The Chinese Year of the Dragon is considered a favorable time to have a baby in the Asia-Pacific region, as children born in this zodiac cycle are believed to inherit exceptional leadership traits and achieve great success.
Despite these cultural beliefs, birth rates in China have declined during the Dragon Years, with a drop of over 4% between 1988 and 2000, and a 9% decrease in 2012. Conversely, other parts of Asia, like Singapore, have witnessed a notable increase in birth rates during these years, rising by 21% in 1988 and by 8% in both 2000 and 2012.
However, Asian folklore may not be sufficient to reverse China’s declining birth rates, which have seen a significant secular decline over the years.
Factors contributing to this decline include high youth unemployment and economic instability within the country. Despite the Chinese government’s removal of restrictions on the number of children per household in 2021, birth rates continued to fall in 2022, indicating that other socio-economic factors are at play.
In Singapore, where giving birth during the Year of the Dragon is also considered auspicious, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has encouraged couples to expand their families.
Nevertheless, birth rates in the city-state hit a record low in 2022, declining by 8% from the previous year, driven by factors such as the rising cost of living and a growing preference for a “dual income, no kids” lifestyle.
While there may be a slight increase in birth rates in 2024, it is unlikely to be significant, as zodiac superstitions now serve more as a motivating factor rather than the primary reason for couples to have children.