Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-12-18
Taiwan’s already low birthrate fell even further this year. Between January and November,
The government is trying to encourage people to have more children. (CNA)
there were only 177,000 births nationwide. That’s a drop of more than 10,000 from the same period last year.
A United Daily News report says that means that the total number of births this year will probably be less than 200,000.
Experts are saying that if the government does not come up with more incentives, the birthrate will continue to drop. Twenty years from now, they say, Taiwan may have less than 150,000 births per year.
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung says the government is concerned about the nation’s low birthrate. The ministry is currently drafting policies to offer assistance with preschool childcare and education. This could include things like subsidies, public preschools, and other possibilities. [FULL STORY]