China has introduced a value-added tax (VAT) on condoms and other contraceptives for the first time in three decades, as part of a broader effort to modernize its tax system and address the country’s persistently low birth rate. The new VAT law, passed in 2024, ends a long-standing exemption dating back to 1993. At the same time, Beijing has launched a national childcare subsidy program worth 90 billion yuan ($12.7 billion) and expanded maternity coverage under the national health insurance scheme.
The policy shift comes as China’s birth rate stood at just 6.77 per 1,000 people in 2024, despite incentives such as cash bonuses, IVF discounts, and extended paid leave for new couples. Social media users have mocked the condom tax, calling it a desperate attempt to boost fertility. Experts argue the measure is largely symbolic and unlikely to influence reproductive decisions, though it signals the government’s preference for pro-natalist behavior.
Sociologists warn that restricting access to contraception could disproportionately affect women, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, while raising concerns about intrusive local monitoring of women’s reproductive cycles.
আমার দেশ অনলাইন প্রকাশ : ১৮ ডিসেম্বর ২০২৫, ১৭: ৫৩ আমার দেশ অনলাইন চীনে জন্মহার ক্রমাগত কমছে। জন্মহার বাড়াতে কর ব্যবস্থাকে আধুনিকীকরণের পাশাপাশি জনগণকে উৎসাহিত করতে নানা সুযোগ সুবিধার দিচ্ছে সরকার। বিশেষত গত ৩০ বছরেরও বেশি সময় ধরে চলা কঠোর একসন্তান নী
The ‘1 Nojor’ media platform is now live in beta, inviting users to explore and provide feedback as we continue to refine the experience.
