In South Korea, the birth rate fell again

In South Korea, the birth rate has fallen

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In 2023, South Korea’s birth rate, which was already the lowest in the world, fell. This trend has been observed for the fourth year in a row.

Women in this country are worried about their careers and the financial costs of having children, so they postpone this process or even refuse it altogether, Reuters reports.

The average number of newborns per woman broke a new anti-record – 0.72 children. In 2022, it was 0.78.

The lowest birth rate was recorded in Seoul – 0.55. It is in this city that the cost of housing is the highest.

At the same time, in 2015, the birth rate in South Korea was 1.24. At that time, the population’s concern about economic issues was lower.

For stable reproduction of the population, a significantly higher birth rate is necessary – 2.1 children per woman.

Since 2018, South Korea is the only member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) with an indicator below 1. Despite the billions spent by the country, the downward trend has not been reversed.

Currently, 51 million people live in South Korea. However, the population may be halved by the end of the century.

One of the reasons for the low birth rate in this country is the gender pay gap. Korean women earn only two-thirds of what men earn.

We will remind you that last year the birth rate in Japan fell to a record low level. 5.1% fewer children were born there than in 2022.