'Sejong-do, with the nation's highest birth rate... 14% decrease in baby cries last year'

The sound of babies crying is gradually decreasing nationwide. In particular, even Sejong, which recorded the highest birth rate in the country due to its high proportion of young public officials, saw a 14% decrease in the number of births last year.

According to the 'National Statistical Portal' of Statistics Korea on the 27th, the cumulative number of births in Sejong City from January to November last year was 2,562, a 14.1% decrease compared to the same period the previous year. Nationwide, it ranked second in the decline rate following Gwangju (-17.4%).

Sejong City, established in 2012 due to the relocation of major government ministries, has maintained the title of 'No. 1 birth rate in the country' for eight consecutive years due to the increase in migration of young public officials. With many dual-income public officials, the conditions are stable for raising children, and the infrastructure of the new city, such as schools and libraries, is also evaluated as a good environment for child-rearing.

Accordingly, even amid the nationwide intensification of natural decrease, it is the only region continuing natural increase (number of births minus number of deaths). Sejong City's natural increase peaked at 2,598 in 2019, rising from 2,345 in 2017 and 2,444 in 2018, then recorded 2,151 in 2020, 2,216 in 2021, and 1,531 in 2022.

However, even Sejong City could not escape the effects of low birth rates. Until 2022, Sejong was the only region nationwide to record a total fertility rate in the 1.0 range, but in the second quarter of last year it recorded 0.94 and 0.86 in the third quarter, breaking the 1.0 range for two consecutive quarters.

Although natural population increase is occurring uniquely, if this trend continues, it is highly likely that the figure will fall below 1,000 within a few years. The cumulative natural increase from January to November last year was 1,113, a decrease of 350 compared to the same period the previous year.

The decline in Sejong City's birth rate is also closely related to the stagnation of population growth in Sejong City. In 2021 alone, Sejong City recorded a net migration rate of 7.4%, but with the real estate market downturn, it recorded 0.3% in May last year, the lowest level in three years. Sejong City had aimed for a population of 800,000 by 2030 but lowered this to 500,000; however, with the population recently remaining in the 380,000 range, concerns are emerging that the population growth trend has stopped.