Many Vietnamese men face growing risk of remaining unmarried

This warning was issued on Friday by Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen at a ceremony marking World Population Day (July 11), themed 'Join Hands to Realize Youth Aspirations for a Brighter Future.'

He stressed that population issues remain a top priority in the cause of national construction, development, and defense.

Falling birth rate, imbalanced sex ratio at birth

According to Deputy Minister Tuyen, Vietnam is facing numerous challenges that threaten sustainable development.

The country's fertility rate has been declining and now stands at just 1.93 children per woman, well below the replacement level of 2.1.

If this trend continues, it will have a direct and profound impact on the size and structure of the population, leading to consequences such as labor shortages, a shrinking population, accelerated aging, and rising migration.

In addition, the sex ratio at birth has remained persistently high for many years, exceeding the natural balance threshold and currently standing at 104-106 boys per 100 girls.

Deputy Minister Tuyen warned that this could disrupt family structures, leaving a segment of young men to marry late or remain unmarried, while also driving an increase in the trafficking of women and girls, prostitution, gender-based violence, and transnational crime.

Beyond this, pregnancy and childbirth among underage girls have risen and remain at a high level, while marriages between close relatives have yet to be fully eliminated.

Stepping up digital communication, improving population policy

According to Tuyen, addressing these challenges will require not only the development of incentive policies but also stronger communication efforts.

Whereas such efforts previously relied mainly on posters, leaflets, and door-to-door campaigns, they must now shift toward digital platforms and social media to reach young people earlier and connect with them more effectively.

Le Thanh Dung, director general of the Department of Population under the Ministry of Health, said the Population Law sets out four major policy groups.

In the coming period, the health sector will focus on implementing a range of key tasks in a coordinated manner.

Top priority will be given to improving population quality through expanded prenatal and newborn screening, reproductive healthcare, and a better-quality future workforce.

At the same time, the Ministry of Health will implement solutions to adapt to Vietnam's rapidly aging population, continue developing community- and home-based elderly healthcare models, and improve the service system to meet the demands of an aging society.