More Pets Than Children... The Country Set to Surpass Korea as Number One in Low Birthrate

Taiwan's Total Fertility Rate at 0.89... Taiwan Expected to Reach 1.12 and Korea 1.18 by 2035
Soaring Housing Prices and Stagnant Wages... Childcare Burden Adds to Financial Strain

[Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lee Gyehwa] Taiwan's National Development Council (NDC) has projected Taiwan's total fertility rate (the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her reproductive years) to be 1.12 by 2035. South Korea's total fertility rate is forecasted at 1.18. According to the NDC's observation, even if the total fertility rate recovers afterward, Taiwan could become the world's lowest fertility country by 2035, surpassing South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong.

According to the NDC, Taiwan's total fertility rate fell from 1.1 in 2011 to 0.99 in 2020, and 0.98 last year. This year, as it is the Year of the Tiger, which Taiwanese people tend to avoid for childbirth, the total fertility rate is expected to drop to 0.89, marking an all-time low.

In Taiwan, due to low fertility, the proportion of children is decreasing while the proportion of pets is increasing. There are even reports that the number of pets kept at home exceeds that of adolescents and young children. According to the Korea Trade Newspaper, as of 2019, the number of children under 14 in Taiwan was 3.01 million, a decrease of 760,000 compared to ten years ago. However, during the same period, the number of pet dogs and cats increased by 740,000 to 2.3 million. Pet ownership other than dogs and cats is also increasing. Among other pets, fish are the most numerous. They are estimated to have increased from 760,000 in 2015 to about 800,000 in 2020. Small mammals also rose from 310,000 in 2015 to 360,000 in 2020.

Taiwan's low fertility problem is mainly attributed to economic reasons. Since the 1990s, wage growth in Taiwan has stagnated. In contrast, housing prices have continued to rise. The burden of education expenses is also significant. It is difficult to balance work and childcare, such as not being able to freely take parental leave. Huang Minjao, director of the Taiwan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, said, "To overcome the low fertility problem, the government must actively expand financial support," adding, "Since the majority consider housing stability important, prioritizing young people in housing policies could increase the fertility rate." She also advised, "Considering that most Taiwanese women are employees in private companies, the government should actively ensure that childbirth and childcare leave can be comfortably requested without colleagues' scrutiny."

A senior official from Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare emphasized, "Starting this August, childcare allowances and daycare subsidies for children under two years old will be increased to 5,000 Taiwan dollars (about 210,000 KRW) and 8,500 Taiwan dollars (about 360,000 KRW) respectively and paid monthly to reduce childcare burdens," adding, "We are encouraging the creation of a friendly environment for childcare in workplaces."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.