Cabinet steps up efforts to boost births as population projected to halve

Taipei, Aug. 29 (CNA) The government has launched a package of measures aimed at boosting births, supporting families and addressing Taiwan's demographic challenges, the Cabinet said Friday, as projections showed the population could nearly halve by 2075.

According to the latest population projections released Friday by the National Development Council (NDC), Taiwan's population is projected to fall 48 percent from 2026 levels to 12.15 million by 2075 because of a declining birth rate and a rapidly aging population.

With the number of newborns in Taiwan falling for the 10th consecutive year to a record low of 107,812 in 2025, the figure is likely to decline further to below 100,000 this year, the NDC said.

Commenting on the projections, Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) told reporters that the Cabinet has introduced a package of population policies centered on supporting marriage, childbearing and child rearing, following a high-level national security meeting convened by President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) in May.

Lee said the government's approach will move away from one-time subsidies toward a more comprehensive support system in which the government, families and society share responsibility for raising children.

Under the plan, the government will provide a monthly NT$5,000 (US$158) child growth subsidy for every child from birth until age 18.

Funding for the program has been included in next year's central government budget, and eligible families are expected to begin receiving the payments next year, Lee said.

To support disadvantaged households, the government will create special accounts and match deposits made by low-income parents, up to NT$15,000 per year.

To make it easier for young people to start families and raise children, Lee said the Cabinet is also proposing amendments to expand parental leave benefits.

Under the proposed changes, each parent would be entitled to an additional three months of childcare leave on top of the current six months, while marriage leave would be extended to two weeks.

Maternity leave would increase from eight weeks to 12 weeks, while paid leave for prenatal checkups and paternity leave would both double from one week to two weeks, Lee said.

Lee said the Cabinet has established a task force, led by Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), to oversee implementation of the measures.

The government will also introduce policies addressing population aging, talent development and international talent recruitment as part of a broader population strategy covering all age groups, she said.