In a significant demographic shift, South Korea recorded a rise in its birthrate for the first time in nine years, with 242,334 newborns in 2024—marking a 3.1% increase compared to the previous year.
Despite this encouraging sign, the nation continues to face a natural population decline, as deaths rose by 1.93% to 360,757, resulting in a net population decrease of 118,423, slightly better than the 118,881 decline in 2023 .
South Korea’s total fertility rate (TFR), the world’s lowest, stood at 0.72 in 2023 and is projected to dip below 0.7 in 2024 (GJIA).
In response to the ongoing demographic crisis, the government has rolled out financial incentives, expanded childcare support, and introduced policies to alleviate the economic pressures of raising children.
While the uptick in births offers a ray of hope, experts warn that consistent and innovative measures are essential to reverse long-term trends and secure a sustainable demographic balance for the nation’s future.
