Vietnam Scraps Decade-Old Two-Child Policy Amid Sharp Decline In Fertility Rate

In a significant policy shift, Vietnam has scrapped its decades-old two-child limit as the country grapples with a sustained decline in birth rates.

The change, announced by the Vietnam News Agency on Wednesday (4 June), allows individual couples to decide the number of children they wish to have.

The decision comes in the backdrop of a steep fall in the country’s total fertility rate, which dropped from 2.11 children per woman in 2021 to 1.91 in 2023 — well below the replacement level of 2.1, reported The Hindu.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Health earlier this year flagged the “historically low” fertility levels seen over the past three years.

The new move aligns the country with other ageing South east Asian and East Asian societies — including China — that have reversed restrictive population policies amid concerns of shrinking workforces and ageing populations.

China scrapped its one-child policy in 2015 and has since made changes to family planning.

Initially, the policy restricted couples to having only one child, which was later relaxed to two children. In 2021, the Chinese government further lifted restrictions, allowing couples to have up to three children.

These changes were primarily driven by concerns about China's aging population and declining birth rates. The one-child policy had a significant impact on Chinese families and society, with some analysts arguing that it caused a skewed gender ratio and other social problems.

Also Read: Gujarat To Honour Operation Sindoor With Memorial Forest ‘Sindoor Van’ Near India-Pakistan Border In Kutch