Vietnam's move to scrap its de facto two-child policy in June was fueled by mounting government concerns as leaders look to avoid severe long-term consequences.

Why It Matters

Vietnam, like many countries, is experiencing a sustained decline in births. The fertility rate fell to 1.91 last year , below the "replacement" threshold of 2.1 births per woman considered necessary to keep a population stable.

The shift follows decades of rapid economic growth since the market reforms of the late 1980s, coupled with rising urban living costs and changing generational attitudes toward family planning.

With immigration levels low, Vietnam is now aging quickly. That means fewer workers to sustain Southeast Asia's fourth-largest economy and heavier pressure on pensions and health care in the deca

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