Hong Kong recorded fewer than 30,000 births between mid-2025 and mid-2026, a 15.6% decline, marking a record low. Despite a natural population decrease of 20,400, the total population rose by 0.3% to 7.51 million due to other demographic factors.
Hong Kong recorded under 30,000 births annually for the first time on record, dropping 15.6% year-on-year to 29,700, while overall population rose by 0.3% to over 7.5 million by mid-2026.
Rajya Sabha passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill amid protests over the Ram temple donation row and NEET-UG paper leak. Lok Sabha also passed an Appropriation Bill without discussion as the monsoon session turned stormy.
A UN report reveals a sharp increase in miscarriages and premature births in Gaza, with doctors observing more severe congenital abnormalities. Inadequate prenatal care, malnutrition, psychological strain, and potential environmental contamination from Israeli strikes are cited as contributing factors amid a struggling health system.
Global fertility rates have fallen significantly since 1994, with over half of countries now below replacement level. This demographic shift is intensifying global talent competition, making international students crucial for countries seeking to attract skilled professionals and shape future economies.
Hong Kong political parties are urging the government to allow unmarried women access to assisted reproductive services and extend the newborn baby bonus. The New People's Party proposed a progressive bonus for families with multiple children, citing a historic low in registered births.
Cuban zookeepers celebrate the birth of four Bengal tiger cubs, including a rare white tiger, at the national zoo. The births offer a morale boost amidst severe shortages of fuel, medicine, and power impacting the island and zoo operations.
Research based on over 2.7 million UK births reveals a significant "ethnicity pain gap," showing women from black and Asian backgrounds are less likely to receive epidurals during childbirth compared to white women. Experts warn this disparity extends across healthcare, highlighting systemic issues and racialized assumptions.
Following the Supreme Court's decision to uphold birthright citizenship, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced federal prosecutors will focus on combating 'birth tourism.' The Justice Department will investigate and prosecute those who fraudulently exploit the immigration system, despite the government conceding the exact scale of the problem is unknown.
Following the Supreme Court's birthright citizenship ruling, President Trump plans to ask Congress to legislate on the issue. Republican lawmakers have proposed bills to limit automatic citizenship, but the practice's scale is debated, with data suggesting fewer than 1% of births are to foreign mothers.
Valerie Amos's review into UK maternity care reveals high maternal mortality rates, increased complications, and systemic issues like understaffing and institutional racism. The report calls for urgent transformation and a new maternity commissioner.
Lady Amos' review finds England's maternity and neonatal services unfit for purpose, citing systemic failures and a "cover-up culture." Recommendations include automatic rights to independent investigations for dissatisfied families and binding national standards for maternity triage.
Melbourne wellness influencer Stacey Warnecke died in hospital after an unassisted home birth in September 2025, attended by her husband and 'birth keeper' Emily Lal, who lacked formal medical training. A coroner is investigating the incident.
South Korea's birth rate surged 18% in April, reaching 24,521 babies, the highest for the month since 2019. The January-April period also saw a 15.5% increase, marking a seven-year high. Experts cite rising marriages and a more positive view of childbirth, though the rate remains below population stability levels.
A major report into maternity failures at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS trust, investigating around 2,500 families' experiences between 2012 and 2025, will be released this week. Led by Donna Ockenden, the inquiry covers stillbirths, neonatal deaths, and severe injuries, following a decade-long campaign for justice.
Preliminary 2025 data shows the US infant mortality rate dropped to a historic low of under 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, a decrease from previous years. While reasons are unclear, experts are optimistic about the trend, though the US rate still lags behind other high-income nations.
Hungary's ambitious pronatalist policies, offering financial incentives for having children, have seen a temporary rise in fertility followed by a decline. Experts debate whether the policies merely accelerated births or failed to address deeper issues like healthcare and cultural norms, offering lessons for other nations.
Hong Kong's HK$20,000 newborn baby bonus, launched in 2023, is set to expire in October. The government will consult the public on whether to continue the incentive, which has benefited over 65,000 babies and cost HK$1.3 billion.
Taiwan recorded 6,832 births in May, the second-lowest monthly total on record. This continues a 29-month streak of year-on-year declines, with the population also decreasing.
Japan's child population (under 15) has fallen to a historic low of 13.29 million, down 350,000 from last year. This decline, linked to falling birth rates and fewer marriages, now represents only 10.8% of the total population, a stark contrast to 35.1% in 1950.
India's fertility rate has dropped below replacement level, prompting concerns about long-term economic growth. Experts like Radhika Gupta emphasize the need for infrastructure supporting women's workforce participation and family sustainability.
Emergency caesarean sections in England have risen to 26% of births, a significant increase over five years, with concerns over a culture of fear and pressure on NHS staff and facilities.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida acknowledged the nation's record-low birthrate in 2025 as a "silent crisis," vowing to increase young people's disposable income and bolster support for struggling parents to encourage marriage and childbirth.
India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has dropped to 1.9, below replacement level, according to new SRS data. While national averages show a decline, significant regional disparities persist, with states like Bihar still having high fertility rates. The data also highlights shifts in birth order, reduced infant mortality but persistent dangers in the first week of life, and a concerning gap in medical attention at the time of death.
