1.03 in 2024: Top Nationwide for Two Consecutive Years
Jeonnam Surpasses 1.0, the Only Region in Korea
Policy Support Such as Basic Birth Allowance Shows Results
Jeonnam recorded the highest total fertility rate in the nation at 1.04 in the second quarter of 2025. Provided by Jeonnam Province
Jeonnam Province announced that the region's total fertility rate in 2024 was 1.03, ranking first in the nation for the second consecutive year. In addition, in the second quarter of 2025, Jeonnam recorded a total fertility rate of 1.04, making it the only region in the country to exceed 1.0 and securing the top spot nationwide.
The total fertility rate is a key indicator representing the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her childbearing years (ages 15 to 49), and is widely used to assess the fertility level of a country or region.
According to the "2024 Birth Statistics (Final)" released by Statistics Korea on August 27, the number of births in Jeonnam in 2024 was 8,225, an increase of 397 (5.1%) compared to the previous year (7,828). The total fertility rate also rose by 0.06, from 0.97 in 2023 to 1.03 in 2024.
Notably, among cities and counties, Yeonggwang County recorded the highest total fertility rate nationwide at 1.7, and as many as five counties-including Gangjin, Jangseong, Hampyeong, and Goheung-were ranked among the top ten cities and counties in the country for total fertility rate.
Nationwide, the number of births was 238,317, an increase of 8,289 (3.6%) compared to the previous year (230,028). The total fertility rate also rose by 0.03, from 0.72 in 2023 to 0.75 in 2024.
This upward trend in birth rates has continued into 2025.
According to the "June Population Trends" released by Statistics Korea, the cumulative number of births in Jeonnam up to June 2025 was 4,317, an increase of 244 (6%) compared to the same period last year (4,073). The total fertility rate for the second quarter was 1.04, up by 0.04 compared to 1.0 in the previous year.
Jeonnam Province is actively implementing innovative, customized, and integrated support policies for pregnancy and childbirth, developed through multiple roundtable discussions with policy beneficiaries and experts, in collaboration with local governments and communities, to create a child-friendly environment and boost birth rates.
To ease the burden of childrearing, Jeonnam became the first in the nation to provide a basic birth allowance of 200,000 won annually to children born in Jeonnam until they become adults, starting this year. In addition, systematic support is being provided to help couples struggling with infertility, including expanded fertility testing, unrestricted support for infertility treatments regardless of age or number of attempts, fertility preservation initiatives, and the operation of infertility and depression counseling centers.
An integrated platform is also being established to provide user-centered, one-stop services for pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting, consolidating information that had previously been scattered across different sources.
Yoon Yeonhwa, Director of the Population and Youth Policy Bureau of Jeonnam Province, stated, "To raise the birth rate and create a child-friendly environment, not only parents but also local governments and communities must work together." She added, "With even more innovative and reliable integrated support tailored to pregnancy and childbirth, we will continue the positive reversal in the low birth rate trend and achieve a total fertility rate of 1.5 by 2030."
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