Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong said that Vietnam is currently facing the challenge of a rapidly aging population. The birth rate has fallen below the replacement level, putting great pressure on the labor and social security systems in the future. The abolition of regulations prohibiting or disciplining third children is intended to create incentives to encourage people to increase the birth rate, especially in areas with low birth rates.
Maintaining a stable replacement fertility rate nationwide is not really sustainable, there is a trend of low fertility (in 2023, it is estimated to be 1.96 children/woman, the lowest in history, and is forecast to continue to decrease in the following years). Vietnam's population has begun to age since 2011 and is aging at a much faster rate than other countries.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) predicts that Vietnam will become an aging country by 2036 and a super-aging society by 2049.
Director of the Department of Population (Ministry of Health) Le Thanh Dung said that population work still faces many difficulties and challenges such as: For 3 consecutive years, the national birth rate has decreased below the replacement level (2.1 children/woman), specifically in 2023 it was 1.96 children/woman, estimated to decrease to 1.91 children/woman in 2024, this is the lowest decrease in history and the trend is forecasted to continue to decrease in the coming time. Although the gender imbalance at birth has decreased, it is still high (estimated in 2024 it is 112/100).
Regarding the proposal not to discipline officials and party members when they have a third child, Mr. Le Thanh Dung said: The proposal being made is to remove the regulation limiting each couple to only having 1-2 children, giving couples the right to decide on the number of children, time of birth and interval between births.
The child limit has been in place for many years, with different policies in each period, including penalties for having a third child. Vietnam is currently facing a declining birth rate, although the birth rate has not yet reached an alarming level, but if there is no solution soon, this problem will become serious.
The Department of Population is receiving opinions from experts and researchers to report to the Ministry of Health, before submitting to the Government the best support solutions for couples who want to have more children, to ensure population quality and race.
Associate Professor Dr. Bui Thi An - President of the Hanoi Association of Women Intellectuals - stated that population aging is a worrying issue, directly affecting the socio-economic development and sustainability of the country. According to her, solutions should be proposed soon to prevent the negative consequences of this situation.
Ms. An proposed implementing policies and regimes to encourage families to have two children, avoiding the situation where some families have too few or too many children. She emphasized that having children should not be forced but should be accompanied by policies showing support and encouragement from the State.
At the 8th Session of the 15th National Assembly, the Government committed to focusing on directing the urgent review of the 5-year implementation of Resolution No. 21-NQ/TW on population work. At the same time, it will review and propose amendments to relevant Party regulations and state laws on population policy.
The contents under consideration include the amendment of Regulation No. 37-QD/TW dated October 25, 2021 of the Central Executive Committee on what party members are not allowed to do (Article 18); Regulation No. 69-QD/TW dated July 6, 2022 of the Politburo on disciplining party organizations and party members who violate the law; as well as Instruction No. 05 of the Central Inspection Commission on implementing a number of articles of Regulation No. 69-QD/TW.
The low birth rate in Ho Chi Minh City is at an alarming level. If this situation continues, it will leave many consequences such as rapid population aging and labor shortage.
Women in Ho Chi Minh City who give birth to two children before the age of 35 are supported with VND3 million, this support level is based on medical expenses during pregnancy and childbirth. This support level is based on medical expenses during pregnancy and childbirth, including: regular prenatal check-ups (4 times/pregnancy), prenatal and newborn screening costs; and costs that people pay together (after deducting costs paid by social insurance) for 1 birth.
