Total Fertility Rate Exceeds 0.9 for Two Consecutive Months; February Birth Increase Rate Highest Ever

The Hankyoreh reports on a potentially significant demographic shift, with South Korea's total fertility rate exceeding 0.9 for two consecutive months. The February figure of 0.93 represents a notable increase from the previous year and, if sustained, could lead to an annual rate surpassing last year's record low of 0.8.

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The total fertility rate was 0.93, an increase of 0.1 from the previous year.

The data reveals a remarkable 13.6% year-on-year increase in births for February, the highest recorded for the month since 1981. This surge is occurring despite a slight dip in marriage registrations, which the National Statistics Office attributes to the Lunar New Year holiday impacting the number of available weekdays for registration. When accounting for the holiday's effect, the cumulative marriage figures for January and February remain robust, nearing pre-pandemic levels.

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The number of marriages decreased by 4.2% compared to the previous year.

From a South Korean perspective, this news, while cautiously optimistic, is viewed with a degree of national concern. The persistently low fertility rate has been a major societal and economic challenge for years, impacting everything from the future workforce to the sustainability of the pension system. While the recent uptick is welcome, analysts emphasize the need to understand the underlying causes. The article points to increased birth rates among women in their early and late 30s as a key driver. This suggests that perhaps later marriages and delayed childbirth, coupled with supportive policies for women in their prime childbearing years, might be contributing to the positive trend. However, the long-term implications and whether this is a sustainable reversal of the demographic decline remain subjects of intense national discussion.

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Excluding that effect, the number of marriages is close to being maintained.