Newborns Down 49.5% in 10 Years
Registered Cats Rise from 40,000 to 170,000
In Taiwan, where low birth rates and an aging population are serious issues just as in South Korea and Japan, the number of newborns has dropped by about 50% over the past 10 years, while registrations of pet cats have increased more than fourfold.
According to Taiwanese media outlets such as the Liberty Times on the 25th, Assistant Professor Hou Zhuyuan of the Department of Animal Protection at Hungkuang University in Taiwan released the latest research report on companion animals in Taiwan for the period from 2015 to 2025 the previous day. Assistant Professor Hou analyzed official statistics from Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the National Development Council (NDC) to examine trends in population and companion animals.
The analysis showed that the number of newborns fell from 213,598 in 2015 to 107,812 last year, a decrease of 49.5%. The number of newly married couples also declined from 154,346 couples in 2015 to 104,376 couples last year, down 32.4%. While marriage and childbirth decreased, the number of registered companion animals rose from 123,090 in 2015 to 251,926 last year, an increase of 104.7%.
In particular, the increase in the number of cats among companion animals was striking. During the same period, the number of registered cats jumped from 40,808 to 174,558, up 327.8%. The number of dogs decreased from 82,282 to 77,369, a drop of 6%.
Regarding these results, Assistant Professor Hou pointed out that this reflects a shift in values in which marriage and childbirth are no longer seen by most Taiwanese as an “unavoidable choice,” and that it shows companion animals have become core members of Taiwanese households.
As for why more cats than dogs are being registered, he explained, “It appears that the personality traits of cats, which do not need to be taken for walks and are quiet, align well with urbanization and the lifestyle of single-person households.” He added, “In a situation marked by low birth rates and an aging population, companion animals have become important emotional partners for modern people.”
He went on to say, “The government must face up to crises such as the decline in the labor force caused by low birth rates,” and advised, “It should consider regulatory oversight of industries related to the increase in companion animals, the promotion of relevant legislation on social welfare, animal welfare, and population policy, as well as future urban planning.”
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