Seoul: The variety of infants born in South Korea rose on the quickest charge in 14 years in November, pushed partly by a rise in marriages within the post-pandemic period and shifting perceptions towards marriage and parenthood, the nation’s statistics company stated on Wednesday.
In keeping with the info compiled by Statistics Korea, a complete of 20,095 infants had been born in November 2024, up 14.6 per cent from the 17,530 newborns throughout the identical interval a 12 months earlier, Yonhap information company reported.
It marked the most important on-year improve since November 2010, when the variety of childbirths grew by 17.5 per cent.
The report additionally confirmed that the variety of {couples} getting married soared 11.Three per cent on-year to 18,581 in November.
For the January-November interval, 199,903 {couples} tied the knot, marking a 13.5 per cent on-year improve.
South Korea has lengthy struggled with a declining delivery charge as many younger folks decide to delay or forgo marriage and parenthood. In response, the federal government has launched varied insurance policies to encourage marriage and assist child-rearing, together with advantages for newlyweds and expanded childcare help.
“After the pandemic, we’ve got seen a rise in marriages and the delivery of first and second kids,” stated Im Younger-il, an company official.
“There have additionally been gradual shifts within the notion of marriage and childbirth as a result of components akin to authorities insurance policies.”
The variety of deaths, in the meantime, dropped 3.eight per cent on-year to 29,219 in November.
Accordingly, South Korea reported a pure inhabitants lower of 9,124 within the month.
The variety of deaths has continued to exceed the variety of newborns for the reason that fourth quarter of 2019.
The variety of infants born in South Korea rose for the primary time in 9 years in 2024, the federal government information confirmed.
A complete of 242,334 infants had been born final 12 months, up 3.1 per cent from a 12 months earlier, in keeping with resident registration information from the inside ministry.
It marked the primary annual rise in South Korea after eight consecutive years of decline. The entire variety of registered inhabitants stood at 51,217,221 final 12 months, shrinking for 5 years straight since 2020.
