Here’s why Hong Kong’s low fertility rate poses a threat to its very future
Reproduction levels are below the level at which a population can replace itself, while fewer young people will eventually hurt city’s economic development
Data released by the Central Intelligence Agency lists Hong Kong as having one of the lowest fertility rates in the world. But why is that a bad thing, and what can be done to arrest a decline that has been happening for decades?
Increased paternity leave, family-friendly working conditions, and childcare subsidies are some of the solutions that have been suggested to help tackle the problem. Here’s what you need to know about why Hongkongers are reluctant to have children and the long-term socio-economic impact not doing so could have on the city.
What is the fertility situation in Hong Kong?
The fertility rate in Hong Kong is one of the lowest in the world. The Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook ranked the city’s total fertility rate at just 1.19, the fourth lowest in the world based on last year’s data. The figure refers to the average number of children that would be born per woman during her lifetime.
Hong Kong’s Census and Statistics Department put the figure at about 1.13.