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

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.

Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) in South Korea was reported at 4.5 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Birth rate, crude - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Fertility Rate, Total for the Republic of Korea (SPDYNTFRTINKOR) from 1960 to 2023 about fertility, Korea, and rate.

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

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.

South Korea: Fertility rate, births per woman: The latest value from 2023 is 0.72 births per woman, a decline from 0.78 births per woman in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 2.41 births per woman, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for South Korea from 1960 to 2023 is 2.33 births per woman. The minimum value, 0.72 births per woman, was reached in 2023 while the maximum of 5.99 births per woman was recorded in 1960.

Historical dataset showing South Korea birth rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

In 2025, the South Korean government allocated about **** trillion South Korean won to address the declining fertility rate, which was a 13 percent increase compared to the previous year's budget. The budget was mainly allocated to support housing and related issues, followed by policies to improve work-family balance.

South Korea: The number of births per 1000 people, per year: The latest value from is births per 1000 people, unavailable from births per 1000 people in . In comparison, the world average is 0.00 births per 1000 people, based on data from countries. Historically, the average for South Korea from to is births per 1000 people. The minimum value, births per 1000 people, was reached in while the maximum of births per 1000 people was recorded in .

Korea Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data was reported at 7.900 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 8.600 Ratio for 2015. Korea Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data is updated yearly, averaging 16.000 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 42.266 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 7.900 Ratio in 2016. Korea 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 Korea – Table KR.World Bank: 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;

Fertility rate, total (births per woman) in South Korea was reported at 0.721 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Fertility rate, total (births per woman) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Crude Birth Rate for the Republic of Korea (SPDYNCBRTINKOR) from 1960 to 2023 about birth, crude, Korea, and rate.

In 2023, the crude birth rate in live births per 1,000 inhabitants in South Korea stood at 4.5. Between 1960 and 2023, the figure dropped by 37.57, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

South Korea Total Fertility Rate: Children per Woman data was reported at 0.880 Person in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.890 Person for 2020. South Korea Total Fertility Rate: Children per Woman data is updated yearly, averaging 1.205 Person from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2021, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.700 Person in 1992 and a record low of 0.880 Person in 2021. South Korea Total Fertility Rate: Children per Woman data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.OECD.GGI: Social: Demography: OECD Member: Annual.

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 Crude Birth Rate: per 1000 Persons data was reported at 7.000 NA in 2050. This stayed constant from the previous number of 7.000 NA for 2049. Korea Crude Birth Rate: per 1000 Persons data is updated yearly, averaging 8.200 NA from Jun 1990 (Median) to 2050, with 61 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.900 NA in 1992 and a record low of 6.800 NA in 2045. Korea Crude Birth Rate: per 1000 Persons data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.US Census Bureau: Demographic Projection.

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.

Historical dataset showing South Korea fertility rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

The average for 2022 based on 38 countries was 9.76 births per 1000 people. The highest value was in Israel: 19 births per 1000 people and the lowest value was in South Korea: 4.9 births per 1000 people. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.