Taiwan’s population last month declined for the 26th consecutive month, as births sank to a record low of 6,523, data released yesterday by the Ministry of the Interior showed.
Factoring in births, deaths and net migration, Taiwan’s population was 23,280,273 as of the end of last month, a month-on-month drop of 8,772 people.
Monthly births fell below 7,000 for the first time, down 3,884 year-on-year and 2,200 from January, for an annual crude birthrate of 3.65 per 1,000 people, the data showed.
Photo courtesy of the Hungchi Women and Children’s Hospital
Deaths totaled 14,881, a drop of 2,648 from January and 7,007 annually, while the number of people leaving Taiwan outstripped new arrivals by 414.
The number of people aged 65 and older totaled 4,707,676, or 20.22 percent of the population, meeting the UN’s definition of a “super-aged society,” in which people 65 and older account for more than 20 percent of the population.
Demographic data showed that people up to 14 years old accounted for 11.46 percent of the population (2,667,349), while those ages 15 to 64 accounted for 68.32 percent (15,905,248).
Taoyuan recorded the highest population growth rate at 0.6 percent, followed by Hsinchu County at 0.29 percent, while Taichung ranked third at 0.18 percent, the data showed.
Kinmen County recorded the largest drop at 2.5 percent, followed by Lienchiang County (Matsu) at 1.96 percent and Taipei at 1.87 percent.
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,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
STAY COOL: The HPA recommended that people stay hydrated, use air-conditioning or fans while indoors, wear loose-fitting clothes and walk in the shade while outdoors Employers must implement measures such as installing cooling equipment, and providing drinking water and rest breaks for outdoor workers starting from Monday next week, the Taipei Department of Labor said on Sunday. Employers who fail to comply could face fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), the department said. Businesses in Taipei employing fewer than 100 workers, as well as registered self-employed workers with labor insurance coverage, could receive on-site assessments and guidance from occupational safety consultants to help them apply for central government subsidies to implement or improve heat-protection measures, it said. Under the Ministry of
ISOLATION: The outposts would serve as support and backup bases, forcing US forces to either face China head-on or reroute, increasing travel time and operational costs China’s outposts in the South China Sea could be used to delay and constrain foreign forces during a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, giving Beijing a critical window to carry out amphibious landing and blockade operations, a report said. The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) forward operating bases on islands and reclaimed features in the South China Sea could delay foreign forces long enough for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to secure a key 48-to-72-hour window in the Taiwan Strait, a report commissioned by the Mainland Affairs Council found. The report, conducted by the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, examined