Vietnam has abolished its 'two-child policy,' which had been in place for 37 years, due to its low birth rate. To promote the qualitative improvement of its population, Vietnam also plans to provide various support, including priority housing for women with two children.
According to reports from the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 4th, the Vietnamese parliament passed an amendment guaranteeing couples' rights regarding the number of children they can have.
The existing law, enacted in 1988, allowed only one or two children per family except in special cases. At that time, the total fertility rate for women in Vietnam exceeded 4. Members of the Communist Party who violated the law faced penalties such as warnings, reduced bonuses, and removal from their positions. However, it is reported that penalties were rarely applied to non-party members.
However, as Vietnam's birth rate continues to decline, it appears that this policy has been abolished. Last December, Vietnam's total fertility rate reached a historic low of 1.91 children per woman. In particular, the southeastern region, including Ho Chi Minh City, saw a significant decline in the total fertility rate, dropping to levels between 1.48 and 1.62, reflecting the trend among urban areas with relatively high economic levels.
Experts predict that if the current decline in the birth rate continues, Vietnam's population could start to decrease as early as 2039. Last year, the Vietnamese Ministry of Health proposed a legal amendment allowing couples to decide the number of children and the spacing between births.
With the enactment of this law, Vietnamese couples will be granted legal rights to freely determine the number of children and the timing of births for the first time. For example, to address low birth rates in urban areas, the plan is to provide priority access to social housing for women with two children. The government also plans to continue support for encouraging births from the onset, including extensive prenatal and newborn check-ups, efforts to prevent congenital genetic diseases and disabilities, and support for child development.