South Korea Birth Rate

Chosun Biz reports that Seoul is investing 3.2 trillion won in initiatives to boost birth rates, including housing subsidies for families with children, discounted parenting supplies, and expanded daycare services. Newlyweds will benefit from wedding expense support, and long-term affordable housing options will be expanded for families and caregivers. Small businesses and freelancers will also receive support for parental leave. Recent data shows a modest increase in marriages and birth rates, and the city aims to sustain this upward trend.

Sinar Daily reports that the emergence of South Korea’s "4B Movement," where young women reject dating, marriage, and childbirth, highlights societal shifts contributing to the country’s record-low birth rate. Economic pressures, such as unaffordable housing and costly childcare, combined with workplace discrimination and incidents exposing misogyny, have intensified frustrations, shaping attitudes toward relationships and parenthood amid the ongoing demographic crisis.

Blind Magazine explores the struggles of South Korean youth in an intensely competitive society, highlighting their disconnection from traditional norms and its link to the country’s demographic crisis. Photographs capture young people resisting societal expectations, revealing how rigid definitions of success, combined with the world’s lowest birth rate and highest youth suicide rate among developed nations, reflect a deeper cultural issue. Yang suggests that meaningful change may require future generations to challenge entrenched norms and redefine societal values.

Herald Malaysia reports that the Catholic Church in South Korea is addressing the dual crisis of rapid aging and low birth rates, emphasizing intergenerational connection and care for the elderly. With 20% of the population over 65 and the world's lowest fertility rate, the nation faces rising single-person households, loneliness, and solitary deaths. Public acceptance of euthanasia is growing, but the Church advocates dignity and support for the elderly while calling for societal and cultural solutions to bridge generational divides.

The Korea Herald reports that Gangnam district in Seoul recorded a 15% increase in births last year, the highest growth among the city’s 25 districts, despite South Korea's overall low fertility rates. The district’s success is attributed to expanded childbirth benefits, including cash incentives, subsidies for postpartum care, and transportation support, which have significantly boosted birth numbers in the area.

Korea Herald reports on an interview with Darrell Bricker, co-author of Empty Planet, discussing South Korea’s declining birthrate. Bricker emphasizes cultural shifts, particularly changing expectations of women and the limited role of men in childcare, as major factors. Bricker argues that reversing population decline is unlikely, as people no longer feel obligated to have children, and policies can only slow the trend. Immigration may provide temporary relief, but long-term solutions require addressing deep-rooted cultural and societal values.

Vijesti/BBC reports that South Korea is increasingly using matchmaking services and government-led dating events to address declining marriage and birth rates. While demand for such services has risen, critics argue the government overlooks key issues like poor work-life balance, job insecurity for women, and high living costs that perpetuate the demographic crisis.

The Korea Herald reports that the number of unmarried individuals in their 40s has increased significantly over two decades, reflecting trends of later marriages and lifelong singlehood. This shift, highlighted in a Statistics Korea report, is seen as a factor contributing to South Korea's ultra-low birth rate. The report also noted declining positive perceptions of marriage, with intentions to marry linked to favorable education, economic, and health conditions.

Times of India reports that South Korea recorded its first increase in newborns in nine years, with 242,334 babies born in 2024, a 3.1% rise from the previous year. Despite this improvement, the overall population continues to decline, and South Korea officially became a "super-aged society" in 2024, with 20% of its population aged 65 and older. These demographic shifts highlight the ongoing challenges of balancing an aging population with low fertility rates.