Promoting marriage is likely the most successful way to promote more births in Asia, according to recent research by Mengni Chen, a research scientist at the University of Cologne in Germany and University of Louvain in Belgium, and Paul Yip, the chair professor (population health) at the University of Hong Kong.
2020 estimates continue to place the total fertility rate at less than one child per woman in most high-income Asian societies, well below the replacement rate of 2.1. Chronic low fertility is concerning because it significantly affects the economy, social welfare system, and the health care system. It likely also affects societal happiness and sense of purpose when people do not feel supported to have a stable family and bring up children.