Lowest Birth Rate Ever: Taiwan's Population Crisis
Decline in Population Persists for Seventeen Consecutive Months
Struggling with a drastic decline in birth rate, Taiwan has hit a new low. Last month, April 2025, saw the nation's population dwindle to 23,355,470 from 23,365,274 in the previous month, marking the 17th consecutive month of population shrinkage. The cause? A whopping 2,735 fewer babies born compared to May 2024.
By Lee Wen-hsin / Staff reporter
With just 8,433 newborns last month, Taiwan saw a single-month record low, according to data from the Ministry of the Interior. That decreasing trend is an alarming signal for the country's future. The population left a trail of 159.28 people less than the same month last year, painting a dire picture.
The counties of Yilan, Taoyuan, and Hsinchu led the population growth, while Kinmen, Lienchiang, and Taipei faced the steepest decline. An unflattering view of Taiwan's demographic future materializes, with one in five citizens expected to be senior citizens by 2025, as the population edges toward a "super-aged" status[5].
Welcoming a newborn every 5.3 minutes last April, corresponding to a crude birth rate of 4.25 per 1,000, is a far cry from the past. Matsu, Yunlin, and Changhua emerged as the counties with the highest crude birth rates, while Chiayi, Keelung, and New Taipei reported the lowest[1]. Economical pressures and widening income disparities[1] seem to be the grim factors influencing the decreasing birth rate.
The monthly death toll averaged one person every 2.9 minutes, with Chiayi, Nantou, and Yunlin reporting the highest crude death rates, compared to Taoyuan, New Taipei City, and Hsinchu City with the lowest. The total number of deaths fell by 1,034 compared to the same month last year and decreased by 1,823 compared to April.
Marriage and divorce rates followed a more optimistic trajectory. Last month saw 12,791 weddings, with 12,359 heterosexual couples and 432 same-sex couples, resulting in a crude marriage rate of approximately 6.45 per 1,000. Divorce rates, however, stood at 2.28 per 1,000 with 4,532 splits, with 4,456 heterosexual couples and 76 same-sex pairs. From April, 121,014 households saw people move to another region, resulting in a net emigration of minus-2,855.
Taoyuan City, New Taipei City, and Taichung City saw the highest net in-migration, with 2,491, 2,364, and 2,036 people, respectively. While the low birth rate remains a hushed topic within the Taiwanese government, the need for positive economic and social reforms is increasingly evident.
Policy-and-legislation discussions are set to intensify in Taiwan's government amidst the nation's continuous population decline, with a record-low birth rate in April 2025. The general-news headlines highlight the concerns around drastic political implications, particularly in light of the country's aging population trend due to the decreasing birth rate.
