In brief
The fertility rate remains a critical issue as the elderly population continues to outnumber the youth.
The South Korean government reported a noteworthy increase in births last year, marking the first rise in nearly a decade. In 2024, the country saw an uptick of about 8,300 births compared to the previous year, leading to a total of approximately 238,300 deliveries. This 3.6 percent increase has generated cautious optimism among officials, as efforts to combat the world's lowest fertility rate begin to show signs of potential progress.The increase in births has been linked to a rise in marriages following delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, as a significant number of couples traditionally wed before starting their families. Park Hyun-jung, an official from the government’s statistical agency, spoke about this shift as a reflection of changing social values, indicating a growing positive attitude towards both marriage and parenthood.Despite the encouraging data, demographic experts emphasize that reversing the overall population decline will be a challenging task. In 2024, the country recorded 358,400 deaths, an increase of 5,800 (1.7 percent) from the previous year, further underscoring the ongoing demographic imbalance. South Korea’s efforts to bolster its birth rate continue amidst significant societal changes, with a hopeful eye towards a more favorable demographic future.
