Daijiworld Media Network- Seoul

Seoul, Feb 26: In a significant demographic shift, South Korea’s birth rate has increased for the first time in nine years, driven by a surge in post-pandemic marriages, evolving social attitudes towards parenthood, and demographic trends, according to Statistics Korea.

The country recorded 238,300 births in 2024, reflecting a 3.6% increase from the historic low of 230,000 births in 2023. This marks the first positive growth in childbirths since 2015, when the number stood at 438,400, as reported by Yonhap news agency.

South Korea’s total fertility rate (TFR)—the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime—also saw an increase, rising from 0.72 in 2023 to 0.75 in 2024. While this figure surpassed the government’s earlier forecast of 0.74, it remains one of the lowest fertility rates globally, significantly below the OECD average and far from the replacement level of 2.1 births per woman required to sustain a stable population.

In a bid to address the crisis, the South Korean government has set a goal of raising the fertility rate to 1.0 by 2030.

Officials have linked this uptick in childbirths to an increase in marriages following the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The rising trend in marriages that began after the pandemic has continued," said Park Hyun-jeong, an official from Statistics Korea, during a press briefing. She highlighted that the number of marriages in 2024 was the highest recorded since 1996.

The report noted that many couples delayed their weddings during the pandemic but later proceeded with marriage, especially between mid-2022 and early 2023. The agency also cited shifting societal perceptions regarding marriage and parenthood among younger

Demographic trends have also played a role in the increase, with the population of individuals in their early 30s—a key childbearing age group—growing in recent years.

According to Statistics Korea, birth rates per 1,000 women were recorded as:

• 70.4 births among women in their early 30s

• 46 births among those in their late 30s

• 20.7 births among women in their late 20s

In response to the country’s long-standing low birth rate crisis, the government has implemented various pro-natalist policies, including:

? Financial incentives for newlyweds

? Expanded childcare support

Despite the positive shift, experts remain cautious about whether this rebound will be sustained in the coming years.

From 2027 onwards, the number of women of childbearing age is projected to decline, which could limit further increases in birth rates. However, Statistics Korea remains optimistic, stating that government policies and evolving social values could still influence fertility trends in the future.