Taiwan institutes family subsidies, including IVF, in attempt to increase births

To address the problem of population decline, the Taiwanese government has conceptualized new family subsidy programs — including paying for fertility treatments — meant to increase births .

Key Takeaways:

Taiwan is adding cash incentives to its plan to increase births, offering money to families for each newborn.

Taiwan is also covering a greater proportion of the costs of fertility treatments.

The Details:

In mid-September this year, Taiwan’s cabinet gave the green light to standardized cash incentives of NT $100,000 (US $3,320) to families for each newborn and offered coverage for a greater proportion of fertility treatment costs, Focus Taiwan reported. The same news article added:

The package, set to take effect in 2026, includes measures to standardize and increase childbirth allowances across different social insurance systems, Minister of Labor Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) said at a Cabinet press briefing in Taipei.

Currently, payouts range from an average of NT$39,000 to NT$70,000 depending on the mother’s employment status.

Under the new scheme, all families will receive NT$100,000 per child, with twins qualifying for NT$200,000, in addition to any birth subsidies provided by local governments, Hung said.

These government incentives will also apply to couples with infertility.

Women aged 39 and under will purportedly qualify for subsidies for up to six tries at in vitro fertilization (IVF). Women between the ages of 39 and 45 will receive subsidies for their first three tries, Focus Taiwan reported.

Taiwan became a “super-aged society” in 2025; over one-fifth of its population is 65 or older. Taiwan also has one of the lowest birth rates in the world.

The Bottom Line:

While IVF is usually touted as  a technological quick fix to declining fertility rates and population stagnation, it is an expensive and resource-intensive procedure that includes practices which disregard the reality of life from conception, including embryo disposal and selective reduction (abortion).

The Taiwanese government’s dependence on IVF to tackle the island state’s demographic woes negates the dignity and sanctity of all human beings produced during IVF, while failing to address the root social and cultural factors of low birth rates.