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Vietnam has launched efforts to curb population decline by introducing a nationwide childbirth subsidy program and extending maternity leave.
The Vietnamese government announced that an amendment to the enforcement decree of the Population Law, which includes these measures, went into effect on July 1 (local time).
Under the new policy, women who give birth to their second child before the age of 35, those residing in provinces or centrally-controlled municipalities with low fertility rates, and women from ethnic minority groups with very small populations will receive a subsidy of at least 2 million dong, approximately 120,000 won, per birth.
While local governments such as Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang had previously provided subsidies for multiple births, this marks the first time a nationwide childbirth subsidy system has been established.
The leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam emphasized that this policy is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, according to AFP.
Additionally, maternity leave for women giving birth to their second child will be extended from the current 6 months to 7 months, and paternity leave for husbands will double from 5 days to 10 days.
Support for prenatal and neonatal screenings to detect congenital diseases early has also been expanded.
Expectant mothers will receive support for screenings for four major congenital diseases, including Down syndrome, while newborns will be covered for five major conditions, such as congenital heart defects.
The Vietnamese government has turned to these childbirth support measures because the country, still in the middle-income stage, is experiencing a rapid decline in fertility rates.
According to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, the total fertility rate—the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime—was 1.93 last year.
While this is a slight rebound from the record low of 1.91 in 2024, it remains below the replacement fertility rate of 2.1, which is the level required to maintain a stable population.
Although Vietnam is growing rapidly, recording a GDP growth rate of 8.02% last year, its per capita GDP is around 5,000 dollars (approximately 7.77 million won), meaning it still has a long way to go to reach the status of a developed nation.
However, as trends of low birth rates and an aging population have begun to emerge, concerns are growing that the country may soon face a demographic cliff similar to that of developed nations.
The Vietnamese government projects that if current trends continue, the population aged 60 and over will rise to 25% of the total by the middle of the 21st century, and the population will begin to decline.
In this regard, the World Bank noted in a 2021 report that Vietnam has a narrow window of opportunity to implement relevant reforms before facing a significant slowdown in growth.
Accordingly, the Vietnamese government officially abolished the two-child policy per household, which had been introduced in 1988 to curb excessive population growth, last year and has been implementing childbirth and childcare support policies, such as granting priority access to public housing for mothers with multiple children.
Regarding the amendment to the Population Law, Pham Thi Lan, head of the Population and Development Department at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Vietnam, evaluated it positively, stating that it responds to current changes in population structure and empowers couples to make their own decisions regarding childbirth.
However, she pointed out that there are limitations to one-time support such as cash subsidies, and that more comprehensive and sustainable support is needed to change the minds of parents who are hesitant to have children due to the high burden of housing and childcare costs.
(Photo: Getty Images)
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