Vietnam’s population reaches nearly 90.5 million: survey

Hanoi, December 18 (VNA) - Vietnam’s population hit nearly 90.5 million by April 1, 2014, with 44.6 million males and 45.8 million females, representing 49.3 percent and 50.7 percent, respectively. It was one of the key findings of an Inter-censal on Population Survey (IPS) announced by the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s General Statistics Office (GSO) in Hanoi on December 17. GSO Deputy Director Nguyen Van Lieu said that the survey provided the most important population index for evaluating the implementation of socio-economic policies and development plans as well as the accomplishment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This was a large-scale survey serving the building of economic development policies and plans for the 2016-2020 period, he noted. According to Arthur Erken, Chief Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Vietnam, the results show Vietnam’s progress in socio-economic promotion, adding that the latest population data will be useful for outlining socio-economic development objective and realising MDGs. Demographic change requires Vietnam to have timely and suitable policies in the fields of education, employment, and social security, Arthur said. The country’s population saw an increase of nearly 4.65 million during 2009-2014, with an annual average growth rate of 1.06 percent, 0.14 percent lower than that in the previous ten years (1999-2009). The figures reflected that Vietnam’s birth rate continues to decline and becomes stable. The survey also indicated that the living conditions of Vietnamese people have improved, with nearly 47 percent of households nationwide living in well-built houses. As the first ever IPS conducted after the four general censuses on population and housing in Vietnam since 1975, the survey was conducted by the GSO and funded by the UNFPA.-VNA