South Korea sees highest birth rate increase in nearly 12 years, number of marriages also surging

In July 2024, South Korea experienced its largest rise in births in nearly 12 years, with 20,601 babies born in the month, marking a 7.9% increase compared to July 2023.

This surge is partly due to the previous year's record-low birth rates and a rise in marriages following COVID-19, which had delayed many weddings. Marriages in July 2024 saw the highest increase rates since records began in 1981. 

The number of deaths was 28,240 in July 2024, an increase of 0.4% over July 2023, resulting in a natural population decline of over 7,639.

At the same time, marriages in July 2024 surged by 32.9% over July 2023, exceeding 18,000 marriages. This marks the highest year-over-year increase for any July since records began in 1981 and the largest overall rise in 28 years. The highest is a 50.6% jump in January 1996.

At current birth rates, South Korea is projected to become a highly aged society by 2072, with the median age rising from 44.9 in 2022 to 63.4. The population is also expected to decrease significantly, from 52 million today to 36 million by 2072. However, officials noted that this significant rise in marriages is a positive indicator, as it could potentially lead to an increase in births in the coming years.

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