A prediction made by the Central Intelligence Agency shows that Taiwan’s birth rate is the world’s lowest this year, at only 1.07.
Some said the alarming situation is due to Taiwan’s high housing prices and low wages.
Ms. Lee, who is 22, earns about US$1,000 per month. Accompanied by her mother, she is on her way to a test site; getting a certificate will enable her to have extra credentials for her career.
Lee is not in a hurry to get married or have kids. She has her own dreams and she said having kids will change her life. She’d also have to face the daunting challenge of buying a home.
According to the CIA’s 2021 birth rate predictions, the five countries with the highest birth rates are all in Africa whereas Asian countries have the lowest rates. Taiwan’s birth rate is the world’s lowest, at only 1.07.
Factors causing the low birth rate include high housing prices, high prices, low wages, and few public nurseries. New Power Party official Liu Shih-chieh believes these four factors are interconnected. Liu said setting up a government task force is not going to solve the problem as high housing prices are young people’s biggest worry.
A mother said if she could start over again, she would reconsider whether she wants kids at all.
Though the government has been working to boost Taiwan’s birth rate, it needs to do more.