Korea’s Births Top 250,000 Last Year as Fertility Rate Rebounds

South Korea reported a record high of 254,300 births in 2025, marking the highest number of births in four years and signaling a potential shift in the country's long-standing low-birth trend. Birth figures had been declining steadily since falling into the 200,000 range in 2020, but rebounded for a second consecutive year. The National Data Office attributed the increase to a rise in the total fertility rate, which rose from 0.75 to 0.80, and a notable increase in the crude birth rate, which climbed from 4.7 to 5.0.

Women in their 30s led the surge in births, with the fertility rate among women aged 30 to 34 reaching 73.1 births per 1,000 women, and 52.1 among those aged 35 to 39. The fertility rate for women in their late 30s saw the largest increase, jumping 6.0 births, or 13.1%, from the previous year. The average age of mothers rose to 33.8 years, up from 33.2 years a year earlier and 3.6 years higher than in 2005.

Women aged 35 and older accounted for 37.3% of all mothers. First births contributed to the increase, accounting for 62.4% of the total. The share of couples having their first child within two years of marriage rose slightly to 53.2%. The number of multiple births increased to 15,500, with mothers of multiple babies being older on average.

The share of births outside marriage fell to 5.5%, suggesting a potential slowdown in this trend. The sex ratio at birth remained within the normal range at 105.8 boys per 100 girls. The National Data Office attributed the rebound to a combination of women in their 30s entering the workforce and marrying later.