South Korea’s birth rate surges by 11.6% in January, largest increase since 1981

ISTANBUL

South Korea’s birth rate surged by 11.6% in January, with 23,947 newborns recorded, according to data released by Statistics Korea, The Chosun Daily reported on Thursday.

This is the highest rise in January since records began in 1981, with the number of births increasing for seven straight months.

Since October, the birth rate has experienced double-digit growth for four consecutive months, including a 13.4% increase in October.

Analysts credit this trend to the increasing number of individuals born in the early 1990s, who are now in their early to mid-30s and starting to marry and have children.

The rise in births was accompanied by a slight increase in marriages, with 20,153 marriages recorded in January, reflecting a 0.7% rise from 20,004 in the same month last year.

Although the increase was modest compared to January 2024, when marriage numbers grew by approximately 11.6%, experts believe the upward trend will persist.

A Statistics Korea official pointed out that due to the delay between marriage and childbirth, the rising birth rate is likely to continue in the upcoming months.