Health

Taiwan Newborn Gender Ratio Nears Balance as Traditional Preferences Fade

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By Patrick Chen/Irene Lin

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Ahead of the International Day of the Girl Child, Taiwan's Health Promotion Administration released long-term birth statistics showing that the nation's gender ratio at birth has steadily moved closer to natural balance, decreasing from 1.107 male births per female birth in 2004 to 1.072 in 2025. The data comes as many parents move away from a traditional preference for sons. However, the broader challenge facing Taiwan remains its low birth rates driven by high living costs and changing lifestyle choices. To support prospective parents, the Cabinet is expanding subsidies for assisted reproductive technology, though civil society organizations like the Awakening Foundation emphasize the need to safeguard against gender filtering during fertility treatments.