The number of babies born in the nation during the first six months of the year reached 82,712, a decline of 8.9 percent compared to the same period last year, the Ministry of the Interior’s latest statistics released on Saturday showed.
The ministry attributed the drop to some people’s reluctance to have children born in the “Year of the Tiger,” in the 12-year cycle of animals on the Chinese zodiac.
However, the drop was smaller than the 16.7 percent year-on-year decline in the previous Year of the Tiger in 1998, the ministry said in a statement.
For the period from January to last month, there was a crude birth rate of only 3.58, the lowest level ever in Taiwan, the statistics showed. Crude birth rate is calculated based on the number of babies born per 1,000 people per year.
Taiwan had one of the world’s lowest birth rates with eight births per 1,000 people last year, far lower than the global average of 20 births per 1,000 people.
Last year, 191,310 babies were born in Taiwan, down nearly 4 percent from the previous year.
The latest ministry tallies show that Hsinchu City, the high-tech hub near Taipei, recorded the highest birth rate, 5.8 per 1,000, among all cities and counties in Taiwan, followed by 5.37 in Kinmen County and 5 in Hsinchu County.
More than 90 percent of newborn babies in the first six months of the year were born to local mothers, while 5 percent were born to mothers from China, Hong Kong and Macau and 3.9 percent to mothers from other countries, the statistics showed.
The government has launched many programs to boost the birth rate, including subsidies for families to hire nannies or have their babies attend day care centers, as well as subsidies for people who want to go on extended parental leave, the ministry said.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
RSS