Vietnam’s population increases by over 4.6 million in five years

The figures were released at a conference co-organised by the GSO and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Hanoi on December 17, to present key findings of the 2014 Inter-censal Population and Housing Survey (IPS).

Five years since the 2009 Population and Housing Census, the 2014 IPS was conducted over 20 days, with technical and financial support from the UNFPA, starting on April 1, 2014, collecting data on population and housing across 63 provinces and centrally-run cities.

Speaking at the conference, GSO Deputy Director General Nguyen Van Lieu said the survey provides the most important population indicators for development and evaluation of the implementation of the national socio-economic development policies and the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that Vietnam has committed to. It also serves as foundation for development of the social-economic development plan during the 2016-2020 period.

According to the survey’s results, as of midnight April 1, 2014, Vietnam's population reached 90,493,352 people, with 44,618,668 males (accounting for 49.3%) and 45,874,684 females (accounting for 50.7%).

The average population growth rate was 1.06% per year between 2009 and 2014, lower than the 1.2% per annum average from 1999 to 2009. This has been lowest population growth rate in the past 35 years.

The total fertility rate is 2.09 children per women and the infant mortality rate is 14.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. This confirms the country’s fertility rate has been continuously declining and has stablised at the replacement rate over the last decade, while also affirming Vietnam’s efforts over the past year to improve maternal and child healthcare.

The 2014 IPS also reveals that total dependency ratio is 44%, showing Vietnam is still in the demographic dividend. In addition, the proportion of people aged 65 and older is 7.1% and the aging index is 44.6%, confirming Vietnam has entered a population aging period.

According to the 2014 IPS, only 4.4% of the population aged five and over never attend school, showing the continued progress of the elimination of illiteracy in Vietnam. The proportion of the population aged 15 and over with highest professional and technical qualifications is higher compared to the 2009 Census.

The 2014 IPS results also show continued improvements in living conditions, with 46.6% of families living in permanent houses, 43.7% in semi-permanent houses, 5.9% in temporary houses, and 3.7% with simple permanent houses. The average living area per capita is 20.6-23.0 square metres per person in urban areas and 19.5 square metres per person in rural areas.

As UNFPA Representative in Vietnam Arthur Erken said, the key results of the survey are indeed encouraging and show Vietnam’s impressive continued progress in socio-economic development. The up-to-date population indicators will help facilitate evidence-based policy formulation and strategic actions to ensure the success of MDGs and set benchmarks for the post-2015 development agenda, he added.

The UN official suggested the Government of Vietnam facilitate better access to healthcare, education, employment and other social protection services to its populations, especially women and girls, ethnic minorities, and young people, while investing time and resources in analyzing and utilising the data to better inform the development of national policies, programmes and initiatives.

The 2014 IPS is the first intercensal population and housing survey to be conducted, after four censuses (in April of 1979, 1989, 1999, and 2009) in Vietnam since 1975.