TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s population declined in January for the 25th consecutive month, falling to 23,289,045, according to household registration data released Tuesday.
The country lost 107,004 people compared with the same month last year, averaging about 293 people per day. The population dropped by 10,087 from the previous month, according to CTEE.
In January, there were 17,529 deaths, while only 8,723 babies were born. Net migration also remained negative, as more people left Taiwan than entered, contributing an additional 1,281 to the population decline.
Kinmen’s population fell the most, down 3%, followed by Lienchiang at 2.16% and Taipei at 2.08%. On the other hand, Taoyuan grew the fastest, up 0.67%, followed by Hsinchu County and Taichung at 0.37% and 0.23%, respectively.
Birth rates also varied across the country. Yunlin had the highest, with just over 6 babies per 1,000 people, while Keelung had the lowest, with about 2.6 per 1,000.
Looking ahead, the National Development Council projected that by 2070, the country's population could shrink to 14.97 million, according to CNA. To address the falling birth rate, the NDC suggested expanding subsidies for assisted reproductive technology and extending parental leave benefits.
In the labor market, policies aim to increase workforce participation among older adults and women and strengthen industry-specific training. For social support, Taiwan plans to expand healthcare and eldercare services and develop new models for caregiving.
