Seoul's birthrate rebounds as births and marriages surge
After years of setting grim global records for the world’s lowest fertility rates, Korea’s sprawling capital is orchestrating an unexpected demographic turnaround. Driven by aggressive municipal welfare programs and shifting cultural attitudes, Seoul is witnessing a sustained surge in both births and marriages, offering a rare beacon of hope in East Asia’s ongoing demographic crisis. According to…
In 2025, Seoul's birthrate experienced a surprising rebound, bucking the global trend of declining fertility rates. Thanks to robust municipal welfare programs and changing cultural norms, the South Korean capital saw a significant uptick in both births and marriages, presenting an unusual ray of optimism in East Asia's demographic predicament.
According to official figures, the city welcomed 45,516 newborns in 2025, marking a 9.4 percent rise from the year before. This represented the fastest growth rate among the 17 regions in Korea and marked the second consecutive year of population expansion for the metropolis. The total fertility rate in Seoul - the average number of children a woman is expected to have - climbed to 0.63, steadily recovering from its all-time low of 0.55 in 2023 and consistently surpassing official projections.
The upward trend is set to continue in 2026. In the first half of the year, Seoul saw 26,924 births, a 18.7 percent rise compared to the same period in 2025. Marriages are also on the rise.
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- Seoul's birthrate rebounds as births and marriages surge koreatimes.co.kr
