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Korea records first on-year increase in February births in 11 years

Published: 23 Apr. 2025, 14:38 Updated: 23 Apr. 2025, 19:57

A newborn is held by a nurse at a hospital in Gangseo District, western Seoul, on Feb. 26. [JUN MIN-KYU]

The number of births in Korea rose in February for the first time in 11 years, driven in part by a continued increase in marriages, according to Statistics Korea on Wednesday.

Both the monthly number of births and marriages have increased for eight and 11 consecutive months, respectively.

A total of 20,035 babies were born in February, up 622, or 3.2 percent, from the same month last year, according to Statistics Korea’s “February Population Trends” report released Wednesday.

The number of births per month has been increasing for eight months since July last year.

This marks the first year-on-year rise in February births since 2014, and the largest increase for the month of February since 2012, when births rose by 2,449.

The total fertility rate in February was 0.82, up 0.05 from a year earlier. The figure means the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime remains below one.

Compared to a growth rate of 13.4 percent in October, 14.3 percent in November, 11.6 percent in December and 11.6 percent in January, February’s rate of 3.2 percent was down.

Visitors look around booths at a baby fair held at Coex Magok in Gangseo District, western Seoul on March 27. [YONHAP]

By region, births increased in nine of the country’s 17 major cities and provinces, including Seoul and Busan, but fell in eight others, such as Gwangju and Sejong.

There were 19,370 marriages in February, up 2,422 cases, or 14.3 percent, from a year earlier, marking the highest February tally since 2017, when it reached 21,501. All regions across the country saw increases in marriage numbers.

The steady rise in marriages began in April 2023 and has continued for eleven months.

This trend is largely attributed to couples finally tying the knot after postponing their weddings due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nurses care for newborns at a hospital in Incheon on Feb. 26. [YONHAP]

From 1991 to 1996, when the second baby boom generation - born between 1964 and 1974 - had children, annual births reached the 700,000 range. Now, those born during that era, known as the "echo boom generation," born between 1991 and 1996, are entering their early 30s, which is considered the prime age for marriage, leading to an increase in weddings.

A more positive perception of marriage and government policies encouraging it are also believed to have contributed to this upward trend.

“The increase in marriages is contributing to the rise in births,” a Statistics Korea official commented. “The trend could continue in the coming months.”

The number of deaths in February stood at 30,283, an increase of 401 cases, or 1.3 percent, from the same period last year.

Divorces totaled 7,347 in February, down slightly by seven cases, or 0.1 percent, year-on-year.

A wall near Chung-Ang University is seen posted with notices for rental rooms for college students in Dongjak District, southern Seoul, on Feb. 24. [KIM JONG-HO]

Despite the rise in births, deaths still exceeded births, leading to a natural population decrease of 10,248 for the month. Korea’s population has been in natural decline for 64 consecutive months since November 2019.

Meanwhile, according to a Statistics Korea report on domestic migration statistics for March, also released on Wednesday, the number of people who moved residences last month was 549,000, down 2.6 percent from the same month last year.

For the month of March, this was the smallest figure in 51 years since March 1974, when 501,000 people moved. In the short term, the decline appears to be influenced by a recent slowdown in housing transactions.

“Residential mobility is structurally decreasing as the number of young people, who tend to move more frequently, continues to decline," a Statistics Korea official said.

Translated from the JoongAng Ilbo using generative AI and edited by Korea JoongAng Daily staff.
BY JEONG JAE-HONG [[email protected]]