Chile launches presidential advisory commission to tackle record low birthrate

Chile's government announced the creation of a presidential advisory commission under the "Plan Chile Renace" to confront the country's historic fertility decline. The commission, composed of 16 independent experts—including economists, demographers and sociologists—will meet monthly from June to December 2026 and deliver a comprehensive policy proposal to President José Antonio Kast by early 2027.

The plan focuses on eight priority areas: cost of living, housing, support and care, gender equity, work‑family balance, reproductive health, family stability and social norms. officials highlighted that the total fertility rate fell to 0.99 children per woman in 2025, well below the replacement level of 2.1, forecasting more deaths than births by 2028 and a shrinking population after 2036.