Births in May hit 7-year high, but population still shrinks

South Korea's birth rate saw a significant uptick in May, with 23,160 newborns registered, the highest figure for the month in seven years. This marks the 23rd consecutive month of year-on-year birth increases, signaling a potential shift in the country's long-standing demographic challenges.

The cumulative birth count for the first five months of the year reached 122,694, representing a substantial 15.2% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This sustained growth, with double-digit percentage increases each month this year, offers a glimmer of hope against the backdrop of one of the world's lowest fertility rates.

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Marriage numbers decreased by 6.4% compared to the previous year in May, showing a decline for the first time in three months since February (−4.2%).

However, the overall picture remains complex. The total fertility rate, which measures the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime, stood at 0.85 in May. While this is a slight increase from previous months, it remains well below the replacement level of 2.1.

Furthermore, the population continues to decline naturally. In May, deaths outnumbered births by 6,413, as 29,573 people died, an increase of 3.8% from the previous year. This demographic trend underscores the persistent challenges South Korea faces in reversing its population decline, despite the recent rise in birth numbers.

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Marriages are heavily influenced by the reporting date; this year, there were two fewer weekdays for reporting in May compared to last year due to the designation of Labor Day as a public holiday.