A newborn at a hospital in HCM City. Việt Nam’s current birth rate of 1.91 children per woman is among the five nations with the lowest birth rates in the Southeast Asia. — VNS Photo Bồ Xuân Hiệp

HCM CITY — Việt Nam’s birth rate currently stands at 1.91 children per woman, meaning it is the country among the five with the lowest fertility rates in Southeast Asia.

According to a report by the General Statistics Office, Việt Nam’s birth rate, when compared to the regional average of 2.0 children per woman, is only better that of Brunei (1.8), Malaysia (1.6), Thailand and Singapore (1.0).

Like other nations in Asia, Việt Nam has begun to grapple with escalating concerns regarding its demographic challenges.

Experts have attributed its low birth rate to multiple factors, including work-related pressures, financial constraints, a focus on career advancement and evolving social perceptions.

From 1999 to 2022, its birth rate remained stable around the replacement level of 2.1, according to a report by the Ministry of Health. 

However, in the past two years, this rate has seen a rapid decline, dropping from 1.96 children per woman in 2023, to 1.91 children per woman in 2024, the lowest level in the nation’s history.

The decline represents the third consecutive year in which Việt Nam’s birth rate has fallen below the replacement level, according to the report.

The number of localities with birth rates below the replacement level has risen from 22 in 2019 to 32 in 2024, mainly in the southeast and Mekong Delta regions.

In 2024, urban areas reported a birth rate of 1.67 children per woman, while rural regions recorded a rate of 2.08, both below the replacement threshold.

In addition, while the gender ratio at birth has improved, it remains unbalanced, with 112 boys born for every 100 girls.

Birth rates vary significantly across regions. The southeast and Mekong Delta have the lowest rates, at 1.48 and 1.62 children per woman. 

In contrast, the northeast and northern mountainous regions have higher rates, at 2.34 and 2.24 children per woman, exceeding the replacement level. 

HCM City, the nation’s largest city, recorded the lowest rate in the country at 1.39, while Hà Giang Province in northern Việt Nam has the highest at 2.69. 

Challenges

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyễn Thị Liên Hương has emphasised the challenges in encouraging families to increase the size of their families, despite ongoing policy adjustments and public campaigns. 

She noted that the declining birth rate poses significant challenges to long-term socio-economic development, including an aging population and workforce shortages.

The Government has also acknowledged persistent issues in reproductive healthcare and services for the elderly. 

In response, efforts are being intensified in Việt Nam to raise public awareness about family planning and gender equality, promote the two-child model, and integrate population objectives into provincial plans, according to Hương.

Many countries have implemented strong policies to combat declining birth rates.

For example, South Korea has significantly increased its budget for pro birth programmes, while Hungary offers lifetime tax exemptions for women who give birth to four or more children.

Experts recommend Việt Nam develop practical support measures, such as reducing child-rearing costs and providing housing assistance to increase birth rates. — VNS