Le Thanh Dung, Director of the Population Department of the Ministry of Health (Photo: VOV)

Since 1989 the average life expectancy in Vietnam has increased from 65.2 to 73.7 years. Vietnam has beaten the global average in reducing maternal mortality rates and increasing the rate of contraceptive use. The physical fitness of Vietnamese people has also significantly improved.

But Vietnam still faces some significant challenges, such as disparities in birth rates across regions, rapid population aging, and gender imbalance.

To celebrate World Population Day on July 11, Vietnam chose the theme "Investing in population work is investing in sustainable development".

Le Thanh Dung, Director of the Population Department of the Ministry of Health, said: “In recent years, the United Nations Population Fund has set a specific theme for World Population Day on July 11. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development Program of Action. Facing population challenges, the Ministry of Health chose the theme of "Investing in population work is investing in sustainable development" to call on sectors, governments, and international organizations to invest more in Vietnam’s population and contribute to Vietnam’s rapid, sustainable development.”