The Island Where Pets Outnumber Children
Summary
Taiwan has more pet cats and dogs than children aged 14 and under due to a very low birthrate. This decline in births is part of a global trend causing economic and social challenges that Taiwan’s leaders view as a national security concern.Key Facts
- In 2025, Taiwan had about 3.2 million pet cats and dogs versus 2.68 million children aged 14 and under.
- Taiwan’s birthrate dropped to a record low total fertility rate of 0.695 in 2025.
- Taiwan had only around 107,000 births in 2025, about a quarter of what it had in the 1960s.
- New Taipei City has more pets than children by roughly 162,000, reflecting high housing costs and residents moving from Taipei.
- Young Taiwanese often delay or avoid having children due to financial pressures and instead keep pets for companionship.
- President Lai Ching-te calls the birthrate decline a national security issue and introduced family support policies, including monthly subsidies per child.
- Experts say financial incentives alone may not fix the problem without addressing long work hours, housing costs, and living expenses.
- The trend of low birthrates affects many countries, including South Korea, China, and Japan, leading to concerns about aging populations and shrinking workforces.
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