2024, Lan pointed out that the total fertility rate has decreased from 2.01 children per woman in 2022 to 1.96 in 2023 and 1.91 in 2024.
This is the lowest level in Vietnam's demographic history. A rate of 2.1 is usually needed for population replacement.
Vietnam's population is currently estimated at about 103 million people.
The Vietnamese government wants the population to grow, but in a balanced and sustainable way. It has encouraged couples to have two children, especially in urban areas, and offers incentives such as financial support, longer maternity leave and childcare.
Although it has been controlled, the gender imbalance at birth is also of concern. Specifically, the ratio was 110.5 boys to 100 girls in 2009, increased to 111.5 boys to 100 girls in 2019, and is currently at 111.4 boys to 100 girls in 2024.
This imbalance negatively impacts the future population structure, leading to a surplus of men: The General Statistics Office predicts that if the gender imbalance at birth remains high, Vietnam will have a surplus of 1.5 million men aged 15 to 49 by 2034, and this number could reach 1.8 million by 2059. - dpa
