South Korea Sees First Increase in Births in Nine Years, Driven by More Marriages and Changing Attitudes Toward Parenthood
The number of births in South Korea increased in 2024, marking the first growth in nine years, according to the National Statistics Office on Wednesday. This rebound is attributed to a rise in marriages after the pandemic, shifting attitudes toward parenthood, and demographic factors.
Last year, the country recorded a total of 238,300 births, a 3.6% increase from the record low of 230,000 in 2023. Since 2015, when the figure stood at 438,420 births, the number had been in steady decline.
“The upward trend in marriages, which began after COVID-19, has continued,” said Park Hyun-jeong, an official from the National Statistics Office, during a press conference.
The total fertility rate (TFR), which measures the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime, also showed a recovery for the first time in nine years, reaching 0.75 in 2024, up from 0.72 the previous year. While this figure exceeded the government’s earlier forecast of 0.74, it remains one of the lowest in the world and is roughly half the average among OECD countries.
Additionally, it is far below the replacement level of 2.1 births per woman, required to maintain a stable population without immigration.
The rise in births is linked to an increase in marriages starting in the second half of 2022 and the first half of 2023, after many couples had postponed their weddings during the early stages of the pandemic.
Another key factor is the shift in perceptions about marriage and parenthood among younger generations. According to a biennial social survey by the National Statistics Office, attitudes toward starting families have become more positive in recent years. Additionally, the growing population of people in their 30s, a key reproductive age group, has contributed to the trend.
Data shows that the birth rate per 1,000 women was 70.4 among those aged 30 to 34, followed by 46 among those aged 35 to 39, and 20.7 among those aged 25 to 29.
For years, South Korea has struggled with a declining birth rate, as many young people delay or forgo marriage and parenthood due to financial burdens and shifting social norms.
To tackle this crisis, the government has introduced various support policies, including financial benefits for newlyweds and increased childcare assistance.
Despite this rebound, concerns remain over whether the trend will continue. The number of women of childbearing age and the population of people in their 30s are projected to start declining from 2027, potentially limiting further increases in the birth rate.
However, Park noted that while the number of women in their reproductive years is expected to decrease, factors such as government policies and changes in social values could still influence higher fertility rates.
