Study shows gap between ideal, actual number of children among Koreans

A study released Sunday revealed a significant disparity between Koreans' ideal and actual number of children. Conducted by the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy from November 3-14 last year, the survey polled 1,000 men and women aged 20-49. Seventy-one percent of respondents identified two or more children as their ideal count, yet only 44.9 percent reported having or planning to have one child.

Twenty-seven percent aimed for two children, while 24.9 percent intended to have none. The average ideal number of children for participants was calculated at 1.76, whereas the average actual or expected number was 1.07. Those who had fewer children than their ideal number cited financial pressures as the primary factor, with 40.4 percent also mentioning difficulties balancing work and childcare.

Conversely, individuals with more children than their ideal reported strong familial support (37.5 percent) and favorable circumstances as the reasons.