In many parts of the world, governments are begging people to do something you’d never expect, have more s*x.
Not because they’re trying to meddle in private lives, but because their populations are shrinking so fast that officials are getting desperate. From paid “baby-making holidays” to national “conception days,” these countries are rolling out unusual and sometimes funny strategies just to convince citizens to make more babies.
Here are 10 places where the government is literally urging people to get busy:
1. Denmark
Denmark’s fertility rate is about 1.73 children per woman, and the country wants that number higher. A travel company, Spies Rejser, once promised three years of baby supplies to couples who conceived during a holiday booked through them. It also released a campaign titled “Do it for Mom,” urging couples to give their parents grandchildren.
ALSO READ: Ogun man caught trying to ‘ride away’ with wife’s corpse
2. Russia
Russia has battled a steep population decline, with men dying young and health issues affecting many citizens. In response, the government has gone as far as declaring September 12 a “Day of Conception,” giving people the day off to focus on having children. Women who deliver exactly nine months later, on June 12, can win prizes — including a refrigerator.
3. Japan
Japan has been below replacement fertility since 1975. To encourage parenting, students at the University of Tsukuba introduced a robot baby named Yotaro in 2010, hoping it would help young people picture themselves as parents and eventually feel ready for the real thing.
4. Romania
In the 1960s, Romania took a harsh approach to low birth rates. Childless couples faced a 20% income tax, divorce was tightly restricted, and women were subjected to forced gynecological checks. Although these policies ended after 1989, the fertility rate remains low at about 1.31 children per woman.
5. Singapore
Singapore has the world’s lowest fertility rate , around 0.81. The government once held “National Night,” backed by Mentos, to encourage couples to “let their patriotism explode.” The country also limits the number of small apartments to push more cohabitation and spends about $1.6 billion yearly on programs to boost the birth rate.
6. South Korea
With a fertility rate of about 1.25, South Korea introduced “Family Day,” when office lights are turned off at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month to encourage workers to go home early. Cash incentives are also offered to families with more than one child.
7. India (Parsis community)
India overall has a high fertility rate, but the Parsis community has been shrinking. In 2014, a series of bold ads appeared, including “Be responsible , don’t use a condom tonight,” and another telling men living with their parents, “Isn’t it time you broke up with your Mum?” The community’s population has since risen slightly to 69,000.
8. Italy
Italy’s fertility rate stands at about 1.43. The government launched ads warning that time is running out for potential parents. Messages included “Beauty knows no age, fertility does,” and “Get going! Don’t wait for the stork.” The public did not respond well, and some experts have called the campaign a failure.
9. Hong Kong
With a fertility rate of 1.18, Hong Kong once discussed giving cash bonuses to parents, similar to Singapore’s system. Although the idea gained attention, it never became policy.
10. Spain
Spain is dealing with declining birth rates and high youth unemployment. To address this, the government appointed a special commissioner, Edelmira Barreira, in 2017 to study the issue and propose solutions. “We have a lot of work ahead of us,” she told Faro De Vigo.