South Korea’s birth rate saw its first increase in nearly a decade, offering a glimmer of hope amidst a growing demographic crisis, according to official data released on Wednesday.
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.
"The rise in births can be linked to a combination of factors, including an increase in marriages, government support, and demographic changes," said Park Hyun-jeong, an official at Statistics Korea.
The South Korean government has rolled out numerous policies to tackle the demographic crisis, including financial incentives, housing subsidies for newlywed couples, and family-friendly work policies aimed at easing the burden of childcare. Despite these efforts, the country still faces a rapidly ageing population, with fewer young people entering the workforce to support an expanding elderly demographic.
The population of South Korea, which peaked at 51.83 million in 2020, is projected to shrink significantly in the coming decades. The latest projections estimate that by 2072, South Korea’s population could decline to just 36.22 million if current trends continue.
One of the factors contributing to South Korea's low birth rate is the high cost of raising children and owning property, as well as intense societal pressures to succeed academically and professionally. Women in particular face challenges balancing careers with family life, often shouldering the majority of childcare and domestic responsibilities.
Despite these challenges, government officials remain cautiously optimistic. "The rebound in births, particularly the increase in second and third children, suggests that the trend may not be short-lived," said You Hye-mi, senior presidential secretary for population planning.
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. This marks the fifth consecutive year of natural population decline.
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