Korea's birthrate falls to a record low

According to a preliminary report released May 8 by the National Statistical Office (NSO), the average number of babies born to a woman between the ages of 15 to 49 was 1.08 last year, 0.08 lower than the rate of 1.16 recorded the previous year. This figure is far lower than the world average of 2.6 as well as the advanced countries average of 1.57.

Hong Kong has the world's lowest birthrate, at 0.95 per woman of childbearing age. If the trend in South Korea continues, birth rates will approach or dip even lower than those of Hong Kong. In comparison, the birth rate stood at 2.05 in the U.S., 1.90 in France and 1.74 in England, and the rates of these countries have been on the increase.

The number of births in 2005 was 438,000, an all-time low, 7.9 percent fewer than the previous year's 476,000. The number of babies born last year was about half of the 874,000 born in 1975. In addition, the crude birthrate, or the number of children born per 1,000 persons, was recorded at 9.0 last year, compared with 16.0 in 1995.

The number of births to mothers aged 30-39 last year exceeded that of mothers in their 20s for the first time. The number of mothers in their late 20s and early 30s has continued to decrease in particular because of the government's two-child policy in the 70s. Additionally, a growing tendency to marry at an older age, whether due to high housing prices, an unstable job market, or a shift in social attitudes, is contributing to the shift. More married couples are also foregoing childbirth because of the increased financial burden of raising a child.

If the birthrate continues to fall, the nation's potential to grow economically may decrease; the workforce will diminish and the consumer market will shrink. Also, the financial soundness of the national pension and health insurance systems has worsened, at a time when society is ageing in general.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare will announce a plan to try to offset the low birthrate issue. The ministry's plan includes strengthening aid for childcare and education and constructing infrastructure that would foster a family-friendly and gender-equal social culture, while providing a safe environment in which children can grow up.