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While Taiwan faces one of the world’s lowest fertility rates, the chip capital Hsinchu bucks the trend through tech sector prosperity. However, this baby boomlet remains confined to affluent families as rising costs price out ordinary residents, creating a demographic divide.

Tech Prosperity Fuels Demographic Exception

In a nation grappling with one of the world’s most severe fertility crises, Taiwan’s semiconductor hub Hsinchu stands as a notable exception, according to reports. While the country’s total fertility rate (TFR) remains critically low at 0.89 per woman in 2024, Hsinchu maintains a steady rate around 1.0, with the surrounding county reaching 1.02 in 2023. Analysts suggest this modest but meaningful difference reflects how Taiwan’s tech boom is reshaping demographic patterns in specific regions.