Hanoi, May 5 -- Without timely policy adjustments and solutions to raise the birth rate, Vietnam's population will gradually decrease, hindering the country's socio-economic development.

Vietnam has surpassed the milestone of over 100 million people, becoming the third most populous country in Southeast Asia and ranking 15th in the world. The working-age group accounts for over 66% of the total population.

However, statistics from the General Statistics Office under the Ministry of Planning and Investment painted a concerning picture. In 1999, the average number of children per woman was 2.33. This number has steadily dipped, reaching a record low of 1.9 children per woman in 2023. This falls short of the replacement fertility rate of 2...