Birth rate increased for the first time since 2014 in South Korea, despite relief, challenges remain, expert warns

South Korea has received good news in terms of population after almost a decade. The country’s birth rate has increased in 2024 after nine years. This increase in birth rate has been seen after various schemes of the South Korean government and increase in marriages. However, this increase is not enough. This is much less than the figure of 2.1 births per woman required to keep the population stable, but a slight increase in it has also brought relief to the government. It is very important for the increase in the birth rate to remain in the country.

According to the Guardian report, the birth rate in South Korea has decreased due to inflation, lack of jobs and changing thinking among women. Due to this, the total population of the country is continuously decreasing. This is directly affecting the economic and social condition of the country. In such a situation, the increase in the birth rate is good news for South Korea. However, experts believe that this is a small solution to a big challenge and a lot of work needs to be done in this direction.

Birth rate increased for the first time since 2014
The number of children born per 1,000 people in South Korea in the year 2024 was 4.7, which has increased for the first time since 2014. During this period, the fertility rate, that is, the average number of children born in a woman’s lifetime, was 0.75, which is 0.03 more than 0.72 in 2023. Last year, a total of 238,300 children were born in the country, which is 8,300 or 3.6 percent more than in 2023.

The increase in the birth rate in South Korea is less than the figure of 2.1 births per woman required to keep the population stable. South Korea’s birth rate has been running below 1.0 since 2018. The government aims to bring this rate to 1.0 by 2030. The South Korean government has taken several steps in recent years to increase the birth rate. The government has implemented schemes to provide cash and child care assistance to married couples. Despite this, the government is not getting the desired results.

Marriages increased after Covid
Statistics Korea official Park Hyun-jung has said that the number of marriages has continued to increase since the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. The number of marriages increased by 14.9% last year, the largest increase since the data was released in 1970. The increase in the number of marriages has also benefited the birth rate.

South Korea’s crisis is its declining population and decreasing young population. According to the latest estimates of Statistics Korea, the population is likely to decline to 36.22 million by 2072. This will create a serious crisis for the country in keeping itself as a force in the world.