In brief
Vietnam has officially abolished its two-child policy as a strategy to tackle a significant decline in its birthrate, which has dropped to a record low. The recent legal change, authorized by the National Assembly, aligns with a growing recognition of the economic risks posed by an aging population. The policy had initially been instituted in 1988, enforcing birth limits with severe repercussions for Communist Party officials who defied it. As of now, families can choose the number of children they wish to have, and the government is actively promoting procreation to alleviate demographic issues. Vietnam’s fertility rate, now recorded at just 1.91 children per woman, remains below the replacement threshold, prompting concerns about future labor shortages and the sustainability of economic growth.
