Total Fertility Rate Falls to 0.78
Foreign Media: "Korea, the Only Country in the World with a Fertility Rate Below 1"
South Korea's total fertility rate fell to the 0.7 level last year, marking a record low, while foreign media pointed to stagnant wages and changing perceptions of marriage as causes of the low birthrate issue.
CNN: "South Korea, China, and Japan all face demographic decline... Working-age population will become very small"
On the 22nd (local time), the U.S. CNN reported in an article titled "South Korea breaks world record for lowest fertility rate" that "South Korea's fertility rate, already among the lowest in the world, has dropped once again."
It added, "Korean women tend to have children later, with the average age of childbirth last year being 33.5 years," and stated, "Other Asian countries including Japan and China are also experiencing demographic decline, raising concerns that the working-age population supporting the elderly will become very small." The media cited stagnant wages, rising living costs, and changing perceptions of marriage and gender equality as causes of the low birthrate problem.
Earlier, in December last year, CNN also gave significant coverage to South Korea's low birthrate issue. At that time, CNN published an article titled "South Korea spent $200 billion (about 261 trillion won), but it was not enough to make people have children," pointing out that "the obstacles facing prospective parents are fundamentally more social than economic problems," and "these are issues expected to remain regardless of how much money is given."
The Guardian: "Low birthrate and aging population increase pension system burden"
On the same day, the UK’s The Guardian also reported in an article titled "South Korea’s birthrate falls to record low amid deepening population crisis" that "South Korea’s fertility rate has fallen to a record low, undermining government efforts to encourage having more children."
It continued, "South Korea is the only country in the world with a fertility rate below 1," and pointed out that "the world’s lowest fertility rate and rapid aging are increasing the burden on South Korea’s economy and pension system."
The Guardian also reported, "Like Japan, South Korea’s local governments have launched programs encouraging people to have children, including cash incentives, infertility treatments, and medical expense support," but experts diagnose that "issues such as high living costs and work-life balance have not been properly addressed."
Meanwhile, according to Statistics Korea, last year’s total fertility rate was 0.78, down 0.03 from the previous year, marking the lowest since statistics began in 1970. South Korea has ranked last among OECD member countries in total fertility rate since 2013. Japan, where aging is also progressing rapidly, recorded a total fertility rate of 1.30 as of 2021, higher than South Korea’s.
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