Vietnam empowers couples with reproductive freedom

The new regulation took immediate effect from the date of its approval.

The amendment represents a significant shift from previous population control policies.

Under the previous regulation of the prevailing population ordinance, couples were generally restricted to having one or two children, with few exceptions permitted by the government.

The new one removes the limit entirely.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan had previously explained that the amendment aimed to address the growing disparities in birth rates across different regions and demographic groups in Vietnam.

Low birth rates could pose serious long-term risks to economic stability, social cohesion, national defense, and sustainable development, she warned.

The country’s fertility rate has been in steady decline in recent years, dropping from 2.11 children per woman in 2021 to just 1.91 in 2024, the lowest level in history.

Experts predicted that the figure could continue to fall if no corrective measures were taken.

While the cultural norm of having two children remains strong in Vietnam, some studies indicate that many couples struggle to meet this ideal due to economic pressures and changing lifestyle preferences.

The amendment is expected to result in a short-term rise in the birth rate, but the increase is likely to be modest.

Vietnam is predicted to exit its golden population structure by 2039, with the working-age population peaking in 2042.

From 2054 onward, the country may experience negative population growth, leading to labor shortages, a shrinking population base, and the acceleration of population aging.