The proposal, part of the draft Law on Administrative Sanctions in the Field of Population, aims to tighten enforcement and deter violations.

If the sex ratio at birth remains unchanged, Vietnam is likely to record an excess of 1.5 million males aged 15-49 by 2034 and 2.5 million by 2059, an in-depth study of the 2019 population and housing census reveals.

Vietnam is forecast to face a severe gender imbalance by 2026, with an excess of 1.38 million males, according to the General Statistics Office.

Naomi Kitahara, chief representative of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in Vietnam, has called for an end to the preference for boys over girls in the country, to promote gender equality.

Vietnam’s population and family planning work in 2019 faced difficulties, especially in communications due to decreased funding, heard a conference in Hanoi on January 9.

Vietnam’s population quality has significantly improved during the past 10 years with improved education level and healthcare, especially maternal and child health, experts agreed at a conference held in Hanoi on December 26.

In the first nine months of this year, the sex ratio at birth in Hanoi stood at 110.5 boys to 100 girls, a decrease from 2018 when it was 113.5:100.

More measures are set to be taken by Hanoi authorities in the time ahead to improve the local population quality.

Ho Chi Minh City’s average male-to-female sex ratio at birth in the first six months of 2019 remained at a high level, with 109.9 boys per 100 girls, but the difference is smaller compared to the same period last year.

Hanoi has set a goal this year to limit the imbalance of the sex ratio at birth and keep the rate at 113 girls per 100 boys.

Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Viet Tien requested the improvement of population quality and healthcare for the elderly during a conference in Hanoi on January 18 to launch its 2019 tasks regarding population and family planning.

Gender inequality at birth has increased in the northern province of Ha Nam in recent years, according to the provincial Office of Population and Family Planning.

People from Hanoi have Vietnam’s longest life expectancy, estimated at more than 75 years old, 1.6 years higher than the national average, according to the Hanoi Population and Family Planning branch.

The General Office for Population and Family Planning under the Ministry of Health on December 20 held a consultation workshop on a Vietnamese Population Strategy until 2030, drawing representatives from ministries, sectors, localities, and international organisations.

HCM City’s birth rate has remained low at 1.5 per woman in 2018.

Vietnam may fail to curb the sex imbalance at birth in 2016 as about 113.4 boys were born for every 100 girls during the first half of this year, higher than last year’s ratio of 112.8/100.