A town in Japan pays more than 84 million VND to people to have children

Nagi increased its financial subsidies and offered perks to help families have children since 2004 to boost the town's birth rate and reverse Japan's aging population. The perks include free vaccinations, housing and school subsidies, and reduced childcare costs, according toCNN.

In addition, the town will pay couples when they have children. They receive 100,000 yen (more than 21 million VND) for their first child, 150,000 yen (nearly 31.5 million VND) for the birth of their second child and 400,000 yen (more than 84 million VND) for the family's fifth baby.

The policy has clearly paid off, with most couples having three or more children because it is what they want and can afford, making Nagi a stark contrast to the rest of Japan.

It is not surprising that families in Nagi town have between three and five children. Photo: CNN

Between 2005 and 2014, the town's fertility rate, which is the average number of children a woman has in her lifetime, doubled from 1.4 to 2.8 percent. The result was widely welcomed domestically. Since then, Nagi's total fertility rate has fallen slightly to 2.4 percent, but is still higher than the national average of 1.46 percent.

The town allocates a large portion of its budget to family services. In the past, officials also accepted low salaries to save money for the town's future.

“In Nagi, we really focus on creating a family-friendly environment,” said Nobue Sasaki, a town official. Nagi, with a population of about 6,000, is a world away from big cities, with streets that are not crowded or noisy, making it a good place to raise children.

According to Japanese government figures, the country's total population is 127 million. Of these, children account for 12.3 percent, compared to 18.9 percent in the United States, 16.8 percent in China, and 30.8 percent in India. By 2065, Japan's population is expected to decline to about 88 million.