Facing an ageing population, Vietnam moves to reverse falling birthrate
Vietnam, home to more than 100 million people, is grappling with a sharply declining birthrate and is now trying to encourage citizens to have more children, reversing a policy stance held for decades.
Vietnam, once known for its large families, is now experiencing a steep decline in births. The country's fertility rate has dropped to 1.9 children per woman, a trend that has become a serious concern for the government.
From restriction to encouragement
For more than four decades, Vietnam officially enforced a two-child policy aimed at curbing population growth. That restriction was formally lifted in June 2025.
Now the government faces the opposite challenge: a rapidly ageing population and the looming risk of labour shortages. As a result, authorities have reversed course, actively working to boost birthrates and encourage citizens to have larger families.
The report was produced by France 24 journalists Dung Vo Trung, Mélodie Sforza and Adam Hancock.
