HANOI, Vietnam — In a significant policy shift, Vietnam has officially abolished its two-child limit on families, allowing couples the freedom to decide on the number of children they wish to have.
This change comes as the country grapples with a declining birth rate and a shrinking working-age population, triggering concerns about the long-term demographic outlook.
On Tuesday, Vietnamese lawmakers passed amendments to the Population Law, marking a departure from the restrictive policy that had been in place since 2009.
Initially enacted to curb overpopulation, the two-child policy had different enforcement levels, being primarily applied to government officials and members of the ruling Communist Party.
Currently, Vietnam’s population exceeds 100 million, with a median age of 33.4 years.
However, the Ministry of Health recently reported a troubling trend: the national fertility rate has plummeted to 1.91 children per woman in 2024, the lowest level recorded in the country’s contemporary history and below the essential replacement rate.
If this decline continues, experts warn that Vietnam’s advantageous ‘golden population’ period, characterized by a larger working-age group relative to dependents, could end in less than 15 years.
Mama Tran Phuong Mai, a 42-year-old housewife from Hanoi, expressed mixed feelings about the new law, saying, “It may be a good thing, but in our case, it’s a little too late.”
Her husband, Nguyen Manh Hung, had to resign from his position as a local government official over a decade ago after they became pregnant with their third child due to concerns about repercussions.
Now that the restrictions have lifted, Mai feels it may be too late for them to consider expanding their family further, adding, “Plus it is so expensive to raise a child.”
Sociologists highlight significant financial burdens associated with raising children, estimating costs between 10 to 20 million Vietnamese dong ($380 to $760) monthly — a figure that often surpasses the average monthly income for families.
Health Minister Dao Hong Lan addressed parliament, stating that similar countries have also moved away from strict birth control policies, noting that eliminating child limits aligns Vietnam with international practices.
Highlighting neighboring China’s experience, Lan pointed out that China ended its one-child policy in 2016 and subsequently allowed families to have up to three children since 2021.
However, experts like Jonathan London, a senior economic advisor to Vietnam at the United Nations Development Program, warn that Vietnam faces an essential challenge of population aging that needs urgent attention.
“Vietnam is facing a fundamental challenge that no country in East Asia has yet succeeded in significantly addressing: population aging,” London stated.
He emphasized that lifting the two-child limit must be complemented by supportive measures for children and families, especially for women.
Such initiatives could yield substantial results, but they necessitate strong commitment and well-coordinated policies for a meaningful impact.
In addition to the demographic changes, lawmakers are also tackling gender imbalances resulting from prenatal sex selection in the nation, where boys are typically favored in Vietnam’s patriarchal society.
The Ministry of Health proposed raising fines for prospective parents engaging in sex selection from 30 million Vietnamese dong ($1,150) to a maximum of 100 million ($3,800).
image source from：https://www.npr.org/2025/06/04/g-s1-70426/vietnam-ends-2-child-policy-population
