INTHEBLACK July 2026 - Magazine - Page 26
F E AT U R E
These changes will shape
the way accountants guide
clients and contribute to
policy conversations.
Ageing populations elevate
fiscal pressure, making
productivity, technology
and planning critical.
Lower birthrates are
tightening labour supply,
requiring policy, business
and advisory responses.
Birthrate
economics
Birthrates in many countries are declining, which is reshaping labour supply
and productivity with flow-on implications for governments, businesses and
advisers. As countries adjust to different population profiles, there are
consequences for taxation, housing, employee management and more.
26 INTHEBLACK July 2026
2.02%
1.97%
Myanmar
Cook Islands
1.96%
1.87%
Mongolia
Indonesia
1.85%
1.76%
Bhutan
New Zealand
1.73%
Malaysia
1.85%
1.73%
Brunei
Nepal
1.73%
Australia
1.81%
1.70%
Palau
North Korea
1.70%
1.55%
China
Maldives
1.54%
Thailand
1.40%
1.24%
Macau
Source: World Population Review
Japan
1.24%
Hong Kong
1.17%
1.12%
South Korea
Singapore
1.11%
Taiwan
APAC FERTILITY RATE 2024
(BIRTHS PER WOMAN)
Words Alexandra Cain
