According to the 2022 Statistical Yearbook published by the General Statistics Office (GSO), of the six economic regions across the country, four have childbirth rates higher than the replacement fertility levels, which can be understood that each woman in childbearing age has about two children. 

The figures are 2.4 children in northern midlands and mountainous areas, 2.29 in the northern part of the central region and coastal areas, 2.31 in the Central Highlands, and 2.17 in Red River Delta.

Meanwhile, the remaining two areas have childbirth rates lower than replacement fertility levels. In Mekong River Delta and the eastern part of the southern region, one woman gives birth to 1.47 children. The gap between the highest regional fertility level (northern midlands and mountainous areas) and the lowest (the eastern part of southern region) is nearly one child.

“In areas with high fertility rates, women tend to get married early, give birth early, and frequently; while in the low fertility rate areas, women refuse to marry, marry late, have few children and give birth sparingly. In fact, giving birth too frequently or sparingly both are not good for every individual, family and society," said Mai Trung Son from GOPFP.

HCM City is the most populous city in the country, with 9.5 million people, which is 30 times higher than the population of Bac Kan, the least populous province. 

The 2022 Statistical Yearbook showed that each woman in HCM City gives birth to 1.39 children. In the provinces of Bac Lieu, Binh Duong and Hau Giang, the birth rates are lower than 1.6 children. In Ha Tinh, each woman gives birth to nearly 2.9 children, the highest in the country.

The average first marriage age across the country in 2021 is 26.2 years old (0.5 years higher than in 2020), while men get who marry for the first time at 28.3 years old and women are 24.1 years old.

In the eastern part of the southern region (Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Vung Tau, HCM City), where couples have few children, men get married when they are nearly 30 years old, and women at 26.

HCM City is the city with the highest average age of first marriage, 29 years old. Males get married for the first time at the age of 30.5; female 27.5.

The locality which has the lowest average age of first marriage is Lai Chau province, 21.6 years old. This is also the place with highest fertility rate – 2.63 children

Experts said the pressure from work and life is the major reason behind the growing trend of getting married late and having few children. A high number of couples in urban areas even don’t want to have children. The financial burden on every family (finding jobs, spending on accommodations, basic needs, raising children and education) prompts couples to have fewer children.

This is a big problem Vietnam is facing. “The prolonged low birth rate will cause the population aging process to occur faster, causing a shortage of labor resources, affecting social security,” GOPFP warned.

Experts also pointed that the rate of unwanted pregnancy and abortion in Vietnam is higher than other countries in the region. The main reason is the difficulties in accessing services and solutions to family planning. Meanwhile, state management agencies said they face difficulties in the procurement of drugs and contraceptive means.

A survey by Guttmacher in 2022 found Vietnam had 3.7 million pregnant women each year and 2.1 million women have unintended pregnancies, which accounts for 60 percent pregnancies. The unwanted pregnancy and abortion rates in Vietnam are by far higher than that in other regional countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. 

Socio-economic impacts caused by unwanted pregnancy are heavy. Vietnam has to spend hundreds of millions or billions of dollars to solve the problem, including expenses on birth control pills, abortions, direct care, and maternity leave.

Linh Giao