Vietnam's population will soon reach 100 million people in April. This milestone will make Vietnam the 15th most populous country in the world and one of three countries in Southeast Asia with a population of 100 million .
Experts say that when the population reaches 100 million, it is a great opportunity for Vietnam to increase its influence in the region. However, it also comes with many challenges when the population quality still has many unachieved goals.
100 million hopes
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Vietnam assesses that the world is changing rapidly and Vietnam should not be left behind. A population of 100 million means that Vietnam has a large domestic market, the ability to attract more foreign direct investment with a healthy, educated and skilled workforce, innovative thinking and strong national momentum.
[Vietnam and the international community coordinate to solve population issues]
Therefore, Vietnam needs to realize that 100 million people by 2023 is not just a number but a vision to build a strong Vietnam for today's and future generations. Because 100 million Vietnamese people represent "100 million hopes, 100 million dreams and 100 million solutions."
Statistics show that Vietnam currently has the highest proportion of young people in the country's history: 21% of the total population are young people between the ages of 10 and 24. Vietnam's golden population period will continue until 2039 with the presence of young groups with high labor productivity and at the same time can exploit the advantage of population structure to further promote the country's socio-economic growth.
Professor Nguyen Dinh Cu, former Director of the Institute of Population and Social Issues (National Economics University), Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Institute for Population, Family and Children Studies, said that the event of welcoming the 100 millionth citizen will be an important and impressive milestone for the country.
Professor Nguyen Dinh Cu analyzed that if there are 100 million people but the economy is not developed, the level of education is low, it will be very difficult to move forward. However, if 100 million people are placed in the context of economic development, high level of education, it will be a great opportunity for development. Vietnam is a large market, populous, with a lot of labor (with more than 50 million workers), so there are conditions to develop a multi-sector, multi-sector economy, promoting the development of both industry and services.
"A large population and abundant workforce are attractive to foreign investors. However, in terms of challenges, 100 million people also pose issues of food and energy security, especially when the average land area per capita is low and climate change occurs... ensuring quality education, health care and environmental protection for 100 million people will not be a simple problem," Professor Nguyen Dinh Cu pointed out.
UNFPA also pointed out the challenges that with both mortality and fertility rates declining, Vietnam will soon complete its demographic transition. It is an important achievement that all Vietnamese people today live healthier and longer lives. However, the decline in birth rates and fertility restrictions in recent decades are causing Vietnam’s population to age rapidly.
Must take people as the solution
According to UNFPA calculations, Vietnam is expected to become an aging country by 2036 when the number of people aged 65 and over reaches 15.5 million, accounting for more than 14% of the total population. In addition, due to the widespread preference for sons in Vietnamese society, along with the declining birth rate and limited number of children as well as available technologies, prenatal sex selection is widespread, with an estimated shortage of 47,000 girls each year. It is forecasted that by 2034, Vietnam will have a surplus of 1.5 million men aged 15-49, and this number will reach 2.5 million by 2059.
Medical staff from border communes go to villages, hamlets, and households to promote population and family health programs to the people. (Photo: Hong Diep/VNA)UNFPA makes it clear that in population work, it is important to emphasize that people are the solution, not the problem. The issue is not about having more or fewer people, but about ensuring that everyone has more equal access to opportunities.
Therefore, UNFPA recommends that Viet Nam take appropriate steps to support all people in exercising their rights, including the right to make decisions about sexual and reproductive health and gender equality. As the guardian of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in 1994, to which Viet Nam participated, UNFPA recommends that Viet Nam fully comply with the ICPD principles, according to which individuals and couples should be free and responsible in deciding on the number, spacing and timing of their children.
To do so, all relevant agencies must ensure that every woman, every mother and every couple has access to quality sexual and reproductive health care and social policies that support children and may consider housing support for young couples.
UNFPA recommends that Vietnam continue to invest in adolescents through policies and programs on health, education, and employment opportunities to meet the needs of the new era labor market and promote the spirit of innovation in the country.
As in other middle-income countries around the world, inequalities and disparities persist in the country, with maternal mortality rates and unmet need for family planning significantly higher among ethnic minorities, migrant workers and adolescents. Therefore, UNFPA believes that Viet Nam needs to strengthen policies on health-related services, including sexual and reproductive health./.
Comment (0)