China Allocates 460 billion TWD for Childcare Subsidies to Combat Low Birth Rates

Shanghai, June 2 (CNA). To encourage childbirth, China's Ministry of Finance recently allocated 99.9 billion yuan (approx. 460 billion TWD) in childcare subsidies for 2026, a 10.6% year-on-year increase. This funding supports local governments in distributing subsidies to eligible infants. It is estimated that total fiscal support at all levels will reach approximately 110 billion yuan for the year. According to Xinhua News Agency, health departments are responsible for the review and distribution of these funds, which are generally issued on a quarterly basis. Data from China's National Bureau of Statistics shows that the number of births in 2025 was only 7.92 million, with a birth rate of 0.563%, the lowest since 1949. To address this, the State Council released an implementation plan in July 2025, providing 3,600 yuan per child annually for children under three, totaling 10,800 yuan over three years. Guo Yang, Director of the Social Security Department of the Ministry of Finance, stated that the central government covers approximately 90% of the funding for these basic subsidies.