South Korea Sees Second Consecutive Monthly Increase in Births Amid Ongoing Demographic Challenges

SEOUL: The number of babies born in South Korea rose for the second straight month in August, yet the country continues to grapple with demographic issues stemming from an ultra-low birth rate and a rapidly aging population. Official data revealed that 20,098 babies were born in August, marking a 5.9 percent increase from the same month last year. According to Yonhap News Agency, the rise in childbirths followed a similar trend in July, which saw 20,601 births-a 7.9 percent year-on-year increase. The uptick is attributed partly to more couples tying the knot from the latter half of 2022 through the first half of 2023, having postponed marriages during the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these gains, the total fertility rate remains at a record low of 0.71 as of the second quarter of 2024, significantly below the 2.1 births per woman needed for population stability without immigration. Over the first eight months of this year, the number of births reached 158,000, representing a 0.4 percent decline compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, the number of deaths rose by 5.6 percent year-on-year to 32,244 in August, continuing a trend where deaths have surpassed births since the fourth quarter of 2019. This has resulted in a natural population decrease of 12,146 people. The data also indicated a 20 percent year-on-year increase in marriages, with 17,527 couples getting married in August. Conversely, divorces rose by 5.5 percent to 7,616. South Korea faces significant demographic shifts as many young people choose to delay or avoid marriage and parenthood, reflecting evolving social norms and lifestyle changes.