Vietnam Ministry Proposes Removing 1-2 Child Policy to Ensure Fertility Rate

Vietnam’s Ministry of Health (MoH) has proposed removing the policy limiting each couple to have one or two children in its Population Law draft, aiming to maintain the replacement fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman nationwide.

The draft law also gave families the autonomy to decide on childbirth, as well as the responsibility of raising and educating their children properly.

This change would help prevent a sharp decline in the fertility rate, which could lead to an aging population and negatively impact economic and social development as well as national defense and security, said the MoH.

In terms of regional disparities, the draft law suggested measures to maintain the replacement fertility rate across the country.

Vietnam currently saw significant disparities in fertility rates between regions and subjects, with high rates in economically and socially disadvantaged areas and low rates in urban regions.

The Southeast and Mekong Delta regions have seen fertility rates drop to about 1.5 children per woman, with Ho Chi Minh City having the lowest rate in Vietnam.

(ANTD, NLD, VTV, Cong Ly, Dan Tri, VnExpress, Tuoi Tre, Thuong Truong, Lao Dong, Soha, Nguoi Quan Sat)