South Korea, long grappling with the world’s lowest fertility rate, saw a glimmer of optimism as preliminary data released today by 'Statistics Korea' revealed a rise in births for 2024, the first annual increase in nine years. The country recorded 2,38,300 newborns last year, up 3.6 per cent from 2,35,039 in 2023, halting a downward spiral that had seen the fertility rate plummet to a record low of 0.72 births per woman in 2023. The 2024 figure nudges the total fertility rate (TFR) to 0.75, still far below the 2.1 needed to sustain the population without immigration, but a welcome shift nonetheless.

Officials attribute the uptick to a surge in marriages, which rose in 2023 for the first time in over a decade after delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “There’s a strong link between marriage and childbirth here, often with a one- or two-year lag,” says Park Hyun-jung of Statistics Korea at a press briefing. She also pointed to a demographic boost from an increase in people in their early 30s, a prime age for starting families, alongside a subtle shift toward more positive views on marriage and parenting. The average maternal age at childbirth hit 33.7 years in 2024, one of the world’s highest, reflecting ongoing delays in family formation.

The government, which has poured over $200 billion into pro-natal policies since 2006, sees this as a tentative victory. Measures rolled out in 2024, including a hike in parental leave payments to 2.5 million won ($1,700) monthly and tax breaks for newlyweds, appear to be gaining traction. Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, before his impeachment, had declared the birth rate a “national emergency”, pushing for a new ministry to tackle the crisis - a plan now in limbo amid political upheaval. Still, the modest rebound has fueled cautious hope that South Korea’s demographic decline, which threatens economic stagnation and a shrinking workforce, might be slowing.

Despite the upswing, challenges loom large. High housing costs, a grueling work culture, and the burden of education expenses continue to deter many from parenthood. With deaths outpacing births (3,60,757 in 2024) the population dipped to 51.22 million, marking a fifth year of decline. Experts warn that while the increase is encouraging, it’s a far cry from reversing the long-term trend. “This is a step forward, but sustainability is the real test,” noted demographer Lee Sang-lim. As South Korea navigates its aging society, now classified as “super-aged” with over 20 per cent of its population 65 or older, the stakes remain high to turn this flicker of progress into lasting change.