Taiwan’s government is planning to increase financial support for in vitro fertilization (IVF) in an effort to reverse the island’s persistently low birth rate, among the lowest in the world.
Why It Matters
Around two-thirds of the global population now live in regions where fertility rates—defined as births per woman—fall below the 2.1 replacement level, according to the French Institute for Demographic Studies. Rising life expectancy and higher living costs have contributed to this trend.
In 2024, Taiwan recorded approximately 135,000 births, marking a record low and the ninth consecutive year of decline. Many couples are postponing or choosing not to have children.
The island has also joined South Korea and Japan in becoming a “super-aged society,” with roughly 20 percent of its population aged 65 and older. Officials warn that these demographic shifts could have long-term economic consequences, though experts say current policies remain inadequate.
Government Response
Taiwan’s Health Promotion Administration (HPA) plans to raise IVF subsidies to reduce financial barriers for prospective parents. IVF involves fertilizing eggs with sperm outside the body, then implanting them into the uterus to achieve pregnancy.
Since the subsidy program’s launch in 2021, eligible couples have received up to NT$100,000 (approximately $3,340) for the first IVF cycle and NT$60,000 for subsequent cycles. Most patients require three to four IVF cycles, with success rates improving across repeated treatments.
Under the proposed expansion, subsidies for the second through sixth IVF cycles would be increased to match the first-cycle level, HPA Director-General Shen Ching-fen told reporters on Tuesday, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency.
As in other countries, the average age at marriage and first childbirth has increased in Taiwan, while fertility declines sharply for women over 35. HPA data from 2022 show that the per-cycle pregnancy rate is around 32.6 percent at age 30, dropping to 19 percent at age 40.
Expert Perspectives
Chen Shih-cheng, former health minister and now a minister without portfolio at Taiwan’s Executive Yuan, warned in a May article for CommonWealth Magazine that Taiwan’s pro-natalist policies lag behind nations such as Japan and France.
“Cash subsidies are not ineffective, but they are insufficient,” Chen said. “Many families still face substantial financial burdens. Policy must evolve from easing costs to eliminating them—or even reversing them.” He emphasized that prompt action is essential to avoid long-term demographic and economic challenges.
What’s Next
The HPA stated that additional details of the expanded subsidy program will be released once it receives official approval.
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