The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files
S5-E1 – Taiwan’s Shrinking Population
Feb 20, 2025
Taiwan's drastic decline in birth rates poses an existential threat, with projections suggesting a drop from 23.4 million to 15 million by 2070. The discussion highlights cultural shifts impacting family planning, such as urbanization and changing gender roles. Tsai Ing-wen's journey is explored, exemplifying broader demographic trends. The conversation also touches on Taiwan's strides in LGBTQ rights and how these societal changes influence family dynamics. A fascinating examination of how pets are becoming substitutes for traditional family structures in urban youth is also presented.
32:37
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Quick takeaways
- Taiwan's fertility rate has plummeted from over six children per woman in the 1950s to about one today, indicating a demographic crisis.
- Potential solutions to Taiwan's declining birth rates include increased immigration, pro-natal policies, and support for foreign brides, yet challenges remain.
Deep dives
Taiwan's Demographic Crisis
Taiwan is on the brink of turning into a super-aged society by 2025, with projections indicating that 30% of its population will be aged 65 or older by 2039. Current life expectancy stands at 81 years, but this increased longevity paired with alarmingly low fertility rates has raised concerns about a demographic crisis. Taiwan's birth rate is approximately one child per woman, which is about half the necessary rate of 2.1 needed to sustain the population. Estimates suggest a decline from 23.4 million today to around 15 million by 2070, leading to a drastic burden on the working-age population, shrinking from 3.6 workers per elderly person to one worker.
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