Birth rate increases in South Korea in nearly a decade

According to official data released on Wednesday, South Korea’s birth rate saw its first increase in nearly a decade, offering a glimmer of hope amidst a growing demographic crisis.

However, South Korea still faces one of the world’s most severe demographic crises, with its population shrinking by 120,000 more deaths than births last year. 

The country’s fertility rate, the average number of children a woman is expected to have, rose to 0.75 in 2024, up from 0.72 the previous year. 

Despite the modest rise, South Korea’s fertility rate remains one of the lowest in the world, far below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman needed to maintain population levels.

The number of births in South Korea increased by 3.6% in 2024, with 238,343 babies born, up from 229,931 in 2023. The increase is attributed to a surge in marriages, which rose by 14.9% year-on-year, marking the largest jump since 1970. The rebound in births and marriages follows the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had delayed many weddings and family planning decisions.

Source: Agencies