In 2024, the birth rate in South Korea lay at 0.75 births per woman. The country has long been struggling with a declining birth rate, first dropping below one birth per woman in 2018.

The total fertility rate in South Korea decreased to 0.78 children per woman compared to the previous year. Therefore, 2022 marks the lowest fertility rate during the observed period. Total fertility rates refer to the average number of children that a woman of childbearing age (generally considered 15 to 44 years) can expect to have throughout her reproductive years. Unlike birth rates, which are based on the actual number of live births in a given population, fertility rates are hypothetical (similar to life expectancy), as they assume that current patterns in age-specific fertility will remain constant throughout a woman'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.

In 1900, the crude birth rate in South Korea was just under 42 births for every thousand people, meaning that approximately 4.2 percent of the population was born in that year. The crude birth rate would rise briefly in the 1930s, as Japanese investment would lead to economic growth on the peninsula, but would fall sharply in the 1940s, as the Second World War and the Korean War would result in two decades of significant socio-economic turmoil. While the crude birth rate would recover quickly after the end of the Korean War in 1953, a sharp decline in fertility beginning in the 1960s would see a corresponding fall in the crude birth rate lasting until the late 1980s, as South Korea would go through a rapid demographic transition and modernization. While the crude birth rate would briefly rise in the early 1990s, partially due to governmental restrictions on sex-selective abortion; the rate of decline would slow going into the 21st century. As a result, in 2020, it is estimated that South Korea has a birth rate of seven births for every thousand people, which is one of the lowest birth rates in the world.

In 2023, the number of births in South Korea stood at 230,028, recording the lowest figure during the given period. 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 South Korean respondents asserted that marriages can be happy without children, and a sizeable 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 childbearing expectations.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Crude Birth Rate for the Republic of Korea (SPDYNCBRTINKOR) from 1960 to 2022 about birth, Korea, crude, and rate.

In 1900, the fertility rate in the region of present-day South Korea was six children per woman, meaning that the average woman born in South Korea in that year could expect to have six children over the course of their reproductive years. This number began to fluctuate in the 1930s, when the Japanese administration (the Korean peninsula had been annexed by Japan in 1910) promoted fertility as part of the war effort, before fertility dropped below 5.2 births per woman in the aftermath of the war. It then increased above 6.3 in the 1950s due to the devastation and mass-displacement caused by the Korean War. As stability returned to the region, South Korea's fertility rate would fall sharply throughout the remainder of the century, as modernization, urbanization, and the implementation of family planning programs would see fertility fall to just over 1.5 children per woman by 1990.

Sex-selective abortion and gender ratios Abortion was illegal in South Korea between 1953 and 2020, although it was permitted in some cases from 1973 onward. Despite this, these laws were rarely enforced, and sex-selective abortion became widespread following advancements in ultrasound technology. In many Asian societies, it was often preferred to have male children as they were viewed as being better long-term providers for their parents and they would carry on the family name. In South Korea in the early 1990s, the practice of sex-selective abortion became so widespread that the gender ratio at birth was 114 males for every 100 females (reportedly as high as 125 in some cities), compared to the historical and natural average of approximately 105 males per 100 females. The government then prohibited doctors from revealing the gender of unborn babies to the parents in 1987, and introduced more severe penalties in 1994, in an attempt to revert this trend. The gender imbalance then reduced in the following decades, and has been at 106 males per 100 females since the 2010s (roughly the natural average). Abortion rights in South Korea were expanded in 2021.

Lowest in the world? Despite government initiatives aimed at increasing fertility, including financial incentives, South Korea's fertility rate has continued to fall in recent years, and today is at around half of replacement level. In 2020, it is estimated that the average woman born in South Korea will have just over one child over the course of their reproductive years. Some critics cite economic factors, such as high education and housing costs, for the reason that young couples are postponing marriage and having families; today, South Korea has the lowest adolescent fertility rate, and the lowest overall fertility rate in the Asia Pacific region. Due to the current trajectory of South Korea's fertility rate, in January 2021, it was announced that the South Korean population experienced a natural decline for the first time in it's history.

The crude birth rate in South Korea decreased by 0.2 live births per 1,000 inhabitants (-3.92 percent) in 2022 in comparison to the previous year. This marks the lowest rate during the observed period. The crude birth rate refers to the number of live births in a given year, expressed per 1,000 population. When studied in combination with the crude death rate, the rate of natural population increase can be determined.Find more statistics on other topics about South Korea with key insights such as total fertility rate, total life expectancy at birth, and infant mortality rate.

North Korea KP: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data was reported at 13.834 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.873 Ratio for 2015. North Korea KP: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data is updated yearly, averaging 20.651 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 37.774 Ratio in 1968 and a record low of 13.834 Ratio in 2016. North Korea KP: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People 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.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Crude birth rate indicates the number of live births occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.; ; (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;

Korea Number of Birth: Chungbuk data was reported at 11,400.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 12,742.000 Person for 2016. Korea Number of Birth: Chungbuk data is updated yearly, averaging 17,510.000 Person from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2017, with 37 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 29,874.000 Person in 1981 and a record low of 11,400.000 Person in 2017. Korea Number of Birth: Chungbuk data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.G001: Population: Birth, Death and Marriage.

In 2025, the total population of South Korea is projected to be around 51.68 million. In thirty years, the number of people aged 15 to 64 is estimated to decrease by one-third, while the number of older adults is anticipated to more than double. Additionally, the overall population is expected to decline by around six million people by that time. Declining birth rate Several factors are contributing to the expected demographic changes in South Korea. Firstly, the birth rate has been declining for years. As of 2024, South Korea had the lowest fertility rate in the world. This trend continues despite the efforts of successive governments to encourage young people to have children. An increasing number of South Korean women are prioritizing their careers, often choosing to focus on work rather than starting a family at a young age. While the employment rate for South Korean women is still lower than that of men, it has steadily risen over the past decade. Increase in life expectancy Secondly, life expectancy in South Korea has steadily increased due to improved living standards and healthcare. The average life expectancy at birth for South Koreans has risen from less than 75 years to almost 83 years over the past twenty years. As a result, the proportion of people aged 65 and older has grown from less than 11 percent to around 18 percent in the last decade.

North Korea KP: Adolescent Fertility Rate: Births per 1000 Women Aged 15-19 data was reported at 0.286 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.293 Ratio for 2015. North Korea KP: Adolescent Fertility Rate: Births per 1000 Women Aged 15-19 data is updated yearly, averaging 2.886 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.746 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 0.286 Ratio in 2016. North Korea KP: Adolescent Fertility Rate: Births per 1000 Women Aged 15-19 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. Adolescent fertility rate is the number of births per 1,000 women ages 15-19.; ; United Nations Population Division, World Population Prospects.; Weighted Average;

In 2023, the total fertility rate in South Korea's capital Seoul stood at about 0.55 children per woman. The fertility rate in Seoul has declined sharply over the past decade.

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.

Korea Number of Birth: Ulsan data was reported at 9,400.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 10,910.000 Person for 2016. Korea Number of Birth: Ulsan data is updated yearly, averaging 11,556.000 Person from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2017, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18,151.000 Person in 1997 and a record low of 9,400.000 Person in 2017. Korea Number of Birth: Ulsan data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.G001: Population: Birth, Death and Marriage.

Total fertility rate of Jeollanam-do increased by 4.72% from 1.57 children per woman in 2011 to 1.64 children per woman in 2012. Since the 0.28% fall in 2009, total fertility rate surged by 13.63% in 2012.

In 2022, the South Korean government allocated almost 52 trillion South Korean won to address the declining fertility rate. The government budget for improving the birth rate has increased almost 25-fold since 2006.

Total fertility rate of Chungcheongbuk-do increased by 3.99% from 1.43 children per woman in 2011 to 1.49 children per woman in 2012. Since the 0.15% fall in 2009, total fertility rate surged by 12.76% in 2012.

In 2022, the total fertility rate in Jeju, South Korea stood at about 0.83 children per woman. The fertility rate in Jeju has steadily declined over the past few years. The total fertility rate among South Korea's population amounted to about 0.72 children per woman that year.