South Korea has seen a slight rebound in its birth rates for the first time in over eight years, according to new data released for the second quarter of 2024. This positive change comes amid the country's ongoing struggle with a persistently low birth rate.
Between April and June 2024, South Korea recorded 56,838 births, marking a 1.2 percent increase compared to the same period last year. This uptick in newborns is significant as it breaks a long streak of declining birth rates, with the last increase noted in the fourth quarter of 2015.
The increase in births this quarter follows a rise in April and May, attributed to a higher number of newly married couples post-pandemic. April saw a 2.8 percent rise, while May had a 2.7 percent increase in births.
Despite this quarterly improvement, the overall picture remains sombre. June, in particular, experienced a decline in the number of births, falling by 1.8 percent to 18,242, which represents the lowest figure for any June on record.
Additionally, the total fertility rate, which reflects the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime, remained unchanged at 0.71, well below the replacement level of 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population.
The demographic shifts in South Korea are further complicated by a rising number of deaths. The death toll increased by 1.1 percent to 84,147 in the second quarter, resulting in a population decline of 27,309. This decline in the population has been ongoing since the fourth quarter of 2019, with deaths consistently outpacing births.
Marriage and divorce statistics for the quarter show some interesting trends. The number of marriages increased significantly by 17.1 percent to 55,910, marking the second-fastest growth on record. In contrast, divorces decreased by 2.7 percent to 22,831.
South Korea faces a pressing demographic challenge as many young people are delaying or opting out of marriage and childbearing. Factors such as high housing costs and a difficult job market contribute to these trends.
The country's future demographic outlook is concerning, with projections indicating that South Korea will become a highly aged society by 2072. The median age is expected to rise to 63.4 from 44.9 in 2022, and the population could fall to approximately 36.22 million from 51.73 million last year.
Follow us
