In 2023, the average age of mothers giving birth to their first child in South Korea was ***** years. The average age at childbirth in South Korea has risen steadily over the last decades.

Between 2015 and 2020, the mean age for first-time mothers in South Korea was over 32 years, the highest in the Asia-Pacific region. In contrast, Bangladesh and Nepal had the lowest mean age for women at their first childbirth.

Korea Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data was reported at 1.172 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.239 Ratio for 2015. Korea Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data is updated yearly, averaging 1.656 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.095 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 1.076 Ratio in 2005. Korea Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.World Bank: Health Statistics. Total fertility rate represents the number of children that would be born to a woman if she were to live to the end of her childbearing years and bear children in accordance with age-specific fertility rates of the specified year.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: it can indicate the status of women within households and a woman’s decision about the number and spacing of children.

Korea Prevalence of Anemia among Women of Reproductive Age: % of Women Aged 15-49 data was reported at 22.700 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 21.400 % for 2015. Korea Prevalence of Anemia among Women of Reproductive Age: % of Women Aged 15-49 data is updated yearly, averaging 17.800 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2016, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 33.500 % in 1990 and a record low of 15.600 % in 2002. Korea Prevalence of Anemia among Women of Reproductive Age: % of Women Aged 15-49 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.World Bank: Health Statistics. Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age refers to the combined prevalence of both non-pregnant with haemoglobin levels below 12 g/dL and pregnant women with haemoglobin levels below 11 g/dL.; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics (http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.1?lang=en).; Weighted Average;

In 2023, the total fertility rate in South Korea decreased by 0.1 children per woman (-12.82 percent) compared to 2022. Therefore, the fertility rate in South Korea saw its lowest number in that year with 0.72 children per woman. The total fertility rate is the average number of children that a woman of childbearing age (generally considered 15 to 44 years) can hypothetically expect to have throughout her reproductive years. As fertility rates are estimates (similar to life expectancy), they refer to a hypothetical woman or cohort, and estimates assume that current age-specific fertility trends would remain constant throughout this person's reproductive years.Find more statistics on other topics about South Korea with key insights such as total life expectancy at birth, age dependency ratio, and infant mortality rate.

North Korea KP: Prevalence of Anemia among Women of Reproductive Age: % of Women Aged 15-49 data was reported at 32.500 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 31.700 % for 2015. North Korea KP: Prevalence of Anemia among Women of Reproductive Age: % of Women Aged 15-49 data is updated yearly, averaging 32.300 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2016, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 39.200 % in 1990 and a record low of 29.600 % in 2010. North Korea KP: Prevalence of Anemia among Women of Reproductive Age: % of Women Aged 15-49 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Health Statistics. Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age refers to the combined prevalence of both non-pregnant with haemoglobin levels below 12 g/dL and pregnant women with haemoglobin levels below 11 g/dL.; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics (http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.1?lang=en).; Weighted Average;

In 2024, the number of births in South Korea stood at *******, a slight increase compared to the previous year. Around two decades earlier, this number was twice as high. Declining fertility in South Korea A phenomenon that most East Asian countries and territories grapple with is a stark decline in fertility rates. This is especially evident in South Korea, which has the lowest fertility rate in the world, far below the 2.1 children per woman threshold that represents replacement fertility. In response to the expected economic consequences of a declining population, South Korea has implemented various initiatives to encourage married couples to have children. Factors contributing to low birth rates in South Korea One major element is the societal change in attitudes toward childbirth. In a survey, half of the South Korean respondents asserted that marriages can be happy without children, and a sizable share also stated that having children was dependent on economic factors. In addition, an increasing number of South Koreans are choosing not to get married. In 2023, South Korea recorded one of the lowest numbers of marriages in its history. Furthermore, there has been a growing trend among South Korean women to prioritize their financial independence and career continuity over traditional expectations of childbearing.

Korea Maternal Mortality Ratio: Modeled Estimate: per 100,000 Live Births data was reported at 11.000 Ratio in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 12.000 Ratio for 2014. Korea Maternal Mortality Ratio: Modeled Estimate: per 100,000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 15.000 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2015, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 21.000 Ratio in 1991 and a record low of 11.000 Ratio in 2015. Korea Maternal Mortality Ratio: Modeled Estimate: per 100,000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.World Bank: Health Statistics. Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnancy termination per 100,000 live births. The data are estimated with a regression model using information on the proportion of maternal deaths among non-AIDS deaths in women ages 15-49, fertility, birth attendants, and GDP.; ; WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group, and the United Nations Population Division. Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2015. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2015; Weighted average; This indicator represents the risk associated with each pregnancy and is also a Sustainable Development Goal Indicator for monitoring maternal health.

This study aimed to assess factors affecting pregnancy intention among women of reproductive age in Korea. We analyzed data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), a population-based survey that included 22,731 women aged 15–49. As age was associated with birth year and was found to be a confounding factor in the analysis of participants’ characteristics, we used propensity score matching to assess the characteristics of pregnant women compared with non-pregnant women of the same age and birth year. We also employed the XGBoost machine learning model to identify the most important factors related to pregnancy intentions. Our feature importance analysis showed that weekly working hours were the most significant factor affecting pregnancy intentions. Additionally, we performed cluster analysis and logistic regression models to determine optimal weekly working hours. Cluster analysis identified participants into three distinct groups based on their characteristics, indicating that the group with an average of 34.4±12.9 hours per week had the highest likelihood of becoming pregnant. Logistic regression was used to analyze the odds of pregnancy for every 5-hour increase in weekly working hours. The results of logistic regression indicated that women who worked between 35–45 hours per week had higher odds of pregnancy, with significant odds ratios of 2.009 (95% confidence interval: 1.581–2.547, p < .001) for 40–45 hours per week and 1.450 (95% confidence interval: 1.001–2.040, p < .05) for 35–40 hours per week, compared to women working other hours. In Korea, the standard workweek is typically 40 hours; however, Koreans often work considerably longer hours, with the second-highest number of working hours among OECD countries in 2022. This study suggests that strict monitoring of working hours and expansion of telecommuting for childbearing-age women are important factors in increasing the fertility rate in Korea.

North Korea KP: Unmet Need for Contraception: % of Married Women Aged 15-49 data was reported at 7.000 % in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 14.500 % for 2010. North Korea KP: Unmet Need for Contraception: % of Married Women Aged 15-49 data is updated yearly, averaging 10.750 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2014, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.500 % in 2010 and a record low of 7.000 % in 2014. North Korea KP: Unmet Need for Contraception: % of Married Women Aged 15-49 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Health Statistics. Unmet need for contraception is the percentage of fertile, married women of reproductive age who do not want to become pregnant and are not using contraception.; ; Household surveys, including Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. Largely compiled by United Nations Population Division.; Weighted Average; Unmet need for contraception measures the capacity women have in achieving their desired family size and birth spacing. Many couples in developing countries want to limit or postpone childbearing but are not using effective contraception. These couples have an unmet need for contraception. Common reasons are lack of knowledge about contraceptive methods and concerns about possible side effects.

North Korea KP: Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data was reported at 1.910 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.921 Ratio for 2015. North Korea KP: Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data is updated yearly, averaging 2.369 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.579 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 1.910 Ratio in 2016. North Korea KP: Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Health Statistics. Total fertility rate represents the number of children that would be born to a woman if she were to live to the end of her childbearing years and bear children in accordance with age-specific fertility rates of the specified year.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: it can indicate the status of women within households and a woman’s decision about the number and spacing of children.

The statistic shows the 20 countries with the lowest fertility rates in 2024. All figures are estimates. In 2024, the fertility rate in Taiwan was estimated to be at 1.11 children per woman, making it the lowest fertility rate worldwide. Fertility rate The fertility rate is the average number of children born per woman of child-bearing age in a country. Usually, a woman aged between 15 and 45 is considered to be in her child-bearing years. The fertility rate of a country provides an insight into its economic state, as well as the level of health and education of its population. Developing countries usually have a higher fertility rate due to lack of access to birth control and contraception, and to women usually foregoing a higher education, or even any education at all, in favor of taking care of housework. Many families in poorer countries also need their children to help provide for the family by starting to work early and/or as caretakers for their parents in old age. In developed countries, fertility rates and birth rates are usually much lower, as birth control is easier to obtain and women often choose a career before becoming a mother. Additionally, if the number of women of child-bearing age declines, so does the fertility rate of a country. As can be seen above, countries like Hong Kong are a good example for women leaving the patriarchal structures and focusing on their own career instead of becoming a mother at a young age, causing a decline of the country’s fertility rate. A look at the fertility rate per woman worldwide by income group also shows that women with a low income tend to have more children than those with a high income. The United States are neither among the countries with the lowest, nor among those with the highest fertility rate, by the way. At 2.08 children per woman, the fertility rate in the US has been continuously slightly below the global average of about 2.4 children per woman over the last decade.

BackgroundThe 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines for gestational weight gain (GWG) are intended for use among women in the United States. Little data are available on whether the 2009 IOM recommendations can be applied to Asian women. This study aimed to evaluate whether the recommendations are related to adverse pregnancy outcomes in Korean pregnant women.Methods and findingsA retrospective cohort study was conducted for all singleton-pregnant women at a university hospital in Korea. After classifying the enrolled women into four Korean pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) categories, the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes were analyzed for women who gained inadequate or excessive GWG based on 2009 IOM recommendations. Of 7,843 pregnancies, 64.0% of women had normal pre-pregnancy BMI and 42.7% achieved optimal GWG. Across all BMI categories, adverse pregnancies outcomes such as small for gestational age (SGA), large for gestational age (LGA), preterm birth, preeclampsia, and cesarean due to dystocia were significantly associated with GWG (all P ≤ 0.001).Women with normal BMI who gained inadequate weight were more likely to develop SGA and preterm birth and less likely to develop LGA (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.21, 1.33, and 0.54, respectively). Whereas, women with normal BMI who gained excessive weight were more likely to develop LGA, preterm birth, preeclampsia, and cesarean section due to dystocia (aOR 2.10, 1.33, 1.37, and 1.37, respectively) and less likely to develop SGA (aOR 0.60).ConclusionsIt is tolerable for Korean women to follow recommended GWG from the 2009 IOM guidelines to decrease adverse pregnancy outcomes. This will be helpful for antenatal care on GWG not only for Korean pregnant women, but also other Asian women who have lower BMI criteria than Caucasian women.

In a survey conducted between 2013 and 2015, the average age for South Korean teenage girls in the third grade of high school to lose their virginity was **** years (based on the South Korean age system in which a new-born baby is considered as one-year-old). According to the same survey, around **** percent of females in this age bracket had ever had sexual intercourse.

Sexuality in South Korea

Many different factors have shaped the way sexuality is considered across the country. From traditional cultural norms generally accepted by the older generation, to the recent surge of liberalism and westernization – sexual education and sexual behavior have been highly debated topics among South Koreans and continue to be to this day.

Sexual education for teenagers in South Korea has become known for being problematic - not all teenage girls participated in sexual education programs as part of their schooling, and there has been some backlash on the quality of sexual education received by all students. Only half of sexually active teens stated that they always use contraception when having sex.

In 2019, South Korea decriminalized abortion – a move that was praised as moving towards a positive direction for women’s rights and health within the country. Decriminalizing pregnancy termination is particularly important for adolescents - around ** percent of teenage girls who had been pregnant reported having an abortion.

North Korea KP: Maternal Mortality Ratio: Modeled Estimate: per 100,000 Live Births data was reported at 82.000 Ratio in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 85.000 Ratio for 2014. North Korea KP: Maternal Mortality Ratio: Modeled Estimate: per 100,000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 99.500 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2015, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 131.000 Ratio in 1999 and a record low of 56.000 Ratio in 1993. North Korea KP: Maternal Mortality Ratio: Modeled Estimate: per 100,000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Health Statistics. Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnancy termination per 100,000 live births. The data are estimated with a regression model using information on the proportion of maternal deaths among non-AIDS deaths in women ages 15-49, fertility, birth attendants, and GDP.; ; WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group, and the United Nations Population Division. Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2015. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2015; Weighted average; This indicator represents the risk associated with each pregnancy and is also a Sustainable Development Goal Indicator for monitoring maternal health.

ObjectiveThere is no evidence to suggest that an association exists between the remnant cholesterol (RC) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In this study, the RC/HDL-C ratio during the first trimester was examined as a potential indicator of the onset of GDM during the second trimester.MethodsThis was a secondary analysis of data from a Korea-based prospective cohort study. The study involved 582 women within 14 weeks of pregnancy who were examined between November 2014 and July 2016 at two Korean hospitals. RC was calculated as total cholesterol (TC) minus the sum of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and HDL-C. The RC/HDL-C ratio was determined by dividing the RC content by the HDL-C content. The RC/HDL-C ratio and GDM occurrence were investigated utilizing a binary logistic regression model, various sensitivity analyses, and subgroup analyses. Additionally, the RC/HDL-C ratio was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.ResultsThe average age of the pregnant women was 32.07 ± 3.78 years, and the RC/HDL-C ratio had a median value of 0.39. The prevalence of GDM was 6.01%. There was a positive association between the RC/HDL-C ratio and the incidence of GDM after adjusting for potential confounding variables (odds ratio: 21.78, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.55–133.73, P < 0.001). Furthermore, this association was validated by subgroup and sensitivity analyses. The results indicated that the RC/HDL-C ratio was a robust predictor of GDM, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.795 (95% CI: 0.723–0.868). The optimal threshold value was 0.45, with a sensitivity of 71.4% and a specificity of 75.3%. Compared with traditional lipid markers, including LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, TC, and the emerging marker RC, the RC/HDL-C exhibited higher diagnostic efficacy.ConclusionThere is an increased risk of GDM associated with higher levels of the RC/HDL-C ratio between 12 and 14 weeks of gestation, independent of traditional risk factors. The RC/HDL-C ratio is more effective in diagnosing GDM than traditional lipid markers.

ObjectiveThere is no evidence to suggest that an association exists between the remnant cholesterol (RC) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In this study, the RC/HDL-C ratio during the first trimester was examined as a potential indicator of the onset of GDM during the second trimester.MethodsThis was a secondary analysis of data from a Korea-based prospective cohort study. The study involved 582 women within 14 weeks of pregnancy who were examined between November 2014 and July 2016 at two Korean hospitals. RC was calculated as total cholesterol (TC) minus the sum of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and HDL-C. The RC/HDL-C ratio was determined by dividing the RC content by the HDL-C content. The RC/HDL-C ratio and GDM occurrence were investigated utilizing a binary logistic regression model, various sensitivity analyses, and subgroup analyses. Additionally, the RC/HDL-C ratio was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.ResultsThe average age of the pregnant women was 32.07 ± 3.78 years, and the RC/HDL-C ratio had a median value of 0.39. The prevalence of GDM was 6.01%. There was a positive association between the RC/HDL-C ratio and the incidence of GDM after adjusting for potential confounding variables (odds ratio: 21.78, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.55–133.73, P < 0.001). Furthermore, this association was validated by subgroup and sensitivity analyses. The results indicated that the RC/HDL-C ratio was a robust predictor of GDM, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.795 (95% CI: 0.723–0.868). The optimal threshold value was 0.45, with a sensitivity of 71.4% and a specificity of 75.3%. Compared with traditional lipid markers, including LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, TC, and the emerging marker RC, the RC/HDL-C exhibited higher diagnostic efficacy.ConclusionThere is an increased risk of GDM associated with higher levels of the RC/HDL-C ratio between 12 and 14 weeks of gestation, independent of traditional risk factors. The RC/HDL-C ratio is more effective in diagnosing GDM than traditional lipid markers.

The fertility rates have fallen in all five Nordic countries over the last years. However, in 2021, the birth rates increased again in all five Nordics countries, besides in Sweden, where the fertility rate stayed the same. This can be explained by the higher number of babies born during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, Iceland had the highest fertility rate of the Nordic countries, with 1.6 children born per woman in reproductive age. The global trend of decreasing fertility The Nordics are not the only region with decreasing fertility rates. Globally, fertility rates have been on a steady decline since 2000. While lower-income countries have had more significant declines, they still have more children born per woman than higher-income countries. In 2000, almost 6 children were born per woman in low-income countries, decreasing to 4.62 in 2021. By comparison, nearly 1.71 children were born per woman in high-income countries, falling slightly to 1.55 by 2021. Overall, in 2023, Niger, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo had the highest fertility rates, while Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore had the lowest fertility rates. Impacts of low fertility Greater access to education, challenges between work-life balance, and the costs of raising children can all be linked to falling fertility rates. However, this decline is not without consequences, and many countries are facing social and economic challenges because of aging and shrinking populations. For example, in Japan, where nearly 30 percent of the country is aged 65 or older, an increasing proportion of the government expenditure is going towards social security benefits. Moreover, the very low unemployment rate in Japan can partially be attributed to having a shrinking labor force and fewer people to support the economy.