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South Korea's Baby Boom: Births Jump 6.8%, Highest Growth in 15 Years

South Korea has recorded its highest annual growth in childbirths in 15 years, with 254,500 babies born in 2025, a 6.8% increase from the previous year. The total fertility rate recovered to 0.8, crossing that threshold for the first time in four years. Officials attribute the rebound to a sustained increase in marriages post-COVID and a growing population of women in their prime childbearing years. Despite the rise in births, the population still experienced a natural decline of 110,000 due to a higher number of deaths.

Key Points: South Korea Birth Rate Rises to 0.8, First Growth in 4 Years

  • Births rose 6.8% to 254,500
  • Fertility rate recovers to 0.8 after 4 years
  • Rebound linked to post-pandemic marriages
  • Social perception towards childbirth improving
  • Population still declined by 110,000 in 2025
2 min read

Childbirth in South Korea rises; pace highest in 15 years

South Korea sees a 6.8% surge in births, the highest pace since 2010, as marriages rebound and social perceptions on childbirth shift.

"The number of marriages gained ground for 21 straight months... as couples who had delayed their marriages due to the COVID-19 pandemic tied the knot. - Park Hyun-jeong"

Seoul, February 25

South Korea, which was plunging into declining population, grew to 0.8- rising after four years, Yonhap reported.

The pace of growth was highest since 2010, second consecutive year of growth.

A total of 254,500 babies were born last year, up 6.8 per cent, or 16,100, from 2024, according to the provisional data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics. The ministry will announce the final statistics in August, as per Yonhap.

The total fertility rate, the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime, came to 0.8, up 0.05 from a year earlier, recovering the threshold for the first time in four years.

The ministry attributed the rebound in the number of newborns to an increase in marriages and the continued growth in the population of women in their early 30s, the prime childbearing age group, since 2021, as per Yonhap.

"The number of marriages gained ground for 21 straight months from April 2024 to December last year as couples who had delayed their marriages due to the COVID-19 pandemic tied the knot," Park Hyun-jeong, a ministry official, told Yonhap.

Park also said there was a notable change in social perception toward childbirth, with the ministry's latest biennial survey in 2024 showing an increase in people with intention to have children after marriage from two years earlier.

The proportion of people who are willing to give birth outside of marriage also went up, she added.

Park projected the figure to stay above the 0.8 level this year and further rise to the 1 mark in 2031. Data also showed that the number of deaths added 1.3 percent on-year to 363,400 in 2025, resulting in a natural population decline of 110,000, as per Yonhap.

Earlier on January 28, Yonhap reported the highest pace in the rise of births in 18 years between January-November 2025.

A total of 233,708 babies were born between January-November in 2025, up 6.2 percent from the same period a year earlier, according to data from the Ministry of Statistics. It marks the steepest on-year increase since 2007, as per Yonhap.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
From 0.75 to 0.8 is still far below replacement level. They have a long way to go. But the change in social perception they mention is key. In our metros, young couples are also delaying or avoiding children due to career pressure and cost. Governments need supportive policies.
A
Aditya G
Interesting data. Even with this rise, deaths still outnumber births by 110,000. The population is still shrinking. It shows how deep the hole is once fertility falls so low. We must not take our demographic dividend for granted.
S
Sarah B
The mention of more people willing to have children outside marriage is a significant social shift. While the numbers are small, it reflects changing attitudes. Hope the mothers get adequate support, something we need to work on everywhere.
V
Vikram M
Good for them! But a small respectful criticism of the article: it jumps between 2024 and 2025 data a bit confusingly. The core story is clear though - a small rebound after COVID delays. Let's see if it's a lasting trend or a temporary bump.
K
Kavya N
As a young professional, I understand the pressure. It's encouraging that social perception is changing. Maybe with better parental leave, childcare, and shared responsibilities, more couples will feel confident to start a family. A lesson for all developed economies facing this crisis.

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