| Kids do morning exercise at the HCM City Kindergarten. Photo: HB |
The city currently falls within the group of 21 provinces and cities experiencing low and consistently decreasing fertility rates from 1.39 children per woman in 2022 to 1.32 in 2023, a figure significantly below the replacement rate of 2.1.
This protracted period of sub-replacement fertility carries substantial long-term negative consequences, including accelerated population aging, labour shortages, and adverse impacts on social security systems.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Duc Loc, director of the Institute for Social Life Research, said mitigating this trend requires HCM City to formulate adaptable population and labour policies geared toward enhancing citizens’ quality of life.
“The city must prioritise investment in healthcare, education, financial assistance for childcare, and the provision of social housing and accommodation for workers,” he said.
Tackling the low birth rate necessitates a concerted effort from the entire political apparatus, coupled with public consensus and support, Phạm Chanh Trung, head of the city's Division of Population and Family Planning, said.
Policy coherence across social security, educational support, healthcare provision, living standards, social housing, and personal income tax is essential to reassure couples contemplating parenthood and encourage them to have two children.
In late 2024, the municipal People’s Council ratified a resolution to incentivise and support collectives and individuals demonstrating exemplary performance in population management within the city.
The policy’s core provision is a VND3 million grant (US$118) for women giving birth to two children before their 35th birthday, alongside a VND2 million subsidy ($79) for prenatal and neonatal screenings for pregnant women and newborns from impoverished, near-impoverished, socially vulnerable, and island-dwelling households.
The city’s Department of Health is currently finalising a draft proposal outlining key interventions aimed at increasing the total fertility rate and enhancing the health of individuals in early life, children, and adolescents within the city until 2025 and beyond.
Upon approval, a suite of systemic policies and measures will be implemented to address the city’s declining birth rate.
Furthermore, localities are researching, piloting, and expanding services such as child transportation, childcare facilities, milk banks, and family doctor programmes, alongside the strategic planning and construction of suitable childcare centres and kindergartens./.