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Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
South Korea Issues Update on Birth Rate Crisis
Births in South Korea jumped 8.7 percent in April, the fastest monthly rise in 34 years, Seoul's statistics agency said Wednesday. This was good news to officials, who cited an increase in marriages and shifting demographics. South Korea holds the distinction of having the world's lowest birth rate, despite over $200 billion in pro-natal measures-from fertility treatment to subsidized housing. Policymakers worry this will further drag on Asia's fourth-largest economy, now struggling amid trade tensions and a technology sector slowdown. While the fertility rate ticked upward last year to 0.75 births expected per woman's lifetime from 0.72 in 2023, this is still far below the rate of 2.1 necessary to replace a population. Newsweek reached out to the South Korean embassy in the U.S. via emailed request for comment outside of working hours. South Korea recorded 20,717 births in April, an 8.7 percent increase over the same month last year and the largest year-on-year jump in births since 1991. Park Hyun-jung, director of population trends at Statistics Korea, credited the rebound to a sustained rise in the number of marriages, which climbed for the 13th consecutive month to reach 18,921. An increase in marriages is a strong indicator of a forthcoming rise in births, as childbirth outside of wedlock is uncommon in South Korea. Park also pointed to a growing proportion of women in their 30s as a key factor. The average age for a woman entering her first marriage is now 31.6. "Increase in marriages, a larger population of women in their 30s, and a more positive perception of having children all appear to be contributing to the recent rebound," Park said. Despite the surge in births, deaths in April totaled 28,785, up 0.8 percent from a year earlier, resulting in a net population decline of 8,067. South Korea has seen more deaths than births each quarter since late 2019, and last year joined Japan as a "super-aged" society, with more than 20 percent of the population now over 65. Joo Hyung-hwan, vice chairman South Korea's Presidential Committee on Low Birthrate and Aging Society, said of last year's baby bump during a February press briefing: "Given that marriages are a leading indicator of future births, it is very encouraging." "The increased births may have been affected by delayed marriages during the COVID-19 pandemic…But we believe substantive changes in people's perceptions on marriage and childbirth have been the main causes." South Korean officials are cautiously optimistic and expect births to continue to trend upward as long as marriages also rise. "As the number of births has been increasing significantly since July last year, it is not easy to predict whether the current increase or trend will continue in the second half of this year," one Statistics Korea official told Yonhap News Agency. Related Articles Key US Ally Quietly Prepares for China's Pacific War With AmericaPurple Heart Veteran Forced to Deport After Green Card RevokedUS Allies Ramp Up Sea Power as North Korea Threat RisesWhat North Korea's New Russian Weapons Tech Means for South Korea 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
South Korea Issues Update on Birth Rate Crisis
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 jumped 8.7 percent in April, the fastest monthly rise in 34 years, Seoul's statistics agency said Wednesday. This was good news to officials, who cited an increase in marriages and shifting demographics. Why It Matters South Korea holds the distinction of having the world's lowest birth rate, despite over $200 billion in pro-natal measures—from fertility treatment to subsidized housing. Policymakers worry this will further drag on Asia's fourth-largest economy, now struggling amid trade tensions and a technology sector slowdown. While the fertility rate ticked upward last year to 0.75 births expected per woman's lifetime from 0.72 in 2023, this is still far below the rate of 2.1 necessary to replace a population. Newsweek reached out to the South Korean embassy in the U.S. via emailed request for comment outside of working hours. Schoolchildren practice the violin in a classroom at Son Shin Elementary School in Seoul, South Korea in this undated file photo. Schoolchildren practice the violin in a classroom at Son Shin Elementary School in Seoul, South Korea in this undated file to Know South Korea recorded 20,717 births in April, an 8.7 percent increase over the same month last year and the largest year-on-year jump in births since 1991. Park Hyun-jung, director of population trends at Statistics Korea, credited the rebound to a sustained rise in the number of marriages, which climbed for the 13th consecutive month to reach 18,921. An increase in marriages is a strong indicator of a forthcoming rise in births, as childbirth outside of wedlock is uncommon in South Korea. Park also pointed to a growing proportion of women in their 30s as a key factor. The average age for a woman entering her first marriage is now 31.6. "Increase in marriages, a larger population of women in their 30s, and a more positive perception of having children all appear to be contributing to the recent rebound," Park said. Despite the surge in births, deaths in April totaled 28,785, up 0.8 percent from a year earlier, resulting in a net population decline of 8,067. South Korea has seen more deaths than births each quarter since late 2019, and last year joined Japan as a "super-aged" society, with more than 20 percent of the population now over 65. What People Are Saying Joo Hyung-hwan, vice chairman South Korea's Presidential Committee on Low Birthrate and Aging Society, said of last year's baby bump during a February press briefing: "Given that marriages are a leading indicator of future births, it is very encouraging." "The increased births may have been affected by delayed marriages during the COVID-19 pandemic…But we believe substantive changes in people's perceptions on marriage and childbirth have been the main causes." What's Next South Korean officials are cautiously optimistic and expect births to continue to trend upward as long as marriages also rise. "As the number of births has been increasing significantly since July last year, it is not easy to predict whether the current increase or trend will continue in the second half of this year," one Statistics Korea official told Yonhap News Agency.
Korea Herald
29-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Has baby bust bottomed out? S. Korea sees 7% rebound in births in Q1
For the first time in years, South Korea is seeing signs of a turnaround in its record-low birth rate. According to new data released by Statistics Korea on Wednesday, the number of babies born in the first quarter of 2025 rose by 7.3 percent compared to the same period last year. That makes it the highest first-quarter increase recorded since the agency began tracking the figure in 1981. From January to March, 65,022 babies were born, up from 60,571 a year earlier. March alone saw 21,041 births, a 6.8 percent increase year-on-year, reversing a decadelong trend of decline for that month. The current rebound marks nine consecutive months of rising birth numbers, beginning in July 2024. The total fertility rate, the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime, also saw a modest rise. It reached 0.82 in the first quarter of 2025, up from 0.77 the year before. Though still far below the population replacement level of 2.1, it is the highest quarterly figure recorded since early 2022. Statistics Korea clarified that although the rate matched the 0.82 seen in the first quarter of 2023, this year's figure was slightly higher when calculated to the third decimal point. The uptick in births appears closely tied to a rise in marriages. In the first quarter, 58,704 couples tied the knot, up 8.4 percent from the same period last year. March alone saw 19,181 marriages, the highest for that month since 2020. Park Hyun-jung, director of population trends at Statistics Korea, explained that about 95 percent of births in South Korea happen within marriage. 'An increase in marriages, combined with a larger population of women in their 30s and a more positive perception of having children, all appear to be contributing to the recent rebound,' she said. Still, South Korea continues to have the lowest fertility rate in the world. In 2023, it dropped to just 0.721, prompting concern and coverage across global media including BBC and CNN. In a televised documentary aired that year by Korea's public educational broadcaster EBS, American legal scholar Joan C. Williams, a professor emerita at the University of California, called the numbers 'unheard of,' adding, 'South Korea is totally doomed.'
Straits Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Has baby bust bottomed out? South Korea sees 7% rebound in births in first quarter of 2025
From January to March, 65,022 babies were born in South Korea, up from 60,571 a year earlier. PHOTO: REUTERS Has baby bust bottomed out? South Korea sees 7% rebound in births in first quarter of 2025 SEOUL - For the first time in years, South Korea is seeing signs of a turnaround in its record-low birth rate. According to new data released by Statistics Korea on May 28 , the number of babies born in the first quarter of 2025 rose by 7.3 per cent compared to the same period in 2024 . That makes it the highest first-quarter increase recorded since the agency began tracking the figure in 1981. From January to March, 65,022 babies were born, up from 60,571 a year earlier. March alone saw 21,041 births, a 6.8 per cent increase year-on-year, reversing a decade-long trend of decline for that month. The current rebound marks nine consecutive months of rising birth numbers, beginning in July 2024. The total fertility rate, the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime, also saw a modest rise. It reached 0.82 in the first quarter of 2025, up from 0.77 the year before. Though still far below the population replacement level of 2.1, it is the highest quarterly figure recorded since early 2022. Statistics Korea clarified that although the rate matched the 0.82 seen in the first quarter of 2023, this year's figure was slightly higher when calculated to the third decimal point. The uptick in births appears closely tied to a rise in marriages. In the first quarter, 58,704 couples tied the knot, up 8.4 per cent from the same period last year. March alone saw 19,181 marriages, the highest for that month since 2020. Ms Park Hyun-jung, director of population trends at Statistics Korea, explained that about 95 per cent of births in South Korea happen within marriage. 'An increase in marriages, combined with a larger population of women in their 30s and a more positive perception of having children, all appear to be contributing to the recent rebound,' she said. Still, South Korea continues to have the lowest fertility rate in the world. In 2023, it dropped to just 0.721, prompting concern and coverage across global media including BBC and CNN. In a televised documentary aired that year by Korea's public educational broadcaster EBS, American legal scholar Joan C. Williams, a professor emerita at the University of California, called the numbers 'unheard of,' adding, 'South Korea is totally doomed.' THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Korea Herald
28-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Has South Korea's birth rate bottomed out? Q1 sees major rebound in births
For the first time in years, South Korea is seeing signs of a turnaround in its record-low birth rate. According to new data released by Statistics Korea on Wednesday, the number of babies born in the first quarter of 2025 rose by 7.3 percent compared to the same period last year. That makes it the highest first-quarter increase recorded since the agency began tracking the figure in 1981. From January to March, 65,022 babies were born, up from 60,571 a year earlier. March alone saw 21,041 births, a 6.8 percent increase year-on-year, reversing a decadelong trend of decline for that month. The current rebound marks nine consecutive months of rising birth numbers, beginning in July 2024. The total fertility rate, the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime, also saw a modest rise. It reached 0.82 in the first quarter of 2025, up from 0.77 the year before. Though still far below the population replacement level of 2.1, it is the highest quarterly figure recorded since early 2022. Statistics Korea clarified that although the rate matched the 0.82 seen in the first quarter of 2023, this year's figure was slightly higher when calculated to the third decimal point. The uptick in births appears closely tied to a rise in marriages. In the first quarter, 58,704 couples tied the knot, up 8.4 percent from the same period last year. March alone saw 19,181 marriages, the highest for that month since 2020. Park Hyun-jung, director of population trends at Statistics Korea, explained that about 95 percent of births in South Korea happen within marriage. 'An increase in marriages, combined with a larger population of women in their 30s and a more positive perception of having children, all appear to be contributing to the recent rebound,' she said. Still, South Korea continues to have the lowest fertility rate in the world. In 2023, it dropped to just 0.721, prompting concern and coverage across global media including BBC and CNN. In a televised documentary aired that year by Korea's public educational broadcaster EBS, American legal scholar Joan C. Williams, a professor emerita at the University of California, called the numbers 'unheard of,' adding, 'South Korea is totally doomed.' mjh@
