World’s lowest birth rate shifts to a new country – World News – News

South Korea had the world’s lowest birth rate for at least eight consecutive years, from 2016 through 2023, with its rate falling for eight straight years to a file low of 0.72 in 2023, before barely rising in 2024 but remaining globally lowest.

Based on experiences from early 2026, Taiwan formally recorded the world’s lowest birth rate in 2025, with a fertility rate around 0.72 and a file low of 107,812 births, surpassing South Korea, which noticed its rate barely get well but stay extraordinarily low.

Taiwan’s low birth rate is due to a quantity of components, including housing prices, profession pressures on ladies, shifting social values prioritizing self-achievement and delayed marriage.

The low birth rate coupled with an getting older group is proving problematic for the Asian country.

Taiwan’s getting older group is central to its population downside, creating a disaster by shrinking the working-age population, straining the healthcare system, burdening social welfare and slowing financial growth due to low birth charges and elevated longevity.

This demographic shift reduces the labor pressure and tax base while rising demand for eldercare, creating a vital financial and social problem.

Taiwanese officers view the record-low birth rate as a extreme structural disaster threatening financial stability and social sustainability.

President Lai Ching-te has constantly addressed Taiwan’s low birth rate as a vital national security issue.

He has proposed multi-pronged options like increasing childcare subsidies, selling inexpensive care and even suggesting permitting international caretakers to ease parental burden.

As half of his presidential marketing campaign, he promised to create a household-pleasant surroundings, which was an extension of insurance policies he put in place as Vice President.