Korea: Not Having Children and Not Getting Married

Statistics Korea 'September Population Trends' Results
Marriages Down 11%, Divorces Up 0.8%

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] The number of births in the third quarter (July to September) of this year fell below 70,000, marking the lowest ever recorded. Additionally, the number of marriages decreased by 11.0% compared to the same period last year.

According to the 'September Population Trends' report released by Statistics Korea on the 25th, the number of births nationwide in the third quarter of this year was 69,105. This is a decrease of 4,578 (6.2%) compared to the same period last year. This is the lowest figure since related statistics began being compiled in 1981.

The cumulative number of births up to the third quarter this year was 211,768, down 8.8% compared to the same period last year.

The cumulative number of births from January to September this year was also 211,768, representing an 8.8% decrease compared to the same period last year. Considering that births are usually higher at the beginning of the year and then decline, the annual number of births is expected to fall below 300,000.

The total fertility rate, which is the expected number of children a woman of childbearing age will have in her lifetime, was only 0.84 in the third quarter. This is 0.05 lower than the same period last year and is the lowest since statistics began being compiled.

The number of marriages also sharply declined. The number of marriages from July to September was 47,437, down 11.0% compared to the same period last year. On the other hand, the number of divorces in the third quarter was 27,780, an increase of 0.8%.