Core Viewpoint - Germany's fertility rate has declined to 1.35 in 2024, marking the lowest level in nearly 17 years, raising concerns about long-term demographic changes [1][2][3] Group 1: Fertility Rate Trends - The total fertility rate in Germany decreased by 2% from 1.38 in 2023 to 1.35 in 2024, the lowest since 2006 [1][3] - The fertility rate has shown a downward trend since reaching 1.58 in 2021, remaining below the replacement level of 2.1 [2][3] - The decline in fertility rates has accelerated, with rates dropping by 8% in 2022 and 7% in 2023 [3] Group 2: Demographic Implications - The current fertility rate of 1.35 has breached the UN's "ultra-low" threshold of 1.4, indicating a potentially irreversible trend [3] - The fertility rate for German women has fallen to 1.23, the lowest since 1996, while the rate for foreign women in Germany is 1.84, also down by 2% from 2023 [3] Group 3: Comparative Fertility Rates in Europe - Other European countries like Estonia and Austria have also seen fertility rates drop below 1.4, joining Spain, Greece, and Italy among others [3] - Bulgaria had the highest fertility rate in the EU at 1.81 in 2023, while Malta (1.06) and Spain (1.12) had the lowest [3] Group 4: Global Context - South Korea has the lowest fertility rate globally, recorded at 0.75 in 2024 [4]

Group 1 - In April, South Korea's newborn population reached 20,717, marking an 8.7% year-on-year increase, the highest monthly growth since April 1991 [1] - The total fertility rate in South Korea rose to 0.79 in April, an increase of 0.06 compared to the previous year, although it remains significantly below the replacement level of 2.1 [1] - The rise in birth rates is attributed to an increase in marriage rates, a growing population of women in their early 30s, and various government policies aimed at promoting childbirth [1][2] Group 2 - The number of marriages in April increased by 4.9% year-on-year, reaching 18,921 couples, marking the 13th consecutive month of growth [2] - The population of women aged 30 to 34 has grown from 1.51 million in 2020 to 1.65 million in May this year, contributing to higher marriage and birth rates [2] - Despite the positive trends, experts express skepticism about the sustainability of these increases due to structural issues such as high housing costs, intense educational competition, and changing attitudes towards marriage and family among the younger generation [2][3] Group 3 - The South Korean government has implemented measures such as a monthly childcare allowance of 300,000 KRW (approximately 1,740 RMB) for parents of children under one year old and increased parental leave [2] - A recent UN report categorizes South Korea as a "super low fertility" country, estimating only a 0.1% chance of restoring the total fertility rate to a level that can achieve generational replacement within the next 30 years [2] - Economic challenges related to population issues are prompting both the government and major companies to take action to reverse the declining birth rate trend [2]

越南的人口红利，正在加速消失。 近日，越南通过了《人口法令》第十条修正案，立即生效。新法规规定： 每对夫妻及个人可基于平等原则，依据年龄、健康状况、学习条件、工作性质、收入水平及育儿能力等因素，自主决定生育时间、子女数量及生育间隔。 也就是说，此前的规定限制"夫妻及个人仅允许生育一至两个孩子"彻底作废了。 这是一个很不寻常的动作。要知道，中国在2015年放开"二孩"政策时，总和生育率已经下降到1.54。而越南目前的生育率水平，仍然为1.91，在全世界处 于中下游水平。 为什么还处在人口黄金期，被很多人视为下一个"世界工厂"的越南，居然开始"招工难"，突然拉响了人口警报？ 事实上，越南如果再不扭转人口结构，恐怕连"下一个世界工厂"的影子都要看不见了。 越南的生育率的快速下降，其实非常令人意外。 众所周不知的是，越南其实从未严格执行计划生育政策，甚至还是一个"生育友好型社会"—— 此前的计划生育政策，只对公务员群体严格执行，超生只罚几百元人民币；在民间，男性娶好几个老婆是常态，所谓"大婆""二婆"，甚至能和谐相处。 因此，虽然越南从80年代起号召"每对夫妻生育1至2个孩子"，但是从2002年到2021年，越南的总 ...