Vietnam has officially ended its decades-old policy that limited families to two children, according to state media reports on Wednesday. The shift comes as the government grapples with a falling birth rate and mounting concerns over future population decline.
The two-child policy, introduced in 1988, is now no longer mandatory. Instead, the decision on family size will be left to individual couples, the Vietnam News Agency reported.
Vietnam’s fertility rate has dipped below the replacement level, hitting a historic low of 1.91 children per woman in 2023. This marks a steady decline from 2.11 in 2021 and 2.01 in 2022, according to the Ministry of Health.
The downward trend is especially prominent in more urbanized and economically advanced areas like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where the rising cost of living discourages larger families.
Earlier this year, Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong acknowledged the growing challenge of encouraging people to have more children. She noted that despite government efforts, including policy changes and awareness campaigns, many families remain reluctant to expand.
