South Korea’s birth rate rises for first time in nine years, data shows

South Korea’s fertility rate increased in 2024 for the first time in nearly a decade, reaching 0.75 births per woman, up from a record-low 0.72 in 2023, according to preliminary data from Statistics Korea.

The rise coincides with a 14.9% surge in marriages, the largest increase since records began in 1970. Marriage is closely linked to childbirth in South Korea, where cultural norms often tie family planning to wedlock. Officials attribute the trend to shifting social attitudes, a growing population in their early 30s, and pandemic-related delays.

Despite this uptick, South Korea still holds the world’s lowest fertility rate and faces a population decline. Deaths outnumbered births by 120,000 in 2024, marking the fifth year of natural population shrinkage. The capital, Seoul, recorded the lowest birth rate at 0.58.

South Korea’s population, which hit a peak of 51.83 million in 2020, is expected to shrink to 36.22 million by 2072, according to the latest projection by the statistics agency.