Nguyen Thien Nhan, former Deputy Prime Minister, said at a seminar on solutions to address the current low fertility rate that if there are no groundbreaking population policies, Vietnam’s fertility rate would continue to decrease.  

Nhan said that financial conditions are the major reason behind late marriage and fewer children. To encourage families to have two children, the policies on working conditions, maternity and paternity leave, wages and job promotion need to be attractive enough so there is no conflict between jobs and childbirth. There also should be policies that encourage workers to buy houses. 

It’s also necessary to teach how to become wives and husbands and happy parents. 

“We need to teach how to be happier in schools. It’d be better to create a Happiness Index in all provinces and cities and design a happiness assessment index, to be publicized once every two years,” Nhan said.

“Make marriage and childbirth a joy, and make parents feel pride in fulfilling their responsibilities as Vietnamese citizens,” he added.

Experts say education level, living conditions, financial pressure and rising abortion and infertility rates have contributed to the low fertility rate

Pham Vu Hoang from the Ministry of Health’s General Department of Population cited a 2019 report as saying that the wealthiest people had 2 children on average, while the poorest had 2.4 children. Wealthy people and families with average living conditions had 2.03-2.07 children.

While those with low education level (below primary education) had 2.35 children on average, the women with higher education had 1.98 children (the lowest level).

In large cities, the lack of schools, and concern about tuition and living expenses all make young couples hesitate to have children. Many Vietnamese tend to spend money and time on personal pleasures, rather than taking care of children.

Vietnam witnessed its lowest fertility rate ever of below 2 children per woman (1.96 children) in 2023.

According to the General Department of Population, with a low fertility rate, Vietnam would see a minus population growth rate in 35 years. Under a more positive scenario, Vietnam would see a slower population growth rate before a growth rate of zero percent by 2069, when Vietnam would have 116.9 million people.

Vo Thu