Taiwan sees 22nd consecutive month of population decline

Taipei, Nov. 10 (CNA) Taiwan's population declined for the 22nd consecutive month in October, according to data released Monday by the Ministry of the Interior (MOI).

A total of 9,458 babies were born in October, marking an increase of 855 from September but a 2,612 decrease (22 percent) from the same time last year.

The October figure is equivalent to roughly one birth every 4.7 minutes and corresponds to an annual crude birth rate of 4.78 per 1,000 people.

Meanwhile, 15,908 deaths were reported in October, equivalent to approximately one death every 2.8 minutes.

That figure represents an increase of 521 from September and 457 more than in October 2024.

The crude death rate for the month stood at 8.03 per 1,000 people. The natural population decrease -- the difference between births and deaths -- was 6,450.

In addition, the country recorded a net migration increase of 272 people in October, with 62,594 people immigrating and 62,322 emigrating, according to MOI data.

Combined with the natural decrease, Taiwan's total population declined by 6,178 from the previous month.

As of the end of October, Taiwan's population stood at 23,310,853 -- a decrease of 91,951 compared with the same period last year. That translates to an average daily decline of 251.92 people.

Demographic data showed that people aged 0-14 accounted for only 11.55 percent of the population (2,693,562), while those aged 15-64 made up 68.55 percent (15,979,394).

The population aged 65 and older totaled 4,637,897, or 19.9 percent, putting Taiwan on the verge of becoming a "super-aged society," defined by the United Nations as a society where at least 20 percent of the population is 65 or older.

Among all local governments, Taipei City had the highest proportion of residents aged 65 and older, at 24 percent, while Hsinchu County had the lowest, at 14.95 percent.

In addition, the MOI also revealed that October saw 10,735 couples get married, of which, 10,428 were heterosexual marriages while 307 were same-sex marriages.

The October figure corresponds to an annual crude marriage rate of 5.42 per 1,000 people.

October also saw 4,511 couples terminate their marriages, 4,434 heterosexual marriages and 77 same-sex marriages, with the crude divorce rate for October standing at 2.28 per 1,000 people, according to the MOI.