Korea’s birth rate rises 7% in early 2023, yet remains historically low
https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-policy/2025/07/23/NSTP2IMBHVAE7N2U4RNPO5OD4U/
Korea’s birth rate rises 7% in early 2023, yet remains historically low
https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-policy/2025/07/23/NSTP2IMBHVAE7N2U4RNPO5OD4U/
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From the article
Despite a 6.9% rise in South Korea’s birth rate during the first five months of 2025—the highest growth rate since such data collection began—experts caution that this uptick may be temporary and insufficient to reverse the nation’s demographic decline. The total fertility rate remains critically low at 0.75 children per woman, far below the replacement level of 2.1, indicating that the country continues to face one of the world’s most severe population challenges.
The birth rate from January to May this year has recorded the highest increase ever. It jumped nearly 7% compared to last year. However, given that the number of births is declining, the overall number of births is the third lowest in history.
Although the increase in the birth rate from January to May is the highest on record, the actual figure is not the largest. It is the third lowest number after 2024 (99,194 births) and 2023 (101,965 births).
From my, albeit limited, understanding they’ve already crossed the point of no return. A rise in birth rates will be good for the function of their society and dampen the effect, but we’re still looking at a rather total demographic collapse in Korea in our lifetime.