A family rides a motorcycle along a street in Hanoi on June 4, 2025. Agence France-Presse
HANOI — Vietnam has scrapped a long-standing policy of limiting families to two children, state media said Wednesday, as the communist-run country contends with a declining birth rate.
The decision on the number of children is now a decision for each individual couple, Vietnam News Agency said.
The country has experienced “historically” low birth rates during the last three years, with the total fertility rate dropping to just 1.91 children per woman last year, below replacement level, the ministry of health said this year.
READ: Family Planning in Vietnam: Fighting inequality is not enough
The decline in birth rates was from 2.11 children per woman in 2021, down to 2.01 in 2022 and 1.96 in 2023.
Tran Minh Huong, a 22-year-old office worker, told AFP that the government regulation mattered little to her as she had no plans to have children.
READ: Vietnam expected to add 36 million middle class people in next decade
“Even though I am an Asian, with social norms that say women need to get married and have kids, it’s too costly to raise a child.” /dl
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
