What's Behind South Korea's Surging New Births?

Newsweek

6 hours ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Births in South Korea rose again in April, extending a 10-month streak that marks the end of a nine-year decline.
The trend has been met with cautious optimism from officials, who point to a post-pandemic surge in marriages and a wave of new family policies as contributing factors.
Newsweek reached out to the South Korean embassy in Washington, D.C., via email for comment.
Why It Matters
South Korea has the world's lowest fertility rate, or number of births expected per woman's lifetime. The challenge, which former President Yoon Suk Yeol called a "demographic national emergency," comes as the proportion of elderly continues to climb and deaths outnumber births in the "super-aged" society.
South Korea has spent more than $200 billion on pro-natal programs, from fertility treatments to housing subsidies, amid concerns the decline could threaten the long-term strength of Asia's fourth-largest economy.
Still, despite the fertility rate ticking upward to 0.75 births per woman last year from 0.72 in 2023, that figure remains well below the 2.1 rate necessary to replace the population.
What To Know
South Korea posted 20,717 births in April, an 8.7 percent jump over the same month last year and the largest year-on-year gain in 34 years, according to Statistics Korea.
Park Hyun-jung, director of population trends at the agency, credited the growth to a sustained rise in marriages, which have trended upward for 13 straight months. Since births outside marriage remain rare, more weddings reliably forecast a subsequent rise in childbirths.
Marriage registrations in 2024 rose by 28,765, or nearly 15 percent, driven largely by women in their 30s.
The average age for mothers was 33.7. Parents in the 30–34 age group saw the highest birth rates—70.4 per 1,000 women—followed by those aged 35–39, with 46 per 1,000.
Meanwhile, birth rates declined among women in their 20s and early 40s. The proportion of firstborns also increased, comprising over 61 percent of all newborns last year.
Seoul, the nation's capital, experienced a marked increase in births, closely linked to a 20 percent rise in marriages this March compared to the same month last year.
Though one of the world's most expensive cities, Seoul leads the nation in policies to support infertile couples, offers transportation stipends for pregnant women, and provides housing subsidies to new parents.
According to official statistics, the 30–34 age group—sometimes referred to as Korea's "second baby boomers"—recorded the highest birth rates in 2024. Women 35–39 followed closely, while younger and older age groups continued to decline.
One city official told Nongmin Sinmun, "As marriages have increased since the pandemic, the number of births has also increased. We will continue our marriage, childbirth, and child-rearing policies."
Younger generations have often cited changing cultural attitudes and the high cost of living as reasons to delay or opt out of starting families.
But attitudes may be shifting, according to a survey conducted late last year by the South Korean government's Committee on Low Birthrates and Aging Society.
Respondents with positive views toward marriage rose 0.6 percent since March, while the share of singles planning to marry climbed 4.4 percentage points to 65.4 percent. Among women in their thirties, the increase was 11.6 points.
As for having children, 37.7 percent of childless respondents expressed the intention to do so—up 5.1 points—while the willingness to do so dipped slightly among those with at least one child, citing the costs and challenges of childrearing.
What People Are Saying
Jun-seok, an associate professor of economics at the Catholic University of Korea, as quoted by The Chosun Daily: "We need to understand that the cost burden of essential areas such as postpartum care centers and pediatrics will continue to increase, which could deter young couples."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether South Korea's baby boom will last. At the current rate, the country is unlikely to return to a replacement level in time to prevent a sharp population decline in the coming decades.
Considering the country's strict immigration policies, demographics are likely to continue being a challenge. Analysts have suggested that continuing to embrace automation may be key for the high-tech powerhouse to adapt.