Only 16,803 Babies Born in December Last Year... Another 'Record Low'

Statistics Korea, December 2022 Population Trends
Number of Births Declines for 7 Years and 1 Month Consecutively

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Joo Sang-don] The number of births in December last year recorded the lowest level since related statistics began.

On the 22nd, Statistics Korea announced the 'December 2022 Population Trends' containing this information.

According to the report, the number of births in December last year was 16,803, down 376 (-2.2%) from the same month the previous year. The declining trend has continued for 85 consecutive months since December 2015.

The number of births in December last year fell to the lowest level ever recorded since statistics began in 1981, even when compared to all other months. By region, births increased in seven metropolitan cities including Busan and Incheon compared to the same month last year, but decreased in nine metropolitan cities including Seoul and Daegu.

The number of births in the fourth quarter of last year was 56,357, down 1,400 (-2.4%) from the same period the previous year. The total fertility rate was 0.70, a decrease of 0.01 from the same period last year. The fertility rate by mother's age decreased by 2.0 for ages 25-29 and by 0.8 for ages 30-34 compared to the same period last year. The average duration of marriage for parents at the birth of their first child was 2.73 years, an increase of 0.20 years from the same period last year.

The number of deaths in December last year was 33,360, an increase of 1,696 (5.4%) compared to the same month the previous year. By region, deaths increased in 15 metropolitan cities including Busan and Daegu, while decreasing in two metropolitan cities, Seoul and Incheon.

As of the fourth quarter of 2022, the number of deaths was 93,242, an increase of 5,462 (6.2%) compared to the same period last year. The crude death rate (per 1,000 population) was 7.2, up 0.4 from the same period last year. It increased by 0.3 for men and 0.5 for women. The number of women aged 85 and over increased by 9.8.

With births decreasing and deaths increasing, the natural increase (births minus deaths) in December last year was -16,557, indicating a natural decrease.

The number of marriages in December last year was 19,883, an increase of 122 (0.6%) compared to the same month the previous year. The number of marriages in the fourth quarter also increased by 1,121 (2.2%) to 53,173.

The number of divorces in December last year was 7,821, a decrease of 904 (-10.4%) compared to the same month the previous year. Overall, divorces in the fourth quarter decreased by 1,414 (-5.6%).