South Korea Sees Rare Birth Rate Increase After Decline

For the first time in nearly a decade, South Korea reported a noticeable uptick in births, with a 3.6% increase last year compared to 2023. This rise offers a glimmer of hope amidst the country’s struggles with the world's lowest fertility rate. Official statistics indicated that approximately 238,300 babies were born in the previous year, which translates to an increase of 8,300 births—a rare positive sign for government officials attempting to combat the declining population trend.

The surge in births seems to be linked to a rise in marriages, which had previously been postponed during the Covid-19 pandemic; in South Korea, couples typically marry before starting a family. Park Hyun-jung, a representative from the national statistics agency, noted that these changes reflect a shift in social values, indicating more favorable views towards marriage and childbearing.

While experts have welcomed this development, the road to reversing the overall population decline remains complex. The nation’s elderly population continues to outnumber the youth, and last year also saw an increase in deaths, totaling 358,400, up 1.7% from the previous year.

Demographic professor Seulki Choi acknowledged the significance of this birth rate increase, especially after years of relentless decline. However, he cautioned that addressing the larger issue of population decrease will require more substantial and sustained efforts.