For the first time in nine years, South Korea's birth rate is projected to increase in 2024, following a significant rebound in marriages delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to SCMP and Reuters. The East Asian nation, which has recorded the world’s lowest fertility rates, is set to see a 3% rise in the number of newborns, bringing the total between January and November 2024 to approximately 220,094.

In 2023, however, the number of newborns fell by 7.7%, marking the eighth consecutive year of decline and resulting in a record low annual fertility rate of 0.72. The expected rise in birth rates correlates strongly with the increase in marriages, which rose by 13.5% in 2023, totaling 199,903— the highest annual increase since 1980.

Government data indicate a strong link between marriage and births in South Korea, where marriages are often viewed as a prerequisite for having children. A survey revealed that 62.8% of South Koreans opposed births outside of marriage, although that figure is down from 77.5% a decade ago.

Neighboring China also experienced a boost in births, with an increase of 5.8% to 9.54 million in 2024, attributed to similar pandemic-induced marriage delays. The South Korean government has implemented various measures to encourage marriage and childbirth, including a one-time tax cut of 500,000 won ($349.35) for couples marrying between 2024 and 2026, following President Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of a 'national demographic crisis.'

As the situation evolves, South Korea will release annual data for 2024 on February 26, which is highly anticipated by policymakers and citizens alike.

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