File photo for reference only

 

In a significant policy shift, Vietnam's communist government has lifted the long-standing two-child policy, allowing families to decide on their own how many children to have. This change, reported by state media on Wednesday, seeks to counteract the country's declining birth rate, which has fallen below the replacement level.

 

Implemented in 1988, the two-child policy was once a tool to control population growth. However, recent years have seen a drop in birth rates, with the total fertility rate falling from 2.11 children per woman in 2021 to 1.91 in the previous year. This decline is most pronounced in urbanised and economically advanced areas, like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, reflecting the rising cost of living.

 

Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong highlighted the challenges posed by low birth rates at a conference earlier this year, particularly the impact on socio-economic development and the looming issue of an ageing population. Despite policy changes and public campaigns, families remain reluctant to have more children. Huong urged a shift in societal attitudes from mere family planning to a broader consideration of population and development.

 

One of the factors compounding the birth rate issue is the cultural preference for sons, which has historically skewed the gender ratio. The Health Ministry has proposed increasing fines for sex-selective practices to curtail this trend, with the ratio still at 112 boys for every 100 girls, despite improvements.

 

For citizens like Tran Minh Huong, a 22-year-old office worker, the lifted restriction holds little sway. She expressed that financial burdens deter her from planning to have children, echoing sentiments from others in her generation who face daunting economic realities.

 

Hoang Thi Oanh, a mother of three who experienced reduced benefits under the old policy, welcomed its removal but noted, "Raising more than two kids nowadays is too hard and costly. Only a minority might choose to have larger families, even with incentives."

 

Vietnam's move mirrors regional dynamics, particularly those in China, where the former one-child policy was relaxed to address similar demographic concerns. Despite policy relaxations, high costs of living have remained a significant deterrent, and China's population continued to decline into 2024.

 

As Vietnam navigates these demographic challenges, the focus may need to broaden beyond simply increasing birth rates. Addressing economic pressures faced by potential parents and shifting cultural norms could be key components in forging sustainable demographic trends for the future.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-04

 

 

Declining populations are big thing around Asia.  I won't be a shallow expat and offer to help remedy of course...