S.Korean birth rate rises for 1st time in nearly a decade

ISTANBUL

South Korea’s birth rate rose for the first time in nine years by 0.03 in 2024.

South Korean women on average had 0.75 babies in 2024, 0.03 higher than 0.72 from 2023 statistics, reported government institution Statistics Korea on Wednesday.

The fertility rate of the East Asian nation has been on a decrease since 2015’s rate of 1.24.

In 2024, the number of newborns in South Korea climbed to 238,343, marking a 3.6% increase from 2023 which was also significantly the first in nine years. The last recorded rise occurred in 2015 when births grew by 0.7% to 438,420 before steadily declining until 2023.

The number of marriages in 2024 was 14.9% higher, becoming the highest uptick since 1970.

Statistics Korea attributed the increases to the rise in number of women in their early 30s of childbearing age, a surge in delayed weddings following the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a slight growth in the percentage of Koreans with a positive outlook on marriage and childbirth, according to the Korea Herald.

‘Super-aged’ nation grapples with demographic challenges

South Korea formally joined the ranks of “super-aged” nations in late 2023, with 20% of its population aged 65 or older, with women accounting for the majority of this demographic.

The nation continues to face challenges linked to an aging population and declining birth rates as many young adults delay or forgo marriage and parenthood.

In response, the government has implemented measures to reverse the trend, including marriage incentives, expanded childcare support, and financial benefits for newlyweds.

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