Pyeongtaek City, the Only Large City with an Increase in Births Compared to 5 Years Ago

Number of Births Last Year Increased by 42 Compared to 2018
Early Marriage Rate at 5.4 Cases... Higher Than the Average of 3.8 Cases

Pyeongtaek City in Gyeonggi Province was the only metropolitan city with a population of over 500,000 nationwide to see an increase in the number of births compared to five years ago.

According to recent birth statistics released by Statistics Korea, the number of births nationwide in 2023 was 230,028, which is unusual considering it decreased by 96,794 compared to 2018, five years earlier.

During this period, all 17 metropolitan local governments nationwide experienced a decrease in the number of births without exception. Gyeonggi Province saw the largest decline with 19,358 fewer births, followed by Seoul with a decrease of 18,618. Even at the basic local government level, 216 out of 226 areas nationwide, accounting for 95.6%, saw a reduction in births.

On the other hand, 10 basic local governments saw an increase in the number of births compared to five years ago. The areas with increased births include Gwacheon City, Gyeonggi (318), Hanam City, Gyeonggi (129), Yangju City, Gyeonggi (85), Dong-gu, Gwangju (81), Jung-gu, Incheon (64), Gimje City, Jeonbuk (56), Dong-gu, Busan (45), Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi (42), Yesan County, Chungnam (24), and Muan County, Jeonnam (24).

Notably, among metropolitan cities with populations over 500,000, Pyeongtaek City was the only one to see an increase in births. Last year, 3,628 births were recorded in Pyeongtaek City, which is 42 more than the 3,586 births in 2018.

The city attributed the increase in births to a high marriage rate. Pyeongtaek City's crude marriage rate last year was 5.4, ranking third nationwide and the highest among local governments in Gyeonggi Province. The crude marriage rate is calculated by dividing the total number of marriages in a year by the population as of July 1 of that year, expressed per 1,000 people. It indicates the number of marriages per 1,000 people.

A Pyeongtaek City official stated, "The activation of future industries such as semiconductors is creating quality jobs locally, and housing supply is actively taking place mainly around Godeok International New City and Pyeongtaek Jije Station, leading to an increase in the influx of young people."

Jangseon Jeong, Mayor of Pyeongtaek City, said, "We will continue to improve the living conditions of the city so that parents with children do not regret and children growing up in Pyeongtaek can be happy."