America Joins Global Push to Raise Birth Rates: Cash Bonuses and Family Incentives Gain Momentum
As nations from Poland to Turkey roll out major financial rewards for parents, the U.S. explores its own pro-family measures — including baby bonuses and tax-deferred investment accounts — to address declining birth rates and an aging workforce.
With growing concern over declining birth rates and the lack of a sufficient working-age population to support the elderly, governments around the world have for decades been exploring ways to encourage citizens to have more children.
Several countries — including South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Singapore — have implemented financial incentives to promote childbirth, such as income tax exemptions, comprehensive child benefits, and family allowances. Below is a look at how different nations are tackling the issue:
Poland
Poland this week passed a new law exempting families with two or more children from income tax if they earn up to 140,000 zloty (about $38,395) annually.
The country also operates the “Family 800+” program, a universal child allowance that was increased to approximately $219 in January 2024.
Hungary
Hungary exempts mothers with four or more children from paying income tax. It also offers the “CSOK Plus” program, which provides low-interest home loans and partial debt forgiveness to couples who commit to having children.
France
In France, families with two or more children receive family allowances — income-adjusted payments based on the number of children.
Italy
Italy grants a universal monthly child allowance, the amount of which depends on the household’s income and number of children. The maximum benefit was raised in 2025 to further support families.
Estonia
Estonia offers tax-exempt bonuses for parents with multiple children: €1,848 for the second child and €3,048 for each additional child, claimed during the annual tax return.
Parents are also eligible for paid parental leave benefits until the child reaches three years old.
Russia
Russia provides a one-time “maternity capital” grant to families upon the birth or adoption of children. This sum can be used for housing, education, or retirement savings.
Turkey
In 2025, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared it the “Year of the Family”, announcing new cash incentives for newborns, including a one-time grant of 5,000 Turkish lira for the first child, followed by monthly payments for subsequent children, alongside other family support measures.
United States
While the U.S. government has expressed concern over declining birth rates, it has not implemented direct financial incentives like other nations.
According to reports, the Trump administration previously discussed a “Baby Bonus” of $5,000 for mothers and considered making childbirth free for privately insured families. Lawmakers also debated linking state funding for transportation to birth and marriage rates.
In June, new initiatives such as “Trump Accounts” were proposed — $1,000 tax-deferred investment accounts for American children born during Trump’s second term.
