Birth Rates in South Korea Experience First Rise in Nine Years in 2024 due to Post-Pandemic Weddings

Seoul, Feb 26 (NationPress) The number of newborns in South Korea saw an increase for the first time in nine years in 2024, fueled by a resurgence in marriages post-pandemic, shifting views on parenthood, and demographic transformations, according to a report released by the statistics agency on Wednesday.

A total of 238,300 infants were welcomed into the world last year, marking a 3.6% rise from a historic low of 230,000 in 2023, as reported by Statistics Korea. This figure had been on a downward trend since 2015 when it was recorded at 438,400, as per Yonhap news agency.

The total fertility rate, representing the average number of children a woman is anticipated to bear in her lifetime, also saw a revival for the first time in nine years, reaching 0.75 in 2024, up from 0.72 noted a year prior. This rate exceeded the government's earlier estimate of 0.74 but remains among the lowest globally, approximately half the average rate of countries within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

It is still significantly below the necessary replacement level of 2.1 births per woman to sustain a stable population without immigration. The government has set an objective to elevate this rate to 1 by 2030.

Park Hyun-jeong, an official from Statistics Korea, mentioned during a press briefing, "The upward trend in marriages that commenced post-Covid-19 has persisted." She highlighted that the number of weddings in 2024 was the highest recorded since 1996.

The agency noted that more couples decided to marry starting from the latter half of 2022 through the first half of 2023 after postponing their weddings during earlier phases of the pandemic. Additionally, the increase in births was linked to a more favorable outlook towards marriage and parenthood among the younger demographic, according to its biennial social survey.

Park also indicated demographic changes, pointing out that the population of individuals in their early 30s, a crucial childbearing demographic, has grown. The birth rate per 1,000 women stood at 70.4 for those in their early 30s, 46 for those in their late 30s, and 20.7 for individuals in their late 20s, as reported by the agency.

South Korea has long faced challenges with a declining birthrate, as many young individuals delay or opt out of marriage and parenthood due to economic pressures and evolving societal norms. In response, the government has implemented various measures to support marriage and child-rearing, including financial incentives for newlyweds and enhanced childcare support.

Despite the recent increase, there are still concerns regarding the sustainability of this trend. The population of women in childbearing age and those in their 30s is expected to decline starting in 2027, which could pose limits on further enhancements in the birth rate.

Park stated, "While the number of women of childbearing age is anticipated to decrease, factors such as government initiatives and evolving social values can still impact fertility rates."