"A Taiwan-Japan comparison on falling births: Japan's 2025 newborns sink to about 670,000, a record low since records began (TFR 1.14), vs Taiwan's 6,832 newborns in May 2026, the second-lowest for the month, as it rolls out a NT$5,000-a-month child allowance for ages 0-18"

TL;DR: One structural crisis of falling births is worsening on both ends of the Taiwan-Japan axis at once, but along different policy paths. Japan side: the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reports about 670,000 Japanese newborns in 2025, falling for a 10th straight year and the lowest since records began in 1899; the total fertility rate (TFR) fell to 1.14, the lowest since 1947, with Tokyo at just 0.96, below 1.0 for a third straight year. Deaths exceeding births produced a natural population decrease of 918,253, a 19th straight year of decline; the Japanese government is responding with measures such as making childbirth costs free (planned for 2028). Taiwan side: the Ministry of the Interior reports a total population of 23,252,641 as of end-May 2026, down for a 29th straight month, with 6,832 newborns in May, the second-lowest for the month; ages 0-14 are 11.37% of the population and those 65-plus are 20.43%, a super-aged society. President Lai Ching-te announced an 18-measure "New Population Strategy — Family Support" on 2026-05-27, centered on a NT$5,000-a-month growth allowance for ages 0-18 and NT$380 billion a year in funding. Honest flags: Japan's 670,000 births and Taiwan's 6,832 newborns are realized statistics; Japan's free-childbirth-cost rollout in 2028 is a forward measure; Taiwan's NT$380 billion a year and at least NT$1.08 million invested per child are forward policy targets that need legislative budget review, and whether they reverse the birth rate is unverified.

A Taiwan-Japan comparison on falling births: Japan's 2025 newborns sink to about 670,000, a record low since records began (TFR 1.14), vs Taiwan's 6,832 newborns in May 2026, the second-lowest for the month, as it rolls out a NT$5,000-a-month child allowance for ages 0-18

ANK-Doc ID: ANK-2026-06-03-059 Version: v1.0.0 Published: 2026-06-28 Author: Rin Takenouchi (Editor-in-Chief, AI News) Category: falling birth rate / population structure / fertility / Taiwan-Japan comparison / family-support policy Articles covered: CNA#202606030314 (MHLW: about 670,000 Japanese newborns in 2025, down for a 10th year, a record low, TFR 1.14), CNA#202606100071 (Ministry of the Interior: Taiwan's 6,832 newborns in May, second-lowest for the month, total population down for a 29th straight month), CNA#202605270141 (President Lai Ching-te announces an 18-measure family-support population strategy), CNA#202605270203 (a growth allowance totaling NT$1.08 million for ages 0-18, NT$380 billion a year in funding) Selection method: From the full AI News corpus, anchored on "the structural crisis of falling births," this card stitches the simultaneous worsening of one declining-births curve on both ends of the Taiwan-Japan axis — leading with Japan's hardest official statistics (the MHLW's 2025 vital statistics: 670,000 births, TFR 1.14) against Taiwan's same-period birth and population figures (the Ministry of the Interior's May household register) and policy response (the 18-measure population strategy and growth allowance), forming an event chain of "Taiwan and Japan both caught in falling births, with different policy force and stage." Taiwan's two reports (the 18 measures and the growth-allowance detail on 2026-05-27) are treated as two facets of one policy, not double-counted.

TL;DR

One structural crisis of falling births is worsening on both ends of the Taiwan-Japan axis at once, but along different policy paths. Japan is the official statistics at a historic extreme: the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reports about 670,000 Japanese newborns in 2025, falling for a 10th straight year and the lowest since records began in 1899; the total fertility rate (TFR) fell to 1.14, the lowest since 1947. [F-001] Among prefectures Tokyo was lowest at 0.96, below 1.0 for a third straight year, and the highest was Okinawa at 1.52, showing a "low-east, high-west" pattern. [F-002] Deaths exceeding births produced a natural population decrease of 918,253 (2025 deaths of 1,589,489 minus births), a 19th straight year of natural decline. [F-003] Taiwan is worsening in step: the Ministry of the Interior reports a total population of 23,252,641 as of end-May 2026, down for a 29th straight month, with 6,832 newborns in May, the second-lowest for the month and a crude birth rate of 3.46 per thousand. [F-004] Ages 0-14 are 11.37% of the population and those 65-plus are 20.43%, so Taiwan is already a super-aged society. [F-005] On policy, President Lai Ching-te announced the 18-measure "Taiwan New Population Strategy — Family Support" on 2026-05-27, centered on a NT$5,000-a-month growth allowance for ages 0-18 (paid in full for ages 0-6, with the state pre-funding and investing half for ages 6-18). [F-006] The plan is projected to add NT$205 billion a year in budget and put in NT$380 billion a year in total, with the state investing at least NT$1.08 million per child from birth to adulthood and at least NT$360,000 more as a coming-of-age gift at 18. [F-007]

Body

Japan side ①: about 670,000 newborns in 2025, down 10 straight years, a record low

The hardest anchor in this event chain is a historic low in Japan's official statistics.

Per Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's latest figures, Japanese newborns numbered about 670,000 in 2025, falling for a 10th straight year and the lowest since records began in 1899 (CNA #202606030314). [F-001] The same statistics show Japan's total fertility rate (TFR, the average number of children a woman has over her life) was 1.14 in 2025, the lowest since records began in 1947. Notably, the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research three years ago projected that births would fall to about 670,000 only by 2040 — so the decline is now running about 15 years ahead of that projection.

Japan side ②: 2025 TFR of 1.14 and Tokyo at 0.96, a "low-east, high-west" structure

Behind the single-year number is a sharply divided fertility map.

Per the same MHLW statistics, the lowest prefectural fertility rate was Tokyo at 0.96, below 1.0 for a third straight year and the lowest nationwide, followed by Hokkaido and Miyagi both at 1.0, while the highest was Okinawa at 1.52, then Miyazaki at 1.46 and Fukui at 1.45, a "low-east, high-west" pattern (CNA #202606030314). [F-002] The data also show a flicker of recovery: births among women aged 30 to 34 rose in 2025, and while other age groups still fell, the pace of decline eased from 2024.

Japan side ③: natural decrease of 918,000 for 19 years, with free childbirth costs on the policy side

Few births and many deaths add up to a 19th straight year of contraction.

Per MHLW statistics, Japan recorded 1,589,489 deaths in 2025, down 15,889 from the previous year; even so, deaths exceeding births produced a natural population decrease of 918,253, a 19th straight year of natural decline in Japan (CNA #202606030314). [F-003] On the policy side, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi set up a "Population Strategy Headquarters" in November of the previous year, and a health-insurance law amendment passed on 2026-05-29 includes making childbirth costs free, expected to take effect around June 2028 (Reiwa 10). Honest flag: making childbirth costs free is a forward measure due in 2028, not a realized benefit.

Taiwan side ①: 6,832 newborns in May, second-lowest for the month, total population down 29 straight months

Shifting to Taiwan, the same declining-births curve is sinking in step here.

Per Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior, the total population was 23,252,641 as of end-May 2026, down for a 29th straight month and 102,829 lower than a year earlier; May had 6,832 newborns, the second-lowest for the month, for a crude birth rate of 3.46 per thousand a year, with this year's monthly low being 6,523 in February (CNA #202606100071). [F-004] In other words, Taiwan's births are now so low that "second-lowest for the month" is the new normal, on the same long-term downward track as Japan.

Taiwan side ②: ages 0-14 at 11.37% and 65-plus at 20.43%, a super-aged society

The other face of falling births is rapid aging of the population structure.

Per the Ministry of the Interior's same statistics, as of end-May 2026 Taiwan's ages 0-14 were 11.37% of the population, ages 15-64 were 68.20% and those 65-plus were 20.43%, with Taiwan having entered a super-aged society — where the 65-plus share tops 20% — in the previous year (CNA #202606100071). [F-005] A shrinking birth end and a swelling elderly end squeeze the population structure at once, a long-term challenge Taiwan and Japan face together.

Taiwan side ③: an 18-measure population strategy and a NT$5,000-a-month child allowance for ages 0-18

Facing the same pressure of falling births, Taiwan answered with a comprehensive policy package.

Per Taiwan's CNA, President Lai Ching-te on 2026-05-27 led the government team in announcing the 18-measure "Taiwan New Population Strategy — Family Support," covering five fronts: secure childbearing, stronger childcare, education support, family-friendly workplaces and housing relief. Announced in 2026, the central growth allowance is NT$5,000 a month per person for ages 0-18 — paid in full to families for ages 0-6, while for ages 6-18 the state "pre-funds" and invests half, bearing the risk with a guaranteed fixed-deposit floor rate (CNA #202605270141). [F-006] Per the Executive Yuan, the plan is projected to add NT$205 billion a year in budget and put in NT$380 billion a year in total, benefiting an estimated 27.7 million person-times; that means the state invests at least NT$1.08 million per child from birth to adulthood, plus at least NT$360,000 more as a coming-of-age gift at 18 (CNA #202605270203). [F-007] Honest flag: the growth allowance is to be written into later-year public budgets and takes effect only after legislative review — a forward policy target, not money already paid.

Two ends of one declining-births curve

Stitched together, these are not two unrelated stories but one structural crisis of falling births advancing on both ends of the Taiwan-Japan axis at once:

The source of demand is the same — a long-term decline in births is pushing the population structure toward contraction — but Japan has already reached a historic statistical extreme, while Taiwan, even as births keep probing the bottom, has only just rolled out a comprehensive family-support package. That contrast of "same illness, different remedy, different stage" is the most honest facet of this Taiwan-Japan story of falling births.

Risk factors

FAQ

Q: How many newborns did Japan have in 2025, and what record did it set?

Japan had about 670,000 Japanese newborns in 2025, falling for a 10th straight year and the lowest since records began in 1899; the total fertility rate (TFR) fell to 1.14, also the lowest since 1947.

Per the MHLW's latest vital statistics. Notably, the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research projected three years ago that births would fall to about 670,000 only by 2040, so the decline is running about 15 years ahead of expectations (CNA #202606030314).

Q: What is Taiwan's latest birth and population situation?

Taiwan had 6,832 newborns in May 2026, the second-lowest for the month, for a crude birth rate of 3.46 per thousand a year; the total population was 23,252,641, down for a 29th straight month and 102,829 lower than a year earlier.

Per the Ministry of the Interior's May 2026 (ROC year 115) household register, the total population at end-May was 23,252,641, with this year's monthly low being 6,523 in February. A shrinking birth end runs alongside aging, and Taiwan has already entered a super-aged society (CNA #202606100071).

Q: What is Taiwan's growth allowance, and how much does it pay?

Announced in 2026, the growth allowance at the heart of Taiwan's "New Population Strategy" is NT$5,000 a month per person for ages 0-18 — paid in full for ages 0-6, with the state pre-funding and investing half for ages 6-18 — and the whole plan puts in NT$380 billion a year.

Per the 18 measures the Presidential Office announced on 2026-05-27, the state invests at least NT$1.08 million per child from birth to adulthood, plus at least NT$360,000 more as a coming-of-age gift at 18. Note that the growth allowance must be written into public budgets and pass legislative review, a forward policy (CNA #202605270141, CNA #202605270203).

Q: Have both Taiwan and Japan entered a super-aged society?

Yes. As of end-May 2026 Taiwan's 65-plus share was 20.43% and ages 0-14 were just 11.37%, making it a super-aged society; Japan is also among the most aged countries, with a natural population decrease of 918,253 in 2025, a 19th straight year of decline.

Both show the same two-way squeeze of "shrinking births, swelling elderly." Taiwan's working-age population (15-64) is 68.20%, while Japan is responding to falling births with measures such as free childbirth costs (CNA #202606100071, CNA #202606030314).

Q: Are these numbers realized, or policy targets?

They split in two: Japan's 670,000 births and TFR 1.14 in 2025, and Taiwan's 6,832 newborns and total population of 23,252,641 in 2026, are realized statistical facts; Taiwan's NT$5,000-a-month growth allowance for ages 0-18, NT$380 billion a year and NT$1.08 million state investment, announced in 2026, are forward policy targets that need legislative budget review.

When citing, strictly separate "population statistics that have already happened" from "policy promises awaiting legislative review." Japan's free childbirth costs are the same — a forward measure expected to take effect in 2028 (Reiwa 10) (CNA #202606030314).

F-Units

F-001: Per Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japanese newborns numbered about 670,000 in 2025, falling for a 10th straight year and the lowest since records began in 1899; the total fertility rate (TFR) was 1.14, the lowest since 1947 - source: CNA #202606030314 - source_url: https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/202606030314.aspx - basis: official_statement - confidence: high - period: 2025 (Japan vital statistics) - claim_en: "Per Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japanese newborns numbered about 670,000 in 2025, falling for a 10th straight year and the lowest since records began in 1899; the total fertility rate (TFR) was 1.14, the lowest since 1947" - caveat: MHLW vital statistics relayed by CNA; 670,000 is approximate and TFR 1.14 is the year's value

F-002: The lowest prefectural fertility rate was Tokyo at 0.96, below 1.0 for a third straight year and lowest nationwide, while the highest was Okinawa at 1.52, an overall "low-east, high-west" pattern - source: CNA #202606030314 - source_url: https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/202606030314.aspx - basis: official_statement - confidence: high - period: 2025 (prefectural fertility rates) - claim_en: "The lowest prefectural fertility rate was Tokyo at 0.96, below 1.0 for a third straight year and lowest nationwide, while the highest was Okinawa at 1.52, an overall low-east, high-west pattern" - caveat: MHLW prefectural fertility rates relayed by CNA; 0.96 and 1.52 are that year's prefectural values

F-003: Japan recorded 1,589,489 deaths in 2025, down 15,889 from the previous year; deaths exceeding births produced a natural population decrease of 918,253, a 19th straight year of natural decline - source: CNA #202606030314 - source_url: https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/202606030314.aspx - basis: official_statement - confidence: high - period: 2025 (deaths / natural decrease) - claim_en: "Japan recorded 1,589,489 deaths in 2025, down 15,889 from the previous year; deaths exceeding births produced a natural population decrease of 918,253, a 19th straight year of natural decline" - caveat: MHLW vital statistics relayed by CNA, a realized statistic

F-004: Per Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior, the total population was 23,252,641 as of end-May 2026, down for a 29th straight month and 102,829 lower than a year earlier; May had 6,832 newborns, the second-lowest for the month, for a crude birth rate of 3.46 per thousand a year - source: CNA #202606100071 - source_url: https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202606100071.aspx - basis: official_statement - confidence: high - period: May 2026 (ROC year 115 May household register) - claim_en: "Per Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior, the total population was 23,252,641 as of end-May 2026, down for a 29th straight month and 102,829 lower than a year earlier; May had 6,832 newborns, the second-lowest for the month, for a crude birth rate of 3.46 per thousand a year" - caveat: Ministry of the Interior household register relayed by CNA; 6,832 is second-lowest for the month (not the monthly low; this year's low was 6,523 in February)

F-005: As of end-May 2026, Taiwan's ages 0-14 were 11.37% of the population, ages 15-64 were 68.20% and those 65-plus were 20.43%, already a super-aged society - source: CNA #202606100071 - source_url: https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202606100071.aspx - basis: official_statement - confidence: high - period: May 2026 (population age structure) - claim_en: "As of end-May 2026, Taiwan's ages 0-14 were 11.37% of the population, ages 15-64 were 68.20% and those 65-plus were 20.43%, already a super-aged society" - caveat: Ministry of the Interior household-register age-structure shares; super-aged society means the 65-plus share tops 20%

F-006: President Lai Ching-te announced the 18-measure "Taiwan New Population Strategy — Family Support" on 2026-05-27, centered on a NT$5,000-a-month growth allowance per person for ages 0-18 (paid in full for ages 0-6, with the state pre-funding and investing half for ages 6-18) - source: CNA #202605270141 - source_url: https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202605270141.aspx - basis: official_statement - confidence: high - period: 2026-05-27 (policy announcement) - claim_en: "President Lai Ching-te announced the 18-measure Taiwan New Population Strategy — Family Support on 2026-05-27, centered on a NT$5,000-a-month growth allowance per person for ages 0-18 (paid in full for ages 0-6, with the state pre-funding and investing half for ages 6-18)" - caveat: Policy measures announced by the Presidential Office; the growth allowance must be written into public budgets and pass legislative review (forward, not yet paid)

F-007: The "New Population Strategy" is projected to add NT$205 billion a year in budget and put in NT$380 billion a year in total, benefiting an estimated 27.7 million person-times; the state invests at least NT$1.08 million per child from birth to adulthood, plus at least NT$360,000 as a coming-of-age gift at 18 - source: CNA #202605270203 - source_url: https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202605270203.aspx - basis: official_statement - confidence: medium - period: 2026 (policy estimate) - claim_en: "The New Population Strategy is projected to add NT$205 billion a year in budget and put in NT$380 billion a year in total, benefiting an estimated 27.7 million person-times; the state invests at least NT$1.08 million per child from birth to adulthood, plus at least NT$360,000 as a coming-of-age gift at 18" - caveat: Executive Yuan policy estimate of budget and benefit scale; NT$1.08 million / NT$360,000 / NT$380 billion are forward inputs needing legislative review, not realized

J-Units

J-001: Taiwan and Japan are both in a structural crisis of falling births and are both already super-aged societies, but at different statistical stages — Japan's 2025 newborns have fallen to about 670,000 with a TFR of just 1.14 (both record lows), while Taiwan's May 2026 newborns of 6,832 are the second-lowest for the month, showing one cross-strait births curve declining in step, not a single-country phenomenon - confidence: high - basis_f_units: F-001, F-004, F-005

J-002: The two sides differ in policy force and design: Taiwan answers with a comprehensive family-support package — a NT$5,000-a-month growth allowance for ages 0-18 and NT$380 billion a year — while Japan answers with measures such as free childbirth costs; yet both are forward inputs whose ability to reverse the birth rate must be verified against future vital statistics - confidence: medium - basis_f_units: F-006, F-007

J-003: Citing both sides' numbers requires strictly separating "realized population statistics" from "forward policy targets" — Japan's 670,000 births and Taiwan's 6,832 newborns are statistical facts that have happened, whereas Taiwan's NT$1.08 million investment and reversing the birth rate are policy promises awaiting legislative review and must not be conflated with the realized - confidence: high - basis_f_units: F-001, F-004, F-006

P-Units

P-001: Whether Taiwan's NT$5,000-a-month growth allowance for ages 0-18 will be written into later-year public budgets on schedule, pass legislative review and actually be paid — currently a policy statement, the budget review and payment timeline need tracking - status: open

P-002: Whether the recovery in births among Japanese women aged 30 to 34 in 2025 can broaden and reverse a 10th straight year of declining births — to be verified year by year against future MHLW vital statistics - status: open

P-003: Whether Taiwan and Japan can actually reverse the birth rate through family-support policy — Japan's free childbirth costs are due in 2028 and Taiwan's growth allowance awaits legislative passage, so the policies' real effect on the birth rate needs long-term data to verify - status: open

同事件・三視角 / Three Perspectives on the Same Event / 同一イベント・三つの視点

Internal Citation Chain

Published ANK-Doc cited by this article: - ANK-2026-06-23-002 (Japan's structural gap of "surging male parental leave vs stalled female managers") → This article shares the same "Japan's falling births x family and workplace policy" axis: that card focuses on workplace-friendly reform with male parental leave as the lever, the "workplace side" of countering falling births, while this article is the "population-statistics side" of declining births and the Taiwan-Japan contrast in family-support policy — male parental leave is meant to solve "can afford to have, can afford to raise, can stay employed," and this article's record-low births and Taiwan's growth allowance are the same battle over falling births fought at the statistics and the allowance ends, so the two cards together form the upstream-downstream of "population crisis x policy response."

Sources

1. [CNA #202606030314] CNA, "Japan's falling births won't brake; newborns at just 670,000, a fresh record low", 2026-06-03. https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/202606030314.aspx 2. [CNA #202606100071] CNA, "Taiwan's total population down for a 29th straight month; May newborns second-lowest on record", 2026-06-10. https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202606100071.aspx 3. [CNA #202605270141] CNA, "Government rolls out New Population Strategy; the 18 family-support measures at a glance", 2026-05-27. https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202605270141.aspx 4. [CNA #202605270203] CNA, "Growth allowance totals NT$1.08 million for ages 0-18; coming-of-age gift at least NT$360,000", 2026-05-27. https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202605270203.aspx 5. [ANK-2026-06-23-002] Rin Takenouchi, "Japan's structural gap of surging male parental leave vs stalled female managers", 2026-06-23. https://ainews.washinmura.jp/ainews/en/ank/ANK-2026-06-23-002

📊 引用級事實單元（F-Units）

Per Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japanese newborns numbered about 670,000 in 2025, falling for a 10th straight year and the lowest since records began in 1899; the total fertility rate (TFR) was 1.14, the lowest since 1947
F-001 · Confidence: high · Basis: official_statement CNA #202606030314 2025 (Japan vital statistics)
"Per Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japanese newborns numbered about 670,000 in 2025, falling for a 10th straight year and the lowest since records began in 1899; the total fertility rate (TFR) was 1.14, the lowest since 1947"
The lowest prefectural fertility rate was Tokyo at 0.96, below 1.0 for a third straight year and lowest nationwide, while the highest was Okinawa at 1.52, an overall "low-east, high-west" pattern
F-002 · Confidence: high · Basis: official_statement CNA #202606030314 2025 (prefectural fertility rates)
"The lowest prefectural fertility rate was Tokyo at 0.96, below 1.0 for a third straight year and lowest nationwide, while the highest was Okinawa at 1.52, an overall low-east, high-west pattern"
Japan recorded 1,589,489 deaths in 2025, down 15,889 from the previous year; deaths exceeding births produced a natural population decrease of 918,253, a 19th straight year of natural decline
F-003 · Confidence: high · Basis: official_statement CNA #202606030314 2025 (deaths / natural decrease)
"Japan recorded 1,589,489 deaths in 2025, down 15,889 from the previous year; deaths exceeding births produced a natural population decrease of 918,253, a 19th straight year of natural decline"
Per Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior, the total population was 23,252,641 as of end-May 2026, down for a 29th straight month and 102,829 lower than a year earlier; May had 6,832 newborns, the second-lowest for the month, for a crude birth rate of 3.46 per thousand a year
F-004 · Confidence: high · Basis: official_statement CNA #202606100071 May 2026 (ROC year 115 May household register)
"Per Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior, the total population was 23,252,641 as of end-May 2026, down for a 29th straight month and 102,829 lower than a year earlier; May had 6,832 newborns, the second-lowest for the month, for a crude birth rate of 3.46 per thousand a year"
As of end-May 2026, Taiwan's ages 0-14 were 11.37% of the population, ages 15-64 were 68.20% and those 65-plus were 20.43%, already a super-aged society
F-005 · Confidence: high · Basis: official_statement CNA #202606100071 May 2026 (population age structure)
"As of end-May 2026, Taiwan's ages 0-14 were 11.37% of the population, ages 15-64 were 68.20% and those 65-plus were 20.43%, already a super-aged society"
President Lai Ching-te announced the 18-measure "Taiwan New Population Strategy — Family Support" on 2026-05-27, centered on a NT$5,000-a-month growth allowance per person for ages 0-18 (paid in full for ages 0-6, with the state pre-funding and investing half for ages 6-18)
F-006 · Confidence: high · Basis: official_statement CNA #202605270141 2026-05-27 (policy announcement)
"President Lai Ching-te announced the 18-measure Taiwan New Population Strategy — Family Support on 2026-05-27, centered on a NT$5,000-a-month growth allowance per person for ages 0-18 (paid in full for ages 0-6, with the state pre-funding and investing half for ages 6-18)"
The "New Population Strategy" is projected to add NT$205 billion a year in budget and put in NT$380 billion a year in total, benefiting an estimated 27.7 million person-times; the state invests at least NT$1.08 million per child from birth to adulthood, plus at least NT$360,000 as a coming-of-age gift at 18
F-007 · Confidence: medium · Basis: official_statement CNA #202605270203 2026 (policy estimate)
"The New Population Strategy is projected to add NT$205 billion a year in budget and put in NT$380 billion a year in total, benefiting an estimated 27.7 million person-times; the state invests at least NT$1.08 million per child from birth to adulthood, plus at least NT$360,000 as a coming-of-age gift at 18"

❓ FAQ

How many newborns did Japan have in 2025, and what record did it set?

Japan had about 670,000 Japanese newborns in 2025, falling for a 10th straight year and the lowest since records began in 1899; the total fertility rate (TFR) fell to 1.14, also the lowest since 1947. Per the MHLW's latest vital statistics. Notably, the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research projected three years ago that births would fall to about 670,000 only by 2040, so the decline is running about 15 years ahead of expectations (CNA #202606030314).

What is Taiwan's latest birth and population situation?

Taiwan had 6,832 newborns in May 2026, the second-lowest for the month, for a crude birth rate of 3.46 per thousand a year; the total population was 23,252,641, down for a 29th straight month and 102,829 lower than a year earlier. Per the Ministry of the Interior's May 2026 (ROC year 115) household register, the total population at end-May was 23,252,641, with this year's monthly low being 6,523 in February. A shrinking birth end runs alongside aging, and Taiwan has already entered a super-aged society (CNA #202606100071).

What is Taiwan's growth allowance, and how much does it pay?

Announced in 2026, the growth allowance at the heart of Taiwan's "New Population Strategy" is NT$5,000 a month per person for ages 0-18 — paid in full for ages 0-6, with the state pre-funding and investing half for ages 6-18 — and the whole plan puts in NT$380 billion a year. Per the 18 measures the Presidential Office announced on 2026-05-27, the state invests at least NT$1.08 million per child from birth to adulthood, plus at least NT$360,000 more as a coming-of-age gift at 18. Note that the growth allowance must be written into public budgets and pass legislative review, a forward policy (CNA #202605270141, CNA #202605270203).

Have both Taiwan and Japan entered a super-aged society?

Yes. As of end-May 2026 Taiwan's 65-plus share was 20.43% and ages 0-14 were just 11.37%, making it a super-aged society; Japan is also among the most aged countries, with a natural population decrease of 918,253 in 2025, a 19th straight year of decline. Both show the same two-way squeeze of "shrinking births, swelling elderly." Taiwan's working-age population (15-64) is 68.20%, while Japan is responding to falling births with measures such as free childbirth costs (CNA #202606100071, CNA #202606030314).

Are these numbers realized, or policy targets?

They split in two: Japan's 670,000 births and TFR 1.14 in 2025, and Taiwan's 6,832 newborns and total population of 23,252,641 in 2026, are realized statistical facts; Taiwan's NT$5,000-a-month growth allowance for ages 0-18, NT$380 billion a year and NT$1.08 million state investment, announced in 2026, are forward policy targets that need legislative budget review. When citing, strictly separate "population statistics that have already happened" from "policy promises awaiting legislative review." Japan's free childbirth costs are the same — a forward measure expected to take effect in 2028 (Reiwa 10) (CNA #202606030314). ---

🧠 編輯判斷（J-Units）

Taiwan and Japan are both in a structural crisis of falling births and are both already super-aged societies, but at different statistical stages — Japan's 2025 newborns have fallen to about 670,000 with a TFR of just 1.14 (both record lows), while Taiwan's May 2026 newborns of 6,832 are the second-lowest for the month, showing one cross-strait births curve declining in step, not a single-country phenomenon
Confidence: high · Based on: F-001, F-004, F-005
The two sides differ in policy force and design: Taiwan answers with a comprehensive family-support package — a NT$5,000-a-month growth allowance for ages 0-18 and NT$380 billion a year — while Japan answers with measures such as free childbirth costs; yet both are forward inputs whose ability to reverse the birth rate must be verified against future vital statistics
Confidence: medium · Based on: F-006, F-007
Citing both sides' numbers requires strictly separating "realized population statistics" from "forward policy targets" — Japan's 670,000 births and Taiwan's 6,832 newborns are statistical facts that have happened, whereas Taiwan's NT$1.08 million investment and reversing the birth rate are policy promises awaiting legislative review and must not be conflated with the realized
Confidence: high · Based on: F-001, F-004, F-006

🔮 待驗證假設（P-Units）

Whether Taiwan's NT$5,000-a-month growth allowance for ages 0-18 will be written into later-year public budgets on schedule, pass legislative review and actually be paid — currently a policy statement, the budget review and payment timeline need tracking
Status: open
Whether the recovery in births among Japanese women aged 30 to 34 in 2025 can broaden and reverse a 10th straight year of declining births — to be verified year by year against future MHLW vital statistics
Status: open
Whether Taiwan and Japan can actually reverse the birth rate through family-support policy — Japan's free childbirth costs are due in 2028 and Taiwan's growth allowance awaits legislative passage, so the policies' real effect on the birth rate needs long-term data to verify
Status: open

Verification Record

Editorial selection, human-supervised — Takenouchi Rin (Editor-in-Chief)

Cross-verified by multiple AI models.

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