Births up 11 pct in July, extending gains to 25th consecutive month

Korea witnessed a significant surge in childbirth, with the number of babies born increasing by 11.1 percent in July compared to the same period last year, according to government data released on Wednesday. The Ministry of Data and Statistics reported that 24,275 infants were born in July, surpassing the previous high of 25,222 recorded in 2019. This uptick marked the 25th consecutive month of rising birth rates in the country.

The total fertility rate, which represents the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime, also saw a modest rise in July, climbing to 0.89 from 0.81 a year earlier. Despite this increase, the rate remains below the critical threshold of 2.1 births per woman required to maintain a stable population without immigration.

The upward trend in births has persisted since July 2024, with a substantial 14.7 percent increase over the January-July period. In total, 170,079 babies were born during this span, the highest number since 2019. The recent resurgence in births can be attributed to several factors, including a growing number of marriages, an aging population in their 30s, and a more favorable societal attitude towards having children.

In July alone, the number of marriages rose by 9.3 percent compared to the previous year, reaching 22,282. This surge in marital unions likely contributed to the heightened fertility rates.