Taiwan has posted its longest stretch of population decline in data going back to the end of the Second World War, underscoring the demographic challenges facing the manufacturing hub at the centre of the global AI boom.
The island’s population stood at 23.24 million at the end of June, down 0.44% from a year earlier, according to a statement by the Ministry of the Interior on Friday. The latest figures marked the 30th straight month of population declines, surpassing the 29 months of declines during the Covid-19 pandemic, based on Bloomberg calculations.
Like many economies in East Asia, Taiwan has struggled to reverse one of the world’s lowest birth rates. The island recorded only 7,324 births in June, down 18.3% from a year earlier.
To counter the trend, the government has proposed a series of measures to encourage childbearing, including state-subsidised investment accounts for children aged six to 18, higher childcare subsidies and additional tax incentives for parents.
Bloomberg
