KARACHI, Pakistan

South Korea is set to report its first increase in birth rates in nine years, with a 3% rise in the number of newborns in 2024, according to official data.

Between January and November last year, 220,094 births were recorded, marking a 3% year-on-year increase, the Yonhap news agency reported Monday, citing Statistics Korea.

This contrasts sharply with a 7.7% drop in 2023, the eighth consecutive year of declining birth rates.

The rise was driven by significant growth in metropolitan areas, with the capital Seoul and Gyeonggi province recording double-digit increases last year.

However, growth was more modest in regions such as North Chungcheong province and the southern island of Jeju, which saw increases of 3.1% and 6% in November, respectively.

Officials attribute these regional variations to the concentration of newlyweds and young adults in their 20s and 30s living in urban centers.

‘Super-aged’ nation grapples with demographic challenges

South Korea formally joined the ranks of "super-aged" nations in late 2023, with 20% of its population aged 65 or older, with women accounting for the majority of this demographic.

The nation continues to face challenges linked to an aging population and declining birth rates as many young adults delay or forgo marriage and parenthood.

In response, the government has implemented measures to reverse the trend, including marriage incentives, expanded childcare support, and financial benefits for newlyweds.