South Korea set to post 1st increase in birth rate in nearly decade: data

The number of newborns between January and November reached 220,094, up 3 percent from a year earlier, according to data compiled by Statistics Korea. This follows a 7.7 percent on-year drop in 2023, which extended the decline for an eighth consecutive year.

The data revealed that the number of births in Seoul and other metropolitan areas has surpassed the previous year's figures, while other regions have seen relatively weaker growth.

The number of births in Seoul maintained an upward trend throughout last year, except for slight dips in January and March. Notably, the city recorded double-digit growth in births for three consecutive months starting in September.

Similarly, Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds the capital, also experienced double-digit growth in birth rates during the three months from September to November.

In contrast, the growth rates for North Chungcheong Province and the southern island of Jeju were comparatively modest, recording on-year increases of 3.1 percent and 6 percent in November, respectively.

The agency attributed the regional differences to the fact that newlyweds and people in their 20s and 30s tend to reside predominantly in metropolitan areas.

South Korea has long struggled with a declining birth rate as many young people opt to delay or forgo marriage and parenthood. In response, the government has introduced various policies to encourage marriage and support child-rearing, including benefits for newlyweds and expanded child care assistance.

Earlier it was reported that the number of babies born in South Korea increased by the fastest rate in 14 years in October 2024, as the country is struggling to address the grim demographic changes posed by its ultra-low birth rate and rapid aging.