'Hard to Find Moms in Their 20s'... 520,000 30 Years Ago → 60,000 Last Year

8 out of 10 in 1990... down to 2 out of 10 in 2020

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The proportion of mothers in their 20s has significantly decreased over the past 30 years.

According to birth and death statistics from Statistics Korea on the 28th, last year, the number of newborns with mothers in their 20s was 60,200, accounting for 22.1% of the total 272,400 births. This means 2 out of every 10 newborns. This is a stark contrast to 30 years ago in 1990, when the proportion was 80.7% (524,411 newborns).

The proportion of newborns born to mothers in their 20s has shown a clear downward trend year by year. In 2000, it dropped to 404,592 (63.2%), and five years later in 2005, it fell below half to 208,711 (47.6%). In 2010 (171,735; 36.5%), it dropped below 40%. Last year, it fell to the low 20% range.

The proportion of newborns with mothers in their 30s is increasing.

Last year, the number of newborns with mothers in their 30s was 197,300, accounting for 72.4% of total births. In 1990, it was 113,674, or 17.5% of the total. In 2000, it recorded 222,090 (34.7%), and in 2005 (219,646; 50.1%), the proportion of mothers in their 30s exceeded half. In 2010 (285,451; 60.7%), it surpassed 60%.

The average maternal age at childbirth last year was 33.1 years. The average maternal age, which was 27-28 years in the 1990s, has risen every year, surpassing 30 years for the first time in 2005. It exceeded 31 years in 2010, rose to 32 years in 2014, and reached 33 years in 2019.

An official from Statistics Korea said, "The increase in women's childbirth age is due to the delay in marriage timing," adding, "The average age at first marriage for wives rose from 24.8 years in 1990 to 30.6 years in 2019."