Vietnam promotes childbearing rights and adapts to an aging population.

At the rally commemorating World Population Day, Minister Dao Hong Lan announced the priorities in the draft Population Law aimed at protecting reproductive self-determination, responding to population aging, and addressing gender imbalance at birth.

On July 11th, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund Office in Vietnam, solemnly organized a rally to commemorate World Population Day with the theme "Reproductive Self-Determination in a Changing World".

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan speaks at the event.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan emphasized that the viewpoint and orientation of the Vietnamese Party and State on population work have been clearly affirmed in Resolution No. 21-NQ/TW of the 12th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Accordingly, "Population is the most important factor in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland," and the policy has shifted its focus from family planning to population and development.

Over the past three decades, since the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), Vietnam has achieved many significant accomplishments, making a positive contribution to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Population management not only helps control the rate of population growth but also contributes to improving the quality of life, narrowing inequality, and promoting economic growth. Currently, Vietnam is in the "golden demographic period".

The Minister also stated that the average life expectancy of Vietnamese people has increased to 74.7 years (in 2024), much higher than many countries with similar income levels. Services related to reproductive health care, family planning, pre-marital counseling, prenatal and neonatal screening for birth defects, and elderly care are increasingly being strengthened and improved in quality.

However, alongside these achievements, Vietnam is also facing many major challenges. According to assessments after 7 years of implementing Resolution 21-NQ/TW, the total fertility rate has fallen to its lowest level in the country's demographic history and is projected to continue declining in the coming years.

The results of the April 2024 population survey show that the total fertility rate decreased from 2.01 children per woman in 2022 to 1.91 children per woman in 2024. At the same time, the rapid aging of the population poses a challenge to sustainable development.

Although the sex ratio at birth has been controlled, it remains higher than the natural balance (111.4 boys/100 girls in 2024). The rate of pregnancy and childbirth among underage women is on the rise, while child marriage and consanguineous marriage remain very high in the Central Highlands and the Northern mountainous regions, reaching 21.9%.

In light of this situation, the Ministry of Health is actively finalizing the draft Population Law and developing the Targeted Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 with the goal of ensuring social security, health and equality for all citizens, placing people at the center of sustainable development.

The draft Population Law, submitted to the Government and expected to be presented to the National Assembly for consideration and approval at the 10th session in October 2025, proposes many priority contents such as improved maternity leave regimes, financial support in cash or in kind for women giving birth, measures to reduce gender imbalance at birth, prioritizing policies to support social housing, developing human resources for elderly care, pre-marital health counseling, and prenatal and neonatal screening and treatment.

Speaking at the rally, Minister Dao Hong Lan called on functional units, ministries and agencies that are members of the National Steering Committee on Population and Development, as well as localities, to continue to pay attention to directing and coordinating closely in building and implementing population policies. She also requested the United Nations, the United Nations Population Fund, and international organizations to continue providing financial and technical support to help Vietnam respond to population changes and protect reproductive rights.

World Population Day, celebrated annually on July 11th, is an occasion to raise global awareness of population issues and an opportunity for the world to be proud of its progress in healthcare, gender equality, environmental protection, and improving the quality of the population.

In Vietnam, the right of individuals and couples to make their own decisions regarding reproduction is respected by law, in accordance with each person's health and circumstances.

Mr. Le Thanh Dung, Director of the Population Department, emphasized that the desire to have two children remains common in society. Empowering individuals and families to make their own decisions about reproduction is not only about protecting reproductive rights but also about creating a favorable environment for each individual and family to realize that desire.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/viet-nam-thuc-day-quyen-sinh-con-va-thich-ung-dan-so-gia-d328362.html