ISTANBUL

Taiwan's population continued to decline last year, with births hitting a record annual low, according to data released by the Interior Ministry on Friday.

The island's population stood at 23.4 million in 2024, a drop of over 20,000 compared to 23.42 million in 2023, according to the Taipei Times.

This decline marks a record low in births and underscores growing concerns over Taiwan’s aging population.

A total of 134,856 new births was recorded in 2024, 715 fewer than in 2023. The downward trend in births has persisted since 2016, when 208,440 births were registered.

Dubbed an “aging society,” Taiwan has experienced a sharp decline in fertility rates, dropping from 7 births per woman in 1951 to just 0.87 in 2022 – far lower than the replacement rate of 2.1.

The National Development Council predicts that Taiwan will become one of the world’s oldest societies by 2060, with its elderly population projected to rise to over 41%.