TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government of Vietnam officially revoked the policy to limit the number of children in a family to a maximum of two. The policy was annulled on Wednesday last week, June 4, 2025. Vietnam is currently struggling to reverse the declining domestic birth rates.
Revocation of Vietnam's Two-Child Limit Policy
As reported by Channel News Asia, Vietnam implemented a policy to limit couples to having no more than two children in 1988. However, the government eventually decided to stop the policy, making the number of children in a family the decision of each couple.
Vietnam has historically experienced low birth rates for the past three years. According to the Ministry of Health of Vietnam, the country's total fertility rate has dropped to only 1.91 children per woman in 2024, below the replacement level. The birth rate in Vietnam declined from 2.11 children per woman in 2021 to 2.01 in 2022. Meanwhile, the birth rate finally dropped to 1.96 in 2023.
The most prominent declining birth rate trend is observed in economically advanced urban areas, particularly in major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The increasing cost of living in these cities has led many people to reconsider having children, especially amidst the uncertain global economic conditions. The economic situation in major cities has successfully altered the public perception of having children.
Declining Birth Rates Pose a Threat to Vietnam
As cited from VNExpress, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong noted that pro-natalist policies have been ineffective in reversing the trend of declining birth rates. Experts say that work pressure, financial difficulties, career priorities, and changes in social norms are the main reasons behind the low birth rate phenomenon.
In rural areas, early marriages and traditional values historically contributed to high birth rates, but this trend has been gradually changing over time. The declining birth rate can lead to serious long-term consequences, including a reduction in the working-age population, accelerating aging, and weakening economic growth.
Experts reveal that without actions taken, Vietnam may face a population collapse, a condition also experienced by several other countries. To prevent a further decline in birth rates, experts recommend practical support policies, including reducing the cost of raising children, housing assistance, and changing public perceptions about having children.
"Childbirth should be considered as the responsibility, task, and right of every individual, contributing to the sustainable development of this country," said Mai Xuan Phuong, a population expert.
Vietnam's policymakers are now under pressure to formulate policies that can impact the increase in birth rates in the country before facing long-term demographic challenges that could affect future growth.
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