TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan is looking for ways to address its declining birth rate, now a concern for national security, National Development Council (NDC) Minister Liu Chin-ching (劉鏡清) said Friday (Oct. 25).
A recent report from the NDC projects Taiwan's population to shrink below 15 million by 2070. This highlights growing concerns over the nation’s aging population and declining birth rate, per CNA.
Facing a declining birth rate, the government is working to stabilize the fertility rate and identify the root causes of the issue, Liu said. The NDC is taking a data-driven approach to inform future population policies, leveraging big data and cross-departmental collaboration to analyze Taiwan's healthcare, economic, consumption, and fertility trends.
Liu believes the primary reason for the declining birth rate is the difficulty young people face in finding suitable partners, leading to a lack of desire to marry. In Taiwan, most people have children after marriage.
While many attribute the declining birth rate to economic factors like low wages and high housing costs, Liu said that according to the NDC's research, these factors account for only about 20% of the problem. The primary reason is the difficulty of finding a suitable partner.
Data from World Population Review shows that Taiwan's fertility rate in 2024 was a mere 0.9, the lowest in the world. Economic growth can be threatened by a shrinking labor force, driven by persistent decline in birth rates, according to Bella.
Labor-intensive sectors like manufacturing and services will face increased challenges due to labor shortages. This could lead to decreased productivity and higher labor costs, ultimately hindering sustainable economic growth.
Aging populations place a significant burden on social welfare systems. As the number of elderly people increases, governments must allocate more resources to pensions and healthcare.
However, with a declining workforce and slower tax revenue growth, social welfare systems may face financial constraints, potentially leading to cuts in benefits or policy adjustments.
The government is prioritizing couples who want to have children but face challenges. It is considering legislation to allow single women to undergo artificial insemination.
Given the rising age of marriage, now nearing 32, it is becoming increasingly difficult for couples to have multiple children. To address this, the government is exploring options like subsidizing egg freezing.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare is proposing to amend the Assisted Reproduction Act to legalize same-sex couples, single women, and surrogacy. The draft is expected to be submitted to the Executive Yuan by the end of the year.
