Birth rate in South Korea, the world's lowest, set to rise for the first time in nine years
South Korea’s birthrate is set to show a rise in 2024 for the first time in nine years, following a rebound in marriages that were delayed due to the pandemic.
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s birth rate is set to show a rise in 2024 for the first time in nine years, following a rebound in marriages that were delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Asian country has recorded the world’s lowest fertility rates, but the number of newborns from January 2024 to November 2024 rose 3% from a year earlier to 220,094, monthly government data showed Wednesday.
In 2023, the number of newborns fell 7.7%, extending declines to an eighth consecutive year and resulting in an annual fertility rate of 0.72, the lowest globally.
The rise comes as marriages rose in 2023, marking the first increase in 12 years after couples had postponed weddings during the pandemic.
In South Korea, there is a high correlation between marriages and births, with a time lag of one or two years, as marriage is often seen as a prerequisite to having children.
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