South Korea Sees Record Rise in Births

South Korea has recorded a historic rise in births, alongside an unprecedented shift in reproductive patterns, according to new government data.

Figures from Statistics Korea show that 19,953 babies were born in June, marking a 9.4 percent increase compared with the same month last year.

This represents the fastest growth for any June since records began in 1981. Birth numbers have now increased for twelve consecutive months, although the monthly figure dropped below 20,000 for the first time in three months.

The country’s total fertility rate, which measures the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime, climbed to 0.76, up from 0.70 last year. The rise was largely driven by higher birth rates among women aged 35 to 39.

During the second quarter of 2025, South Korea recorded 60,979 births, a year-on-year increase of 7.3 percent — the highest growth for any second quarter since 1981. The first half of the year also saw a 7.4 percent rise, marking the strongest growth ever recorded for that period.

Despite these encouraging signs, South Korea’s population continues to shrink due to rising deaths. In June, 27,270 deaths were registered, a 1.5 percent increase compared to last year, resulting in a natural population decline of 7,317.

In the second quarter, deaths rose by 0.7 percent to 84,565, leading to a population decrease of 23,586. The country has consistently recorded more deaths than births in every quarter since late 2019, highlighting the ongoing demographic challenges it faces.