Due to the increase in marriages, the birth rate in the first quarter reached the highest level since statistics were compiled in 1981. In March alone, the growth rate is the highest since 1993.
According to the 'March Population Trends' report released by the Statistics Korea on the 28th, the number of newborns in the first quarter is 65,022, an increase of 7.4% (4,455) compared to the same period last year. This growth rate is the highest ever. However, despite the high growth rate, the number of newborns is the largest in two years since 2022.
The number of newborns in March is 21,041, which is an increase of 6.8% (1,347) compared to the same month last year. The number of births, which had been declining compared to the previous year since 2015, has turned to an increase for the first time in 10 years. The growth rate in March is the highest since March 1993.
The total fertility rate for the first quarter is 0.82, an increase of 0.05 from a year earlier. The total fertility rate indicates the number of children a couple is expected to have over their lifetime. The total fertility rate in March is 0.77, which is an increase of 0.04 from the same period last year. This is also the first increase since 2015.
By region, the number of newborns increased in 13 cities, including Seoul, Busan, Daegu, and Incheon, while it decreased in four cities, including Ulsan and Sejong.
Park Hyun-jung, Director of the Population Trends Division at Statistics Korea, noted the reasons for the increase in the number of newborns, stating, "The increase in marriages after COVID-19 and the growing population of women in their 30s have had an impact."
The number of marriages in the first quarter increased by 8.4% (4,554) compared to the same period last year, reaching 58,704. In March alone, it has increased by 11.5% to 19,181 compared to a year ago. Based on the growth rate in March, it is the third highest after 2023 (18.8%) and 1988 (15.6%). While marriages increased in 13 cities, including Seoul and Busan, they decreased in three cities, including Sejong and Gyeongbuk.
The number of deaths in the first quarter is 100,896, an increase of 8.1% (7,529) compared to the same period last year. Among these, 31,141 deaths occurred in March, which is an increase of 0.2% (47) compared to March last year.
The number of divorces in the first quarter decreased by 5.6% (1,263) to 21,479 compared to a year earlier. Among these, there were 7,210 divorces in March, which is a decrease of 3.2% (239) compared to the same month last year.
As the number of deaths exceeded the number of newborns, the population in the first quarter naturally decreased by 35,874. In March alone, there was a natural decrease of 10,100, marking the 65th month of natural decline since November 2019.