{
  "id": 3412142,
  "title": "Births up 15.6% in June, extend gains for 24th month",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/births-up-15-6-in-june-extend-gains-for-24th-month",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-26T03:22:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/society/20260826/births-up-156-in-june-extend-gains-for-24th-month"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Korean birth rates exhibited a significant surge of 15.6% in June compared to the previous year, continuing an impressive streak of 24 consecutive months of growth, according to government data released on Wednesday. The Ministry of Data and Statistics reported 23,111 newborns in June, a substantial increase of 3,115 from 19,996 in June 2023. This marked the highest growth rate since the government began tracking the data in 1981, and the largest absolute increase since 1992, when the figure rose by 3,666.\n\nThe total fertility rate, which represents the average number of children a woman is expected to have throughout her lifetime, also rose by 0.11 points to 0.88 in June. Despite this increase, the fertility rate remains below the critical threshold of 2.1 births per woman required to sustain a stable population without immigration.\n\nThe upward trend in births has persisted since July 2024. Experts attribute the recent growth to a combination of factors, including a rise in the number of marriages and a more positive perception of having children. The increase in births coincided with the recovery of marriage rates since May 2023, following the end of the previous decline.",
  "summary": "The number of babies born in Korea rose 15.6 percent in June from a year earlier, marking the 24th consecutive month of on-year growth, government data showed Wednesday. A total of 23,111 babies were born in June, up 3,115 from 19,996 a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. The growth rate was the highest since the government began compiling relevant data in 1981. The…",
  "key_points": [
    "Korean birth rates rose 15.6% in June 2024",
    "Total fertility rate increased to 0.88 in June",
    "24th consecutive month of birth growth"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The sustained growth in birth rates, driven by more marriages and a positive shift in attitudes toward having children, suggests a turning point in Korea's long-term demographic trend.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "Births up 15.6 pct in June, extend gains for 24th month",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/births-up-15-6-pct-in-june-extend-gains-for-24th-month",
        "published": "2026-08-26T03:00:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Births up 15.6% in June, extend gains for 24th month",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/births-up-15-6-in-june-extend-gains-for-24th-month-3417591",
        "published": "2026-08-26T03:57:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}