The South Korean government said on Wednesday (Feb 28) that the birth rate in the nation fell to a record low, even after investing millions and billions of dollars into efforts to encourage women to have more children.&nbsp;

The South Korean government asks families to maintain population stability as the country has one of the world's longest life expectancies and the lowest birth rates.&nbsp;

The report comes amid rising trends of people being more concerned about their career advancement and avoiding the financial burden of raising children. The families are either delaying childbirth or not having babies at all.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/critical-situation-japans-number-of-births-fell-to-record-low-in-2023-marriages-down-by-59-694545">'Critical situation': Japan's number of births fell to record low in 2023, marriages down by 5.9%</a>&nbsp;

Statistics Korea data showed that the average number of expected babies for a South Korean woman during her reproductive life fell to a record low of 0.72 from 0.78 in 2022.&nbsp;

The current status is far below the rate of 2.1 per woman, which is needed for a steady population. It was even lower than the rate of 1.24 in 2015 when there were less&nbsp;concerns about issues such as the cost of housing and education.&nbsp;

Experts in the country have estimated that at the current rate, the population of 51 million will nearly halve by the year 2100.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/chinas-country-garden-faces-liquidation-petition-amid-financial-challenges-694643">China's Country Garden faces liquidation petition amid financial challenges</a>&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;South Korea empowers nurses as doctors' strike continues&nbsp;

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The government has attempted to tackle the situation as it has spent vast amounts on trying to encourage women to have more babies, offering cash subsidies, babysitting services and support for infertility treatment.&nbsp;

Lim Young-il, who is the head of the Population Census Division at Statistics Korea, said that when data collection began, "The number of newborns, birth rates, and crude birth rates (newborns per 1,000 people) are all at the lowest point since 1970".&nbsp;

South Korea remained the only Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) member with a rate below 1 since 2018. The average age to give birth is 33.6, the highest in the OECD.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The South Korean government said on Wednesday (Feb 28) that the birth rate in the nation fell to a record low, even after investing millions and billions of dollars into efforts to encourage women to have more children.

The South Korean government said on Wednesday (Feb 28) that the birth rate in the nation fell to a record low, even after investing millions and billions of dollars into efforts to encourage women to have more children. The South Korean government asks families to maintain population stability as the country has one of the world's longest life expectancies and the lowest birth rates. The report comes amid rising trends of people being more concerned about their career advancement and avoiding the financial burden of raising children. The families are either delaying childbirth or not having babies at all. Also read: 'Critical situation': Japan's number of births fell to record low in 2023, marriages down by 5.9% Statistics Korea data showed that the average number of expected babies for a South Korean woman during her reproductive life fell to a record low of 0.72 from 0.78 in 2022. The current status is far below the rate of 2.1 per woman, which is needed for a steady population. It was even lower than the rate of 1.24 in 2015 when there were less concerns about issues such as the cost of housing and education. Experts in the country have estimated that at the current rate, the population of 51 million will nearly halve by the year 2100. Also read: China's Country Garden faces liquidation petition amid financial challenges Watch: South Korea empowers nurses as doctors' strike continues × The government has attempted to tackle the situation as it has spent vast amounts on trying to encourage women to have more babies, offering cash subsidies, babysitting services and support for infertility treatment. Lim Young-il, who is the head of the Population Census Division at Statistics Korea, said that when data collection began, "The number of newborns, birth rates, and crude birth rates (newborns per 1,000 people) are all at the lowest point since 1970". South Korea remained the only Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) member with a rate below 1 since 2018. The average age to give birth is 33.6, the highest in the OECD. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korea’s birth rate falls to record low in 2023, govt data shows

South Koreans are increasingly shunning marriage, shows a new government report.&nbsp;

As per the report released on Monday (August 28) only one-third of South Koreans had a positive perception about marriage. The trend, which has drastically accelerated over the past decade, spells demographic trouble for the already ageing nation.

<h2>Marriage, a thing of past?</h2>

The report by Statistics Korea found that only 36.4 per cent of South Koreans, between the ages of 19 and 34, wanted to get married. This is down from 56.5 per cent in 2012.

As per the report, the reason behind these plummeting numbers&nbsp;includes economic concerns over the rising costs of living and unaffordable housing.

Also read |&nbsp;South Korean cities play cupid, host blind-dating events to up fertility rate

Respondents who were polled last year also said that one reason they are not getting married is because they do not have enough money for marriage. Some reported feeling that marriage is simply not necessary.

<h2>How the genders responded?</h2>

Surprisingly, among those who had a positive perception towards marriage, a majority were men, and only 28 per cent of women responded positively.

In South Korea, there is even a word for women who chose to forego marriage, and remain single: "bihon".

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the reason more women are deciding to stay single could be because of their advancement in education and the workplace. This means that compared to earlier generations, the "opportunity cost of marriage" is higher for today's women.

Also read |&nbsp;Doctors in South Korea are giving up on paediatrics, sparking major health concern. Know why

Given the persistent gender stereotypes, getting married or having children might require women to make concessions concerning their careers or education, reports the OECD. This is especially true because of the challenges women face in returning to work after giving birth.

<h2>Child-free life</h2>

It's not just marriage, more and more people, as per the Statistics Korea report, are now dismissive towards childbirth. Since 2018, the number of those who choose to remain child-free is rising. More than half the people surveyed last year reportedly said they don't see the need to have a child.

The trend is a cause of concern for South Korea, where last year the fertility rate fell to a record low of 0.78. As per the OECD, 2.1 is the rate needed for a stable population, South Korea's fertility rate is the lowest in the world.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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South Koreans are increasingly shunning marriage, shows a new government report. As per the report released on Monday (August 28) only one-third of South Koreans had a positive perception about marriage.

South Koreans are increasingly shunning marriage, shows a new government report. As per the report released on Monday (August 28) only one-third of South Koreans had a positive perception about marriage. The trend, which has drastically accelerated over the past decade, spells demographic trouble for the already ageing nation. Marriage, a thing of past? The report by Statistics Korea found that only 36.4 per cent of South Koreans, between the ages of 19 and 34, wanted to get married. This is down from 56.5 per cent in 2012. As per the report, the reason behind these plummeting numbers includes economic concerns over the rising costs of living and unaffordable housing. Also read | South Korean cities play cupid, host blind-dating events to up fertility rate Respondents who were polled last year also said that one reason they are not getting married is because they do not have enough money for marriage. Some reported feeling that marriage is simply not necessary. How the genders responded? Surprisingly, among those who had a positive perception towards marriage, a majority were men, and only 28 per cent of women responded positively. In South Korea, there is even a word for women who chose to forego marriage, and remain single: "bihon". According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the reason more women are deciding to stay single could be because of their advancement in education and the workplace. This means that compared to earlier generations, the "opportunity cost of marriage" is higher for today's women. Also read | Doctors in South Korea are giving up on paediatrics, sparking major health concern. Know why Given the persistent gender stereotypes, getting married or having children might require women to make concessions concerning their careers or education, reports the OECD. This is especially true because of the challenges women face in returning to work after giving birth. Child-free life It's not just marriage, more and more people, as per the Statistics Korea report, are now dismissive towards childbirth. Since 2018, the number of those who choose to remain child-free is rising. More than half the people surveyed last year reportedly said they don't see the need to have a child. The trend is a cause of concern for South Korea, where last year the fertility rate fell to a record low of 0.78. As per the OECD, 2.1 is the rate needed for a stable population, South Korea's fertility rate is the lowest in the world. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

South Koreans losing interest in marriage, spell trouble for ageing nation: Report

The government has called for "fundamental changes" over the latest census figures released at the weekend.

Your Story: South Korea's population declines for the first time ever