Taiwan's Birth Rate is the Lowest in the World: Key Insights.

Taiwan's Alarming Birth Rate Decline

Taiwan has surpassed South Korea to hold the record for the world’s lowest birth rate, as indicated by recent statistics from the Ministry of the Interior. This trend affects the overall socio-economic fabric of East Asia. In 2024, Taiwan's birth rate fell to 4.62 per 1,000 people, marking a disturbing pattern of declining births for the tenth consecutive year.

Factors Contributing to Low Birth Rates

• Longer life spans
• Increasing living costs
• Shifting family dynamics and attitudes

Many young individuals and couples are delaying childbearing or choosing not to have children at all. The United Nations projects dire consequences for regions with low fertility rates as the global population manages under the 2.1 threshold necessary for natural population replacement.

Impact on Society

Currently, over 20% of Taiwan's population is aged 65 and older. This classification aligns with Japan and South Korea as super-aged societies. Such demographic shifts strain existing pension frameworks and could depress economic growth.

In response, Taiwan’s government has introduced measures to encourage childbirth, including financial incentives. However, similar initiatives in Japan and South Korea have often shown limited success due to persistent economic barriers.