Rich, educated people have few children.

Mr. Pham Vu Hoang, Deputy Director of the Department of Population, said the above information, adding that education level and economic circumstances are related to fertility. Statistics in 2023 show that the average fertility rate of the rich is 2 children, while the poor have 2.4 children, and the average fertility rate of people with a good standard of living is 2.03 to 2.07 children. People with less than primary education have up to 2.35 children, while those with a high school education have 1.98 children. Statistics do not disclose the basis for determining the rich and the poor.

In addition, urban women also give birth later and have fewer children than rural women. Specifically, in urban areas, the highest birth rate is in the 25-29 age group, with a birth rate of 127 children per 1,000 women. In rural areas, the highest birth rate is in the 20-24 age group, with 147 children per 1,000 women.

"For over 20 years, the birth rate in urban areas has always been lower than the replacement rate, with Ho Chi Minh City currently having the lowest rate in the country, with 1.32 children per woman," said Mr. Hoang, explaining that improved education, living conditions, and a desire to enjoy life have made urban people reluctant to have children, leading to a low birth rate.

Statistics from 2019 also show that the group of rich, highly educated Vietnamese people have more boys than girls. The survey showed that the lowest sex ratio at birth was 107 boys/100 girls among illiterate mothers. This ratio gradually increased with the education level of the woman, up to 114 boys/100 girls among mothers with college degrees or higher. In the rich population, this ratio was 112 boys/100 girls, while in the poor population, it was 105 boys/100 girls.

The fundamental cause of this situation is gender bias. Son preference is the root cause of the gender imbalance at birth in Vietnam. In addition, the need to take advantage of scientific and technological advances to choose the sex of a baby before birth also leads to this situation. The wealthier and more knowledgeable people are, the more they have access to methods to choose the sex of their child before birth.

Mr. Le Thanh Dung, Director of the Department of Population, said that Vietnam reached the replacement level of fertility in 2006 when the total fertility rate was 2.09 children/woman. However, the national fertility rate is showing a downward trend below the replacement level, the total fertility rate in 2023 is 1.96 children/woman, the lowest level ever and is forecast to continue to decrease in the following years. The trend of low and very low fertility is concentrated in some urban areas, where socio-economic conditions are developed. Currently, 21/63 provinces and cities have low fertility rates, most of which are located in the key economic region of the South, with high urbanization and rapid economic growth.

According to experts, low replacement fertility has very clear consequences, for example, Japan is the world's number 1 aging country. When the population ages, social, health and welfare costs increase significantly, there is a shortage of labor, and socio-economic resources decrease. If Vietnam maintains its current low replacement fertility, it is predicted that in the next 35 years, Vietnam's population will have negative growth. By 2069, for every 2 children, there will be 3 elderly people aged 60 and over.

In this context, experts say that it is necessary to have a sustainable development policy, creating conditions for couples to have children. It is necessary to abolish the policy of encouraging few children, implement the policy of having two children, support couples to have and raise children. Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thien Nhan, a member of the 15th National Assembly, proposed to change from the minimum wage regulation to a minimum living wage regulation for a family of 4. The working time of employees must be short enough (8 working hours/day, 40 hours/week) so that they have time to find a partner, take care of children, family and personal interests.