South Korea, long regarded as one of the world’s most rapidly ageing societies, has recorded a modest but notable increase in its birth rate after nearly a decade of uninterrupted decline. While the country continues to face a deep demographic challenge, the latest data has offered a rare note of optimism.
According to a report by CNN, signs of change were visible earlier this year at a large baby fair held in Seoul, where young couples explored strollers, baby carriers and child safety products. Such scenes contrast sharply with the persistent narrative of South Korea as a nation struggling with vanishing births and an expanding elderly population.
What the Latest Data Shows
South Korea’s total fertility rate — the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime — fell to a record low of 0.721 in 2023, the lowest globally. A stable population requires a rate of around 2.1. However, in 2024, the figure edged up to 0.748, marking the first increase in nine years.
In addition, official data shows that for 17 consecutive months, the number of babies born each month has exceeded the corresponding figure from the previous year, suggesting a sustained, though gradual, improvement.
Factors Driving the Uptick
Experts attribute the rise to several overlapping factors. Many couples delayed marriage and childbirth plans during the COVID-19 pandemic and are now resuming them. Demographic timing has also played a role, as the children of the baby boomer generation are now entering their 30s, traditionally considered a prime age for starting families.
Another contributing factor is a rise in second and third births rather than first-time parenthood. Some women report improved workplace conditions, with greater acceptance of maternity and paternity leave compared to the past, when pregnancy often meant leaving employment.
Government intervention has also been significant. Over the past decade, South Korea has spent billions of dollars on housing subsidies, childcare support, direct cash incentives, extended parental leave policies and even state-sponsored matchmaking initiatives.
Challenges Remain Deep-Rooted
Despite the positive trend, experts caution against excessive optimism. Raising children in South Korea remains among the most expensive in the world, driven largely by high housing costs and the widespread reliance on private tutoring and after-school academies. Women also continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of childcare responsibilities.
Demographers warn that the current rise may prove temporary, as the post-pandemic surge in marriages fades and older women move beyond childbearing age. Structural reforms in work culture, gender equality and education costs, they argue, will be essential for any lasting demographic recovery.
