Wed Feb 26 03:26:28 UTC 2025: ## South Korea’s Fertility Rate Rises for First Time in Nine Years
**Seoul, South Korea** – South Korea’s fertility rate saw its first increase in nine years in 2024, rising to 0.75 from a record low of 0.72 in 2023, according to preliminary data released by Statistics Korea on Wednesday. This marks a potential turning point in the country’s severe demographic crisis.
The uptick is attributed to a 14.9% jump in marriages in 2024 – the largest increase since record-keeping began in 1970. Statistics Korea officials suggest a shift in social values, with more positive views on marriage and childbirth, and the impact of a larger population in their early 30s and a post-pandemic rebound, all contributing factors.
Despite the improvement, South Korea remains the only OECD member with a fertility rate below 1. The country’s population continues to shrink, with 120,000 more deaths than births in 2024, marking the fifth consecutive year of natural population decline. Only the administrative city of Sejong experienced population growth. Projections indicate a further decline to 36.22 million by 2072 from a peak of 51.83 million in 2020.
The rise in fertility follows years of government initiatives aimed at boosting birth rates, launched after former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a “national demographic crisis.” While the impact of these measures remains uncertain, the increase in 2024 offers a glimmer of hope in addressing South Korea’s long-term demographic challenges.
First Piper 