SEOUL: South Korea’s birth rate has risen for the first time in nearly ten years, offering a glimmer of hope in the face of a deepening demographic crisis, according to official data released on Wednesday.
The country’s total fertility rate—the average number of children a woman is expected to have—increased to 0.75 in 2024 from 0.72 in 2023. Despite this modest rise, South Korea still has the lowest fertility rate in the world, far below the 2.1 replacement level required to sustain population growth.
Statistics Korea reported a 3.6% increase in births, with 238,343 babies born in 2024, compared to 229,931 in the previous year. This rise coincides with a surge in marriages, which jumped 14.9% year-on-year—the largest increase since 1970. Experts attribute the uptick in both births and marriages to delayed weddings and family planning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The increase in births is linked to several factors, including a rise in marriages, expanded government support, and demographic shifts,” said Park Hyun-jeong, an official at Statistics Korea.
To address its population crisis, South Korea has introduced policies such as financial incentives for parents, housing subsidies for newlyweds, and workplace reforms aimed at easing childcare burdens. However, these measures have so far struggled to reverse the long-term decline in births.
The population of South Korea, which peaked at 51.83 million in 2020, is projected to decline sharply in the coming decades, with estimates suggesting it could shrink to 36.22 million by 2072 if current trends persist.
Analysts point to high living costs, expensive education, and societal pressures as key factors discouraging young couples from having children. Many women, in particular, face difficulties balancing careers with family responsibilities.
Despite the challenges, officials remain cautiously optimistic. “The increase in second and third children being born suggests that this trend may not be temporary,” said You Hye-mi, senior presidential secretary for population planning.
However, South Korea remains in a severe demographic crisis, with deaths outpacing births for the fifth consecutive year. In 2023 alone, the country saw a natural population decline of 120,000 people, highlighting the urgency of addressing its shrinking population.
