Celebration of World Population Day: Building an ecosystem to support youth amid demographic transition

Delegates attend the World Population Day 2026 meeting in Hung Yen, highlighting Vietnam's youth-centered population policies and commitment to addressing demographic transition. (Source: UNFPA)

Among the central government representatives attending the event were Do Xuan Tuyen, Member of the Standing Committee of the Ministry of Health's Party Committee and Deputy Minister of Health; Major General Huynh Tan Hung, Deputy Director of the General Department of Logistics and Technical Services, Standing Vice Chairman of the Population, Family and Children Committee under the Ministry of National Defence; Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, Vice President of the Vietnam Women's Union; Nguyen Nam, Vice President of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly; and Le Thanh Dung, Director General of the Population Department under the Ministry of Health.

Representing Hung Yen Province were Le Quang Hoa, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Tran Thi Tuyet Huong, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Council; and Nguyen Thi Anh, Director of the Hung Yen Department of Health.

International organizations were represented by Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, and Matt Jackson, UNFPA Representative in Vietnam.

The event also drew participation from leaders of provincial departments and mass organizations, members of Hung Yen's Population and Children Steering Committee, representatives of health departments and population agencies from provinces and cities nationwide, population officials, students from universities and colleges in Hung Yen, as well as heads of foreign diplomatic missions in Vietnam.

Four challenges, four key solutions

Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen delivers remarks at the rally. (Source: UNFPA)

Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen stressed that the 2026 World Population Day theme carries particular significance as Vietnam enters a period of profound demographic transition.

He noted that Vietnam's workforce of nearly 70 million people aged 15-64 represents a major development advantage. However, this demographic dividend can only be fully realized if young people enjoy equal access to education, employment, healthcare, especially reproductive and sexual health services.

Quoting President Ho Chi Minh's famous words, "The youth are the future masters of the country. Whether the nation prospers or declines, grows strong or weak, depends to a great extent on its young people", the Deputy Minister emphasised that investing in youth is ultimately an investment in Vietnam's sustainable future.

Addressing the challenges facing current population work, Deputy Minister Do Xuan Tuyen stressed that Vietnam is facing four major issues: (1) the trend of late marriage, having fewer or no children, leading to a continued decline in birth rates; (2) prolonged gender imbalance at birth over many years; (3) the rate of teenage pregnancies, child marriages, and consanguineous marriages still existing in some localities, affecting the quality of future human resources; (4) along with the rapid aging population, creating increasing pressure on the labour market, social welfare system, and elderly care.

Highlighting the urgency of coordinated action, Deputy Minister Tuyen said the 15th National Assembly's adoption of the Population Law, together with the National Target Program on Health Care, Population and Development for 2026-2035, provides an important legal framework for implementing population policies in the coming decade.

To ensure these policies are effective, Deputy Minister Do Xuan Tuyen proposed focusing on four key solution groups: (1) promoting the implementation of the Population Law in conjunction with digital transformation and innovation in communication work; (2) strengthening the leadership of ministries, sectors, and localities while ensuring resources for population work; (3) continuing to leverage technical, financial, and experiential support from the UN, UNFPA, and international partners; (4) simultaneously promoting the proactive role of youth in building families, fulfilling responsibilities of having and raising children well, and contributing to the country's development goals in the new era.

Vice Chairman of the Hung Yen Provincial People's Committee Le Quang Hoa speaks at the event. (Source: UNFPA)

Speaking on behalf of the provincial government, Vice Chairman Le Quang Hoa said that following Hung Yen's merger with Thai Binh Province on July 1, 2025, the province now has a population exceeding 3.4 million, making it one of the Red River Delta's most promising growth centres.

In the context of continued positive socio-economic growth with a GRDP in 2025 and the first six months of 2026 reaching 10.72%, ranking fifth nationwide, and budget revenue exceeding 40 trillion VND, population work has also recorded notable results with health insurance coverage reaching over 95.7%. Reproductive health care, family planning, prenatal and neonatal screening services continue to expand, gradually improving population quality and human resource quality.

At the same time, Hung Yen still faces serious demographic challenges. The sex ratio at birth stands at 118 boys for every 100 girls, well above the national average, while rapid population ageing is creating growing pressure for sustainable development.

Looking ahead, the provincial leadership pledged to continue implementing the 2025 Population Law, integrate demographic objectives into socio-economic planning, expand premarital health screening, prenatal and newborn screening, reproductive healthcare, elderly healthcare, and strengthen the capacity of grassroots population workers.

With approximately 820,000 young people aged 16-30, accounting for nearly 24% of the provincial population, Provincial Vice Chairman Le Quang Hoa stressed that unlocking the creativity, potential, and aspirations of the younger generation is essential to improving both population quality and human resources.

He added that Hung Yen will prioritize investment in education, vocational training, employment generation, and physical as well as mental healthcare for young people, enabling them to contribute more effectively to innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable development.

Survey: Young people are not turning away from marriage

Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, addresses the rally. (Source: UNFPA)

Speaking at the event, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis said World Population Day should focus less on demographic statistics and more on the lives, choices, and aspirations of individuals, especially young people.

She observed that Vietnam is experiencing its largest youth generation ever while simultaneously undergoing rapid digital transformation, urbanization, climate change, and shifting social norms. Against this backdrop, ensuring access to education, decent employment, housing, healthcare, and equal opportunities has become increasingly important.

"Our role is not to make choices on behalf of young people. It is to remove the barriers that prevent them from shaping their own future", she said.

Describing Vietnam as being at a pivotal stage of demographic transition, United Nations Resident Coordinator Tamesis welcomed the government's efforts, particularly those led by the Ministry of Health, to develop the Population Law based on respect for individual rights and informed choice.

She emphasized that investing in young people requires coordinated action across government institutions, international organizations, and society because youth aspirations are closely linked to education, employment, healthcare, social protection, and gender equality.

"Young people are not a challenge to be managed. They are trusted partners who deserve sustained investment", she said, reaffirming the UN's commitment to supporting Vietnam in developing evidence-based, human rights-centered policies that leave no one behind, especially vulnerable youth.

Matt Jackson, UNFPA Representative in Vietnam, presents findings from the 2026 Demographic Futures Survey. (Source: UNFPA)

Presenting findings from UNFPA's 2026 Demographic Futures Survey, conducted across 73 countries and territories with 108,926 respondents aged 18-39, including more than 1,650 participants in Vietnam, UNFPA Representative Matt Jackson said the data challenges the widespread assumption that young people are rejecting marriage and parenthood.

The survey found that nearly 90% of respondents consider financial security, health, and physical well-being their top priorities. Around two-thirds remain optimistic about the future, while more than two-thirds still hope to marry. The most common ideal family size remains two children, with Vietnam's preferred family size averaging 2.16 children per woman.

Notably, 79% of childless men and 72% of childless women aged 35-39 still wish to become parents. According to Jackson, this suggests the gap between aspirations and reality stems largely from socio-economic constraints rather than changing personal values.

The survey also revealed that 81% believe financial security is essential before entering a long-term relationship, 88% want a stable financial foundation before having children, 87% consider secure employment a prerequisite, while 85% say emotional readiness is equally important. Meanwhile, 57% identified economic hardship and housing affordability as the biggest obstacles to starting a family.

"Young people have not given up on marriage or parenthood. They simply do not yet have the conditions to realize those aspirations", Jackson said.

He added that future population policies should focus on protecting rights and expanding opportunities through sustainable employment, affordable housing, childcare services, gender equality, and broader access to reproductive healthcare, rather than concentrating solely on raising fertility rates.

Hundreds of youth union members and students joined a parade through the streets of Hung Yen Province. (Source: UNFPA)

The event concluded with a parade involving hundreds of youth union members, students, and delegates, who marched through central streets of Hung Yen carrying flags, banners, and messages promoting population and development in the new era.

The activity helped spread the message of World Population Day 2026 while reaffirming the important role young people play in building happy families, improving population quality, and advancing Vietnam's sustainable development goals.

The rally closed on a shared commitment to partnership, action, and responsibility, underscoring the determination of government agencies and stakeholders to effectively implement population and development policies in the years ahead.

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