Birthrates Rise For A Second Year.

In a rare piece of optimistic demographic news, South Korea’s total fertility rate rose to 0.80 in 2025 returning to the 0.8 range for the first time since 2021. Experts attribute this rebound to the echo boomers (the large cohort born between 1991 and 1995) who are now entering their prime childbearing years. Additionally, a surge in marriages that were delayed during the pandemic has contributed to the increase. However, the government remains cautious. While the number of births reached approximately 254,500, deaths still outpaced births by over 100,000, meaning the total population continues to shrink. Officials are currently debating the 5th Basic Plan for Low Fertility, which aims to shift the focus from simply buying births with subsidies to structural changes in work-life balance and housing.

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